Michigan football transfer portal signee looking to take the next step with the Maize and Blue in 2023

Ahead of the 2023 college football season, Jim Harbaugh’s program faced several roster gaps. In the two preceding seasons, the Maize and Blue secured the Big Ten title and secured berths in the College Football Playoff. The expectations for the Wolverines remain high this fall, and in pursuit of greater success, Harbaugh made some new additions to the team. One of these additions is Drake Nugent, a transfer portal signee for Michigan football, who recently shared his decision to join the Wolverines in Ann Arbor for the upcoming 2023 season.

A new Michigan football transfer portal signee should see a large role with the Maize and Blue during the 2023 college football season.

Last fall, Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines relied on Olu Oluwatimi, a transfer portal center from Virginia, to lead their offensive line. Olu had an incredible 2022 season, finishing as the most decorated offensive lineman in Michigan football’s long and prestigious history.

Heading into the 2023 season, however, the Wolverines found themselves without a center after Oluwatimi was selected in this year’s NFL Draft. To fill the void, the Maize and Blue recruited Drake Nugent, a team captain and standout center from Stanford, who now faces the challenge of stepping into Ann Arbor and filling the shoes of one of the program’s best linemen.

In 2023, this new transfer portal signee will be tasked not only with replacing an exceptional player but also with leading the Wolverines’ elite offensive line to another conference title and beyond.

This is no small feat for Drake Nugent, but it is the responsibility that Michigan football has entrusted to him, and ultimately, it was the reason he chose to transfer to Ann Arbor for the 2023 season.

Why Michigan?

Following his decision to transfer from Stanford, Drake Nugent explained why he left and why Michigan football was his landing spot.

“I didn’t really know whether I wanted — I was kind of on the fence about going in the Portal or not,” Dranke Nugent said, according to 247 Sports. “But I really just wanted to, number one, come to a winning program that could elevate my game. And I guess there is a stigma between Pac 12 and SEC versus Big Ten football, obviously.

“I think that I had a couple of strong years at Stanford. But I think, for me to really prove myself for the next level, I’ve got to do that in these conferences as well. So that’s kind of my main thought process behind it … I just want to come to a place that’s all about football. Everybody’s about the team; they’re winning games; they’ve got some momentum. A place where I can come in and help.”

This fall, Drake Nugent and the Michigan football program will be looking to take the next step, aiming to advance beyond the first round of the College Football Playoff and contend for the program’s first national championship since 1997.

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 [email protected]. 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!