The Wolverines just got a big boost up front - literally and figuratively - with the return of defensive tackle Enow Etta, who announced he’s withdrawing from the transfer portal and heading back to Ann Arbor for the 2026 season.
At 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, Etta brings both size and experience to a Michigan defensive line that’s seen a lot of turnover this offseason. Originally a four-star prospect out of Texas, Etta arrived in 2023 and used his first year to redshirt. But over the past two seasons, he’s steadily carved out a role in the rotation - and now, with the depth chart thinning, he’s poised to take on a bigger spotlight.
Etta saw limited action in 2024, logging 86 snaps across 10 games. His numbers were modest - four tackles, half a sack, and a pass breakup - but the flashes were there.
In 2025, he took a clear step forward, appearing in 13 games and nearly tripling his snap count to 295. He finished with 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, seven quarterback hits, and another pass breakup.
Those aren’t All-American stats, but they’re the kind of production you want from a rotational lineman trending upward.
And with Michigan losing a slew of key pieces on the defensive front - Derrick Moore, T.J. Guy, Jaishawn Barham, Rayshaun Benny, Damon Payne Jr., Tre Williams, and Devon Baxter are all moving on - Etta’s return couldn’t be more timely. Head coach Kyle Whittingham and his staff did land a big-time edge presence in All-American pass rusher John Henry Daley via the portal, but having a returning veteran like Etta anchoring the interior adds balance and continuity to a unit that’s otherwise in transition.
Etta isn’t the only Wolverine to reverse course and return to the fold. He joins a growing list of players who dipped their toes in the portal before deciding to run it back in maize and blue. That group includes cornerback Zeke Berry, offensive linemen Andrew Sprague and Jake Guarnera, safety Jordan Young, and special teams standout Logan Forbes.
In a college football era defined by constant roster churn, getting proven contributors back in the building is a quiet win that can pay big dividends. For Michigan, Etta’s return is more than just a body in the trenches - it’s a sign that the program still has pull, even in the portal era. And for a defense looking to reload, not rebuild, that matters.