Michigan is set to dip into the transfer portal in the middle of the season and bring in two more pieces: former Miami tight end Alex Bauman and former Boise State cornerback Jeremiah Earby.
Both players were granted a preliminary injunction on Tuesday in Washtenaw County Circuit Court for a fifth year of eligibility, which means they could be eligible to play right away.
Bauman arrives with a strong resume and plenty of size. The New Jersey native started his college career at Tulane, where he put together 63 catches for 610 yards and 13 touchdowns over three years. One of his biggest moments came in the Cotton Bowl in 2022, when he hauled in the game-winning touchdown against USC.
After that, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end moved on to Miami for the 2025 season. He finished with 18 receptions for 166 yards and one touchdown, and he was part of a Hurricanes team that reached the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
That makes Bauman a notable pickup for Michigan, especially with the Wolverines’ tight end production falling short this season. His experience, frame and run-blocking ability could give the offense an immediate lift.
Earby brings a different kind of value. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound cornerback has familiarity with Michigan first-year safeties coach Tyler Stockton, and he comes off a productive season at Boise State. Last year, he posted 60 total tackles, four interceptions, nine pass breakups, one fumble recovery and 0.5 sacks, earning a spot on the All-Mountain West Second Team.
His addition comes to a Michigan secondary that has been solid overall this season, aside from a handful of penalties. With Zeke Berry, Jyaire Hill, Smith Snowden, Chris Bracy and Rod Moore already forming a veteran group back there, Earby gives the Wolverines another fifth-year option to deepen a unit that’s already been doing most of the job.
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Michigan football looks to have added a pair of experienced portal pieces to its 2026 roster, and the one that matters most right now may be Jeremiah Earby. The former Cal and Boise State cornerback brings real game experience with him, and his path to Ann Arbor got a boost when the Washtenaw County Circuit Court granted him a fifth year of eligibility, clearing the way for him to join Michigan midseason.
What makes Earby especially interesting for the Wolverines is the familiarity factor. He already knows Michigan coach Tyler Stockton from Stocktons time at Boise State, which should help speed up the transition as Michigan looks for immediate help on the back end. Alongside former Tulane and Miami tight end Alex Bauman, Earby gives the staff another veteran option to work into the mix, but his arrival is the one with the clearest potential to address a pressing need right away. [Read more 🡒]
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Head coach Whittingham made it clear the standard is not going to change, and Tommy Carr is sitting there as a credible alternative if it does not. Carr has earned positive reviews in practice and in limited game action, which gives Michigan a real option should the mistakes continue, turning what looked like a settled job into a situation worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]