Michigan football’s preseason work is already offering a glimpse at where the transfer portal pressure points could be next offseason.
This past spring was an unusual stretch for the Wolverines, with the program announcing the firing of Sherrone Moore and the hiring of Kyle Whittingham nearly a month apart. Even with that backdrop, Whittingham handled roster retention well enough to keep Michigan in solid shape. The Wolverines did lose some important pieces, but they also added a number of useful starters through the portal.
That’s part of why the next few weeks matter so much. Michigan is still three weeks away from playing real football, but fall practice is already hinting at what the roster may need when portal season rolls around again.
The clearest answer right now is at wide receiver. Michigan had to attack that position in a major way after struggling to catch the football last season, and Whittingham made it a point to give Bryce Underwood more help. The Wolverines brought in three transfers - JJ Buchanan, Jaime Ffrench, and Salesi Moa, who was a short enrollee at Utah - and also added four-star receiver Travis Johnson.
None of them have taken the field in a game yet, but the early expectation is that Michigan will have a deep, talented receiver room this season. They’re also all young, which matters for what comes next. If the Wolverines avoid a major roster drain after this year, they may not need to go back into the portal aggressively to patch up the pass-catching group.
The secondary, though, could be a different story.
Michigan already dipped into the portal there this offseason, landing starters Smith Snowden from Utah and Chris Bracy from Memphis. Even so, the Wolverines are projected to lose four starters from this year’s team: Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry, Smith Snowden, and Rod Moore.
Whittingham has already pointed out that Michigan is thin at both linebacker and in the secondary. At corner, the Wolverines are expected to lean on Shamari Earls, Jo’Ziah Edmond, and Jamarion Vincent after this season, but that’s not exactly the kind of depth chart Michigan is used to carrying.
Earls has reportedly taken a good step forward this fall, but the Wolverines still need more players to show they can handle bigger roles. If that doesn’t happen soon, Michigan will be watching the portal closely for help.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Added To An Uncomfortable In-State QB Debate
Michigan had already spent time in the mix for Donald Tabron, one of the top quarterbacks in the 2028 class, before the in-state debate around elite passers got a little more uncomfortable. The highly ranked recruit is now committed to Texas A&M, and Michigans change on the coaching side played a role in slowing the momentum it had built with him. For a program that has plenty of eyes on its quarterback pipeline, it was a reminder that even early recruiting battles can shift quickly.
The Wolverines are still operating from a position of depth at the position, which gives them some breathing room as they recalibrate. Rather than chase one name too hard, Michigan is turning its attention to other quarterback targets in the 2027 and 2028 classes while continuing to pursue other key recruits in 2028. It is not a crisis, but it does add another layer to an already tricky in-state conversation about which quarterbacks the program can realistically land next. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Offensive Line Thinks It Finally Found A Needed Edge
Michigans offensive line spent the offseason trying to build more than size and technique. In fall camp, right tackle Andrew Sprague said the group is carrying a sharper mindset and better conditioning, with strength coach Doug Elisaia and offensive line coach Jim Harding pushing that process along. Sprague also pointed to his own physical transformation, while crediting center Jake Guarnera and quarterback Bryce Underwood for the way they have developed alongside the rest of the offense.
The emphasis now is on stamina and pass protection, two areas Michigan believes can make a real difference when games start to tighten late. Spragues comments suggested the line is not just chasing cleaner reps in camp, but trying to create an edge that shows up in the final drives and the fourth quarter. For a unit that knows how important consistency is up front, the question is whether that work holds when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans Have Two Early Storylines Worth Watching Closely
Michigans fall calendar is already carrying a little extra intrigue on multiple fronts, with recruiting and roster development both nudging their way into the conversation. On the basketball side, five-star 2028 recruit Brady Pettigrew has lined up five official visits, and Michigan is first on the list when he comes to campus on September 12. For a program that is always watching the next wave of talent, getting the opening shot in a visit sequence is the kind of early marker fans tend to track closely.
On the football side, Utah transfer wide receiver JJ Buchanan has been drawing strong praise from Kyle Whittingham, who has pointed to the receivers complete skill set and his ability to be difficult to cover. Michigan will be paying attention to how that evaluation translates once the season gets rolling, especially with the rest of the athletic department already in motion as volleyball opens its schedule and womens soccer has started with a tie against Utah Valley. There is no shortage of small-but-interesting early signs to watch, and Buchanans role may end up being one of the more telling ones. [Read more 🡒]