Michigan DT Reece Atteberry enters NCAA transfer portal
Defensive tackle Reece Atteberry is the first Michigan Wolverines football player to enter the NCAA transfer portal since Jim Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers’ head-coaching position and former offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore was promoted to head coach. U-M players have 30 days from when Harbaugh departed to enter the portal (until Feb. 23), though graduates can enter at any point, and Atteberry was listed as a grad.
The Wolverines are reportedly primed to lose defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and director of strength and conditioning / associate head coach Ben Herbert to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Aurora, Colo., native began his career as an offensive lineman, before switching to defensive tackle ahead of the 2023 season. He played in 14 games, including seven on the defensive line, mostly competing on special teams, and made 3 tackles this past year.
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Atteberry wasn’t in the two-deep for Michigan this past fall, but he did push for that status soon after switching over to defense.
“He came in the room, what, like a week ago,” Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant said during fall camp. “I think he said he played D-line in high school, but he’s already been moving up on the depth chart. He’s doing really, really good.
“Just learning. He’s very smart in the meeting room. He knows the concepts of the defense and how we run the defense. He just has to work on just the little things technique wise.”
He saw 43 defensive snaps, which ranked seventh among Michigan interior defensive linemen. While the Wolverines have seen two tackles ahead of him depart in Kris Jenkins and Cam Goode, they are slated to return starter Mason Graham and 2023 breakout player Kenneth Grant, along with senior Rayshaun Benny and sophomore Trey Pierce.
Prior to the 2023 campaign, Atteberry contributed on special teams in addition to being a reserve Michigan offensive lineman. He totaled 91 offensive snaps from 2020-22, according to Pro Football Focus, playing in 12 total contests.
A three-star recruit in the 2020 class, Atteberry checked in as the No. 416 overall player and No. 41 offensive tackle nationally and third-best prospect in the state of Colorado.
