Michigan football considered one of transfer portal's 'biggest winners' for 2022-23
The transfer portal opened Dec. 5, and despite not being very active in it most seasons, Michigan Wolverines football landed seven players before the end of 2022.
The Maize and Blue added tight end AJ Barner (Indiana), quarterback Jack Tuttle (Indiana), offensive tackle LaDarius Henderson (Arizona State), linebacker Ernest Hausmann (Nebraska), offensive tackle Myles Hinton (Stanford), EDGE Josaiah Stewart (Coastal Carolina) and offensive center Drake Nugent (Stanford).
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There have been nearly 3,000 players to enter the portal, according to ESPN.com’s Tom VanHaaren, and plenty of teams attempting to bolster their rosters. However, Michigan has stood out above most of the rest, landing on VanHaaren’s list of biggest transfer portal “winners” he released Jan. 6. Michigan lost some talent to the portal, including two former starters in quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All, but what it brought in outweighed the departures.
“A changing environment within college football requires adaptation, and the Wolverines have had success this offseason in filling some holes,” VanHaaren wrote.
“With defensive end Mike Morris graduating and defensive ends George Rooks, Julius Welschof and linebacker Deuce Spurlock transferring out, Michigan added Nebraska true freshman linebacker Ernest Hausmann, the No. 19 transfer overall, and Coastal Carolina edge player Josaiah Stewart, the No. 22 transfer.
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“Hausmann had 54 total tackles, two tackles for loss and one interception in his first season with the Huskers, while Stewart, a sophomore who helped the Chanticleers go 20-6 over the past two seasons, had 36 total tackles (10 for loss) and 3.5 sacks.
“On offense, the coaches focused up front along the offensive line, adding Arizona State guard LaDarius Henderson and Stanford’s tackle Myles Hinton and center Drake Nugent. Michigan’s offensive line has won the Joe Moore Award for the best offensive line the past two years, and adding in these three transfers will help keep that consistency moving forward.
“The Wolverines lost quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Erick All to Iowa but brought in backup quarterback Jack Tuttle and 6-foot-6 tight end AJ Barner from Indiana, adding some depth behind starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy.”
Michigan ranks No. 10 in On3’s team transfer portal rankings, trailing No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 SMU, No. 3 Auburn, No. 4 Florida State, No. 5 Arkansas, No. 6 USC, No. 7 TCU, No. 8 Arizona State and No. 9 Indiana. Fellow Big Ten foes Maryland (No. 12) and Wisconsin (No. 13) are close behind.
The transfer portal is set to close Jan. 18 and reopen after teams go through spring practices.
