The transfer portal has become college football’s version of free agency - a revolving door that can reshape a roster overnight. For Michigan, last offseason brought in some key reinforcements, but it also meant saying goodbye to a wave of players looking for fresh starts elsewhere. Now that the 2025 season is in the books, it’s time to take a closer look at how those former Wolverines fared after leaving Ann Arbor.
Quarterbacks: Two Paths, Two Very Different Seasons
Michigan saw two quarterbacks exit last winter, and their seasons couldn’t have been more different.
Alex Orji made the move to UNLV to play under Dan Mullen and earned the Week 1 start after a strong fall camp. He flashed his dual-threat potential early, rushing 10 times for 42 yards and a touchdown while completing 3-of-3 passes for 37 yards. Unfortunately, his season came to a sudden halt in Week 2 with a grade three LCL tear - a brutal setback just as he was getting his shot.
Jayden Denegal, on the other hand, found a groove at San Diego State. He led the Aztecs to a 9-3 record, throwing for 1,807 yards, nine touchdowns, and eight interceptions while completing 58.8% of his passes.
He also chipped in on the ground with 99 rushing yards and four scores. Denegal didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he provided steady leadership and helped guide SDSU to one of its better seasons in recent memory.
Running Backs: Opportunity Knocks, Health Holds Some Back
Three running backs left Michigan, each taking a different path.
Cole Cabana transferred to Western Michigan, but injuries continued to plague him. He saw action in just two games, rushing for 18 yards. It’s been a tough stretch for a player who once showed serious promise.
Benjamin Hall found a role in North Carolina’s backfield rotation. As part of a three-man committee, he logged 71 carries for 294 yards and two touchdowns. He wasn’t the featured back, but he contributed meaningful snaps in a Power Five offense.
Tavierre Dunlap, now at Eastern Michigan, saw his touches increase significantly. He rushed 106 times for 428 yards and five touchdowns - a solid return for a player who was buried on the depth chart in Ann Arbor.
Wide Receivers: One Sidetracked by Injury, One Seeking Playing Time
Only two wideouts left the program, and both had challenging seasons.
Tyler Morris transferred to Indiana but missed the entire season due to a non-contact injury suffered in the spring. A tough break, especially as the Hoosiers went on to win the Big Ten.
Amorion Walker suited up for Middle Tennessee State and stayed healthy, but struggled to carve out a consistent role. He finished the year with 15 catches for 201 yards and one touchdown.
Offensive Line: Quantity Lost, Quality Found Elsewhere
Michigan’s biggest loss in terms of volume came along the offensive line, with six scholarship players transferring out - and several made the most of their new opportunities.
Dominick Giudice shifted from center to left guard at Missouri and thrived, logging 839 snaps while allowing just one sack and one QB hit. His performance in the rivalry win over Kansas earned him Outland Trophy National Offensive Lineman of the Week honors - a testament to his development.
Andrew Gentry locked down the right tackle spot at BYU, starting every game and bringing stability to the Cougars’ front.
Jeffrey Persi started at left tackle for Pitt before an injury in Week 5 sidelined him for over a month. He returned late in the season, but his performance was inconsistent.
Tristan Bounds, who struggled to get on the field at Michigan, started 10 games at right tackle for Arizona and surprisingly graded out well with a 73.0 PFF score.
Alessandro Lorenzetti, who began his Michigan career on the defensive line before switching sides, transferred to Baylor and moved back to defense. However, he didn’t record a stat this season.
Raheem Anderson joined Cabana at Western Michigan and started every game at center. He was a standout in the MAC, earning First-Team All-MAC honors - a strong testament to his growth and consistency.
Defensive Line: Depth Lost, Mixed Results Across the Board
The Wolverines lost a handful of defensive linemen to the portal, and their 2025 seasons were a mixed bag.
Breeon Ishmail became a rotational piece at Purdue, tallying 23 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack.
Aymeric Koumba didn’t see much action at UCF but did make one tackle in limited snaps late in games.
Kechaun Bennett started the year strong at UCLA before his role diminished. Still, he played in 11 games and posted 25 tackles, three TFLs, and one sack.
Owen Wafle remained a depth piece at Penn State, appearing in eight games and recording three tackles.
Linebackers: Quiet Season for One, Breakout Moment for Another
At linebacker, Michigan lost two players - and one of them closed the year with a bang.
Jason Hewlett Jr. transferred to Boston College but was limited by injuries. He played in seven games and recorded nine tackles.
Micah Pollard had a quieter start at Liberty, coming off the bench for most of the season. But late in the year, he exploded for 14 tackles in a single game - a breakout performance that helped him finish with 28 total tackles on the year.
Secondary: A Few Moves, One Big Impact
Michigan saw a few defensive backs move on, with varying levels of impact.
Myles Pollard transferred to Memphis but didn’t record a stat.
Kody Jones initially joined Pollard at Memphis before transferring again to Kennesaw State after spring ball. There, he became a versatile contributor - returning kicks and racking up 24 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups, and one interception.
Ja’Den McBurrows landed at Appalachian State and made a splash early. In just two games, he posted 11 tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception before being sidelined for the rest of the season.
Specialists: One Quiet Move, One Big Season
Two specialists left Michigan, and one of them ended up as one of the best in his conference.
Adam Samaha transferred to North Carolina but later moved to Akron. He attempted just one extra point - and made it.
Tommy Doman, however, became Florida’s starting punter and delivered in a big way. He punted 50 times for 1,927 yards, including a booming 71-yarder. According to PFF, he was the SEC’s top punter in 2025 - a major accolade in a league known for elite special teams play.
Final Thoughts
The transfer portal era has changed the way college football programs manage their rosters, and Michigan’s 2025 exodus is a perfect case study. Some players found new life and starring roles, others were slowed by injuries or buried on depth charts.
But across the board, these stories reflect the unpredictable - and sometimes redemptive - nature of the portal. For Michigan, the losses were significant, but the Wolverines have shown they can reload just as quickly as they lose.