Michigan football is a major transfer portal winner

Things can always change and maybe there will be a midnight departure from the Michigan football program or a player who doesn’t have his paperwork entered right away.

Schools get up to 48 hours to do that. However, if a big-name player like Mason Graham, Colston Loveland, Will Johnson, or Kenneth Grant was going to enter the portal, they probably would have done it.

Other teams might be making their pitches as we speak. But all these guys know they can get paid and have chosen to stay at Michigan. That tells me that the NIL has really improved. It also tells me these players believe in their culture and Sherrone Moore.

It doesn’t get talked about enough, but Moore didn’t lose a single starter to the transfer portal. Keon Sabb could be considered a starter and DJ Waller was pushing for a spot, but still, that’s impressive work.

Michigan did a spectacular job of player retention

This roster could have six top-100 draft picks. That doesn’t even include guys like Makari Paige, Derrick Moore, Ernest Hausmann, Josaiah Stewart, or Jaishawn Barham.

Barham doesn’t count because he was added via the portal this offseason, just like Hausmann was before the 2023 season, but Michigan football did a spectacular job of player retention.

To lose a head coach and most of his assistants, but keep that much talent is hard to believe. Yes, it helped that Sherrone Moore took over, but the man knows how to recruit — just look at his coaching staff.

That’s why I believe Michigan football is in good hands — well into the future. The Wolverines will have to continue to get their evaluations right and develop talent — that’s the formula. Moore was a huge part of that, especially when it comes to the offensive line, which as Jim Harbaugh said is the “spear” of the offense.

Michigan football has needs. It needs a wideout, some corners, maybe an offensive tackle, and a linebacker, but in terms of elite, blue-chip talent — they have that. They were able to retain it and that’s why Michigan should be viewed as one of the transfer portal’s biggest winners.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms.