Michigan football a finalist for Kentucky DT transfer Keeshawn Silver
Michigan Wolverines football is looking to add interior defensive linemen for the 2025 season, scouring the transfer portal for talent. The Maize and Blue have identified Kentucky transfer Keeshawn Silver as a target, and the two sides have mutual interest.
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Silver is down to four schools: Michigan, Florida, Miami and USC. He entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier Monday (Dec. 9) after deciding to go that direction last week.
Silver has set up visits for the schools that are contending for his commitment. Michigan will get his final visit Dec. 13-14.
Michigan’s need at defensive tackle is due to the likely departures of projected high NFL Draft picks Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham.
The 6-foot-4, 336-pounder spent two seasons at North Carolina (2021-22) before transferring to Kentucky for the last two campaigns (2023-24). He has one year of eligibility remaining since he redshirted by playing in only three games as a freshman in 2021.
Silver is the No. 31 overall player and second-best interior defensive lineman in the NCAA transfer portal, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, though it’s still early in the process with the portal opening for undergraduate players Monday at midnight.
The Rocky Mount, N.C., native has totaled 26 tackles, including 1 sack, and 10 pressures while starting 11 of the 12 games he appeared in for the Wildcats in the 2024 regular season. He totaled 313 defensive snaps, the 13th-most on the defense and second-highest amount among interior defensive linemen.
Top 10
- 1
Xavier Worthy
Lofty expectations for Arch Manning
- 2
2025 CFB Win Totals
Front-runners for title revealed
- 3
'Where were you?'
Greg Brooks Jr.'s father to Brian Kelly
- 4
Johntay Cook arrested
Former Texas, Washington WR in hot water
- 5
Top 10 QBs
Mel Kiper shakes up NFL Draft rankings
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
He’s one of 28 interior defensive linemen in the SEC with 10-plus pressures on the season. His 9.8-percent pass rush win rate ranked ninth among SEC defensive tackles with 100-plus pass rush snaps, according to PFF. No SEC lineman over 326 pounds had a better pass rush win rate.
Coming into the 2024 season, Kentucky Sports Radio named Silver one of the five most important players on the roster.
“A former North Carolina transfer, the redshirt junior has made body improvements and looks primed for a big season,” the site’s Adam Luckett wrote. “Kentucky needs Silver to stay healthy and play big snaps throughout the year. If some more playmaking arrives the class of 2021 product becomes a huge X-factor.”
After the season was over, Kentucky Sports Radio’s Nick Roush wrote that he was the No. 1 player the Wildcats’ should’ve prioritized to prevent from hitting the transfer portal.
Silver started 12 games for Kentucky in 2023, registering 17 tackles, including 2 for loss, and 9 pressures. He had just 4 tackles in six games combined in his two seasons at North Carolina from 2021-22.
A Rocky Mount (N.C.) High product, Silver was a five-star recruit in the 2021 class. He checked in as the No. 22 overall player and No. 6 defensive lineman in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
