Now that the transfer portal has closed for the season, who is the most significant Michigan football player to leave Ann Arbor via the portal? We ranked how painful each loss is to the 2025 Wolverines.
The time to enter the college football transfer portal has closed, which means we can assess the exits in their entirety and learn some valuable information from them. Michigan was fortunate to not lose too many starters, but the depth will certainly be tested in the fall.
So which transfers hurt Michigan the most? Today, we power ranked them by significance.
Veterans buried on the depth chart
25. K Adam Samaha (North Carolina, now back in portal)
24. RB Tavierre Dunlap (Eastern Michigan)
23. LB Christian Boivin
Samaha was never going to see the field in 2025 barring an injury to Zvada. Dunlap and Boivin were excellent special teams players, but were highly unlikely to see the field in a bigger capacity.
Quarterbacks unlikely to see playing time again
22. QB Jayden Denegal (San Diego State)
21. QB Alex Orji (UNLV)
With the additions of Bryce Underwood and Mikey Keene, Denegal and Orji would have served as QB5 and QB6 this season. As quarterbacks who saw some action at a Big Ten school, they were in relatively high demand in the portal. Michigan will not be hurt by not having their services, but Orji and Denegal will have the opportunity to play elsewhere.
More veterans that have been surpassed by younger players at the same position
20. OT Tristan Bounds (Arizona)
19. DT Alessandro Lorenzetti
18. DE Aymeric Koumba
17. LB Micah Pollard (Liberty)
16. CB Myles Pollard (Memphis)
15. CB Kody Jones (Memphis)
14. DE Breeon Ishmail (Purdue)
13. LB Jason Hewlett (Boston College)
Many of the players in this category were developmental prospects coming out of high school that simply didn’t hit. As Michigan’s recruiting has gotten better and better over the past few years, most of the players in this section have been surpassed by underclassmen, meaning their chances at playing time are severely limited.
Forever portal-hopping
12. WR Amorion Walker
Walker was initially a cornerback at Michigan before transferring to Ole Miss . He spent all of one spring ball with Ole Miss before being courted back to Michigan to play wide receiver. After one season on the offensive side of the ball, he has opted to transfer again.
Highly touted prospects searching for earlier playing time
11. RB Cole Cabana (Western Michigan)
10. DT Owen Wafle (Penn State)
Cabana suffered through several injuries in the past few years, which hampered his ability to get on the field. While Wafle had yet to see the field, the fact he transferred to a school that was just in the playoff tells you there is still optimism about him around the country.
Rotational players looking to for starter-level playing time
9. C Raheem Anderson (Western Michigan)
8. DE Kechaun Bennett
7. CB Ja’Den McBurrows
6. P Tommy Doman (Florida)
5. RB Ben Hall (North Carolina)
4. C Dominic Giudice (Missouri)
3. OT Jeff Persi (Pitt)
2. OT Andrew Gentry (BYU)
While Wafle’s long-term prognosis is higher than most, if not all, of the players in this category, I have the players listed above him because of the impact they would have had in 2025. Anderson, Giudice, Persi and Gentry all likely would have rotated and been part of the mix on the offensive line. However, none impressed last year and were doubtful to start this coming season. They likely transferred for guaranteed playing time at their respective new schools.
Doman had his fair share of struggles but was still projected to be Michigan’s starting punter in 2025. Hall likely left because Michigan brought in Justice Hayes, which bumped him down from RB2 to RB3. His transfer to North Carolina is understandable, but still frustrating considering he could have played an important role in the future.
Looking for a different scheme
1. WR Tyler Morris (Indiana)
Morris was Michigan’s undisputed WR1 last season, albeit in an offense not designed for wide receivers. He likely would have reprised that role this year under new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, but he opted to transfer to Indiana instead.
Sadly, Morris will miss the entire 2025 season due to an offseason injury. He represents the only surefire starter to leave Michigan this offseason, which is a nice consolation prize in and of itself.
Which player were you most upset to see leave Ann Arbor? Let us know down below.