Michigan QB Davis Warren to Enter Transfer Portal, Eyes Fresh Start After Injury Setback
As Michigan gears up for its Citrus Bowl clash with Texas, the Wolverines are also bracing for the inevitable roster shakeups that come with coaching changes and the ever-active transfer portal. One of the first dominoes to fall is quarterback Davis Warren, who plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it officially opens on January 2.
Warren’s story is one of resilience. A former walk-on, he climbed the depth chart to start 12 games for Michigan in 2024 - the first three of the season and the final nine.
His numbers were steady if not spectacular: 136 completions on 211 attempts, 1,201 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions. But the stat line doesn’t tell the whole story.
Warren went 6-3 as a starter and led Michigan to signature wins over both Ohio State and Alabama. That win over the Crimson Tide was a defining moment - and also his last on the field for the season.
Late in that game, Warren suffered a torn ACL, an injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 campaign. Now approaching his 24th birthday, the fifth-year senior is expected to seek a medical hardship waiver that could grant him two more years of eligibility. If granted, it would give him a rare second act - a chance to reboot his college career after a brutal injury derailed his momentum.
The timing of Warren’s decision aligns with a period of transition in Ann Arbor. New head coach Kyle Whittingham, fresh off being hired in the wake of Sherrone Moore’s abrupt dismissal, has been meeting with players individually as he begins shaping the 2026 roster.
The quarterback room, in particular, is in flux. Five-star freshman Bryce Underwood is widely expected to take the reins next fall.
Meanwhile, Mikey Keene - who didn’t play this season - is reportedly eyeing a sixth year of eligibility. And backup QB Jadyn Davis is also expected to enter the portal once it opens.
So far, Warren and Davis are the only players confirmed to be leaving since the coaching change - a notable stat considering the broader chaos across college football. Over 1,500 FBS players have entered the portal this December, yet Michigan’s roster has remained remarkably stable.
That stability hasn’t gone unnoticed inside the locker room.
“Yeah, I mean, if you look at our team right now, no one's transferred,” said center Greg Crippen. “That's a testament to all our players here - great people, great players.
Everyone just wanted to finish out strong. They love this university.
I don’t know how everything’s going to shape out after this game, but I feel confident in Coach Whittingham and all our guys who want to be here. Everyone on this team loves this school.”
Michigan will take the field against Texas on Wednesday in the Citrus Bowl. Once the portal opens January 2, the next phase of roster evolution begins - and for Davis Warren, that means a new chapter, a new opportunity, and perhaps a shot at redemption.