Newsstand: Michigan transfer picks new school hours after entering portal
Former Michigan football linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green surprisingly entered the transfer portal on Monday afternoon. Hours later, he announced his new school, heading to the University of Charlotte to play for former Michigan staffer and high school head coach Biff Poggi.
Hill-Green had been working on re-entering the competition at linebacker this spring for Michigan. He will have two years of eligibility remaining at Charlotte.
A soft tissue injury in 2022 forced Hill-Green, who played 14 games and made six starts in 2021, into a support role and being a student of the game on the sidelines as opposed to on it. He did not play in game action last season for the Wolverines.
“It was one of the hardest things in my life,” he said after the spring game. “I just feel like I did what I’m supposed to do, put in the work. I outworked everyone. I overdo it during my process. It was hard. I didn’t deserve it, but it made me better as a person and a football player. I’m just glad. It just makes me appreciate the journey just way more.”
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There were times last year when it appeared Hill-Green was on the verge of a return, but he would never do more than dress for a handful of games.
“I practiced and I just kept trying to push through it. I would push through it during the week, prepare for the game,” Hill-Green said. “That’s why some games I dressed, because I was actually trying to play, but it wasn’t worth it. They didn’t want something that was temporary to be long-lasting. And we learned that because I ended up missing my whole season. This [injury] happened in training camp.
“Now I feel like I’m back, and I’m better. I’m just ready to prove it.”
Hill-Green was one of three Michigan football players to enter the transfer portal on Monday along with wide receiver A.J. Henning and safety R.J. Moten.
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Michigan quote of the day
“It was a great feeling when I got the news from Coach Hart. It was almost hard to take it all in at one time. But it was a great feeling. Michigan has always been a good team and these past couple of years, they’ve shown their run nationally. I’ve been looking at them now especially since they have interest in me. I’m trying to get out there to see everything that I can. It’s just a great feeling and I couldn’t be more excited.”
– Class of 2024 running back Micah Kaapana to The Wolverine after getting an offer from Michigan
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