Another Transfer Portal Miss For Michigan Football

On Friday evening, defensive back Upton Stout out of Western Kentucky, one of the Wolverines‘ top transfer portal targets in the 2024 cycle, made a major decision when it comes to Michigan’s portal movement. Per a program announcement, the top-ranked Michigan football target will no longer be available in the portal and will return to the Hilltoppers in 2024.

Top Michigan football transfer portal target withdrawals, will remain at Western Kentucky

On Friday, Western Kentucky released a statement that almost all Michigan football fans hated: Upton Stout is set to withdrawal from the NCAA transfer portal. Stout, who had once been expected to commit to Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines, according to a 247 Sports crystal ball, was said to be Western Kentucky’s version of Mike Sainristil, who is a current standout for the Maize and Blue.

RUN IT BACK 😈

2️⃣1️⃣ will return for the 2024 season!#GoTops pic.twitter.com/vi1r03Ei25

— WKU Football (@WKUFootball) December 23, 2023

Michigan will have other portal options at cornerback, though the miss hurts

Next fall, Michigan football will be without two top cornerbacks: Josh Wallace (UMass transfer) and Mike Sainristil (two-time team captain). While the Maize and Blue have studs like Will Johnson and others rising through the ranks, Michigan will undoubtedly look to the portal for another corner or two ahead of next year’s unorthodox college football season (due to conference expansion and the 12-team CFP).

Per the transfer portal rankings, Upton Stout was the No. 47 overall prospect and the No. 6 cornerback in the portal in the 2024 cycle. As I mentioned, he was a major target for Michigan football, and while the miss is unfortunate, the Wolverines will likely bounce back just fine after the season ends and they can put more time into transfer recruiting.

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