Michigan football: former 4-star WR target enters the transfer portal

Entering the offseason, there haven’t been many questions surrounding the Michigan Wolverines football program. Still, one question that has stood out is wide receiver depth. From last year’s team, the Wolverines are looking to replace three pass-catchers as two went to the NFL (Ronnie Bell and Luke Schoonmaker) while one left through the transfer portal (Andrel Anthony). Now, the Michigan football team has a fantastic opportunity as a former recruiting target of theirs enters the transfer portal.

Lorenzo Styles enters the transfer portal

As a prospect, Lorenzo Styles was a highly sought-after athlete who had the ability to play on either offense or defense. He played wide receiver and cornerback in high school but was viewed more as a pass catcher than anything. Coming out of high school, he was the No. 115 player nationally, the No. 20 wide receiver and the No. 5 player out of Ohio according to 247 Sports.

Ultimately, he would go on to commit to Notre Dame and had two solid years with the program. Following his freshman year, it was looking like he would go on to be a star. He caught 24 passes for 344 yards and a touchdown in his first year with the program, and he had people very excited. Unfortunately, things didn’t quite pan out how he expected, as he would only catch the ball 30 times for 340 yards and a touchdown in his sophomore season.

For whatever reason, he couldn’t make the jump that he, along with fans of the program, had hoped for. Often, the best thing to find that jump is a change of scenery, and now he has entered the transfer portal.

Where does Michigan football stand?

Michigan football is in an interesting situation. Wide receiver is by no means a need for the program. Still, this doesn’t mean it wouldn’t help the program. After losing three pass-catchers in the offseason, bringing in an extra pair of hands would certainly help. Lorenzo Styles could be just the man for the job, if he so chooses.

The Wolverines targeted Styles back in high school, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them give him a look. This is especially true, considering he is from Ohio, a state they’ve placed considerable emphasis on lately.

In terms of competition, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Florida were all schools that heavily recruited him out of high school. Ohio State might be the biggest threat to gaining his commitment, as his brother, Sonny Styles, is a sophomore safety for the Buckeyes. Still, considering how loaded the Ohio State wide receiver room is, I’d be surprised to see him head in that direction.

Ultimately, there’s no saying whether Jim Harbaugh has any interest in pursuing a wide receiver in the transfer portal. Still, it certainly wouldn’t hurt the team, and a player like Lorenzo Styles could come in and make an immediate impact.

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