New Michigan RB Justice Haynes was recently named the No. 2 most impactful transfer commitment of the winter portal window, slotting in behind a player that the Wolverines will play early on in 2025:
The Michigan Wolverines will once again be relying heavily on the ground game in 2025 with soon-to-be redshirt freshman Jordan Marshall, who had a 100-yard effort against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Also figuring into the running back room in 2025 is Justice Haynes, a transfer from the aforementioned Alabama Crimson Tide. The soon-to-be junior was a five-star prospect coming out of high school and was also the No. 1 ranked running back in the transfer portal this winter.
Up to this point in his collegiate career, Haynes hasn’t done a whole lot given Alabama’s deep backfield the last couple years. After going for just 168 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman in 2023, Haynes ran for 448 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 99 yards this past season as a part of a split backfield with Jam Miller.
Haynes has the talent and potential to be a great player, but he just needs the experience and the opportunity to get there. On3 believes he will do just that in Ann Arbor this fall, as they recently named him the No. 2 most impactful transfer of this portal window.
Here is what Pete Nakos wrote about Haynes:
In his two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Justice Haynes rushed for 616 yards and 9 touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound running back now reunites with Tony Alford, the former Ohio State running backs coach who is now at Michigan. With Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings’ departures, Haynes will now pair with Jordan Marshall in the Michigan backfield.
It isn’t as much a “reunion” with Alford — since they have never been on the same team together — but Alford did play a huge role in Haynes signing with the Wolverines. When Alford was at Ohio State, he was Haynes’ lead recruiter out of high school. The familiarity and relationship that they still have, on top of Michigan being known for running the hell out of the ball, were key factors in Haynes transferring to Ann Arbor.
But what Nakos wrote about the departures of Edwards and Mullings is true. There are plenty of snaps in the backfield up for grabs. With Michigan paying top dollar for Haynes out of the portal, and with Marshall being a highly regarded player in his own right, the Wolverines are replacing a good duo with a potentially great one.
No. 1 on On3’s list is a player Michigan will play in Week 2: Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, who came to Norman via Washington State. Two other Big Ten players made the list — Ohio State tight end Max Klare (No. 3, formerly of Purdue) and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (No. 8, formerly of Cal).