Michigan makes contact with top safety, a former five-star recruit, in transfer portal
The Michigan Wolverines could be on the hunt for defensive back help in the transfer portal as it fortifies its roster for the 2024 season and has made contact with former Texas A&M safety Jacoby Mathews. Mathews told On3’s Hayes Fawcett U-M is one of 12 schools to make contact.
He entered the portal officially upon the opening of the spring window after declaring his intention to do so in February.
The others are Pitt, Houston, Washington, Cal, Georgia Tech, Penn State, UCF, Oregon, Colorado, Florida State and Ohio State. USC has also reached out, according to WeAreSC’s Scott Schrader.
“Just waiting to see what team can best scheme me in and help me progress on and off the field into a pro in six months,” he told WeAreSC.
Mathews, who went to Ponchatoula HS and was a teammate of U-M’s Amorion Walker, was a five-star prospect and the No. 32 player in the country in the 2022 class, per the On3 Industry Ranking. On3’s portal rankings rate him as a four-star prospect and the No. 46 safety.
Last season, he recorded 42 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, one interception and five passes defended. He posted a 72.7 overall grade on Pro Football Focus with an 80.8 coverage grade and 53.2 mark in run defense.
Overall, he appeared in 21 games at Texas A&M in two seasons and would have two seasons of eligibility remaining. However, it looks like he has designs on heading to the NFL after this year.
Michigan could be a school that does that for him, given that it just sent 13 players to pro teams coming out of the 2024 NFL Draft. It also features a loaded defense led by coordinator Wink Martindale, who spent the last two decades in the NFL.
Michigan has a need in its safety rotation with Rod Moore potentially suffering a potentially season-ending injury in spring ball, which required surgery. His prognosis is not known, but U-M does not plan to have him on the field.
“I’m not going to get into the exact on the long-term with Rod but I know one thing, whatever is in front of that kid, he’ll be better,” defensive backs coach Lamar Morgan said during spring ball. “Whenever he gets back on the field, he’ll be better than the last time he was on it, for sure. Rod is a very unique player. He’s a leader, he’s at every practice coaching. We’re going to miss her. It’s going to be hard for everybody here who covers him to say we’re not going to miss Rod.
“A lot of guys are going to step up and I think Rod, once he gets back and is doing all the things he has to do to get back, he’s going to be here every day at practice coaching and stuff like that with us. I hate that he got hurt but I am really excited about his future, man. He’s going to be a stud.”
