Michigan football: Major transfer portal shake-up in the Big Ten East

This fall, the Michigan football team is poised to rank among the top programs in the nation, with a possible shot at competing for a national championship. Having won consecutive Big Ten titles over the past two years and making two appearances in the College Football Playoff, the Wolverines are well-positioned to capture a third-straight title and more, especially given recent major transfer portal activity within the division. Notably, two starters from the 2022 Michigan State Spartans’ roster, Keon Coleman (WR) and Payton Thorne (QB), have entered the portal with assumed intention of leaving Mel Tucker’s program.

Both Peyton Thorne and Keon Coleman have entered the transfer portal today. pic.twitter.com/bOrdKdDm4Q

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) April 30, 2023

Major transfer portal moves being made in the Big Ten East

Last year’s 5-7 Michigan State Spartans squad will be without two key offensive players this season, arguably some of the most crucial contributors from last year’s offense. Payton Thorne, a two-year starting quarterback, entered the transfer portal this morning and was soon followed by standout wide receiver Keon Coleman.

While Thorne’s departure may not have a significant impact, as the Spartans have rising quarterbacks expected to contend for the QB1 spot this fall, losing Coleman is a huge blow to the team. He is widely regarded as one of the best players on the Spartans’ roster.

In October, Michigan will travel to East Lansing to face a rebuilding Michigan State team that now must cope with the loss of two experienced offensive starters. Although these departures could allow younger players to develop, it was unexpected and appears to be a critical setback for the program. These losses were not foreseen, especially as they occurred on the final day of the spring transfer portal window.

On top of these developments, Michigan football now has a chance to pursue a new wide receiver target with Big Ten experience who has entered the transfer portal. Keon Coleman, widely regarded as one of the best wideouts in the conference, despite his history with Michigan State, would be an exceptional addition to Michigan’s roster this upcoming season.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!