Michigan didn’t have a mass exodus prior to the transfer portal opening on Friday, which was somewhat surprising given the turmoil and upheaval in Ann Arbor with Sherrone Moore’s abrupt firing and the hiring of Kyle Whittingham.
But, on Friday and Saturday, a number of players entered the portal, perhaps surprisingly.
Now that the new staff has been assembled and the dust is settling, there is a great deal changing in and around Schembechler Hall. From new faces on the staff to players potentially leaving. So, with that in mind, this will be your one-stop shop as far as the transfer portal is concerned. Whether it’s departures, players who are interested or rumored to Michigan, or otherwise, here is what you need to know as it pertains to the Wolverines and the transfer portal.
WR Fredrick Moore – leaving
A midseason entry, WolverinesWire was the first to report that Moore was no longer with the team. Expected to be a starting wide receiver this year, he was beaten out by Channing Goodwin (who eventually lost his job to true freshman Andrew Marsh). He left the team midseason and is searching for a new school.
OL Connor Jones – leaving (committed to Georgia State)
An offensive lineman from Colorado, Jones never quite developed to the point where he was seeing the field. One of the first declarations in mid-December, the former three-star appears to be looking for a place where he could see the field regularly.
Update: Jones has committed to Georgia State.
LS Evan Boutorwick – leaving
Another mid-December declaration, Boutorwick had been seen as the long snapper of the future. Greg Tarr took over this year, but beyond 2025, it’s unclear who will take over the key special teams role.
QB Jadyn Davis – leaving
Not unexpectedly, the backup quarterback for Bryce Underwood is entering the portal following his second season in Ann Arbor. Once a five-star prospect, Davis ended up being a project due to his throwing mechanics. Once Underwood committed to Michigan, the writing was on the wall. Davis stuck it out for one more season, regardless of the talented freshman coming in. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining.
QB Davis Warren – leaving (committed to Stanford)
The occasional starter in 2024, Warren was a walk-on who ended up departing Ann Arbor with wins over Ohio State and Alabama while leading the team at the position. Warren tore his ACL in the ReliaQuest Bowl against the Crimson Tide last year and made no appearances in 2025. While he had some issues with turnovers earlier in 2024, he’s a seasoned vet who could start for a relatively high-level team.
Update: Warren has committed to Stanford.
CB Elijah Dotson – leaving
He was the first entry once the clock hit midnight on Jan. 2, and this one was a surprise. The former Belleville (Michigan) star saw a great deal of playing time as a true freshman and was expected to have a bigger role moving forward. At this juncture, it appears Missouri is a big contender for his services.
RB CJ Hester – leaving
Hester never really joined the team. He ended up being a scratch from the roster in the preseason. A former UMass running back, Hester is in the portal once again.
LB Cole Sullivan – leaving (committed to Oklahoma)
Expected to be a starter in 2026 for the Wolverines, Sullivan entered the portal in the wee hours of Jan. 2, but his entry came with a caveat: He’s open to returning to Ann Arbor. This may be a case of him looking to see his market value while the new staff is in process of being set. Even so, the door is open for him to leave or return.
Update: Sullivan has committed to Oklahoma.
CB Zeke Berry – now staying
Berry has two years of starting experience at defensive back, initially at nickel before moving outside. He struggled at nickel last year, but when he made the midseason switch to boundary, he was very good in 2024. It hasn’t been as kind of a season this year, but he still could have been a key player on this upcoming year’s team. He has another year of eligibility remaining.
Update
Berry has decided to return to Ann Arbor after all.
RB Jasper Parker – leaving (committed to Arkansas)
A true freshman with a bright future, it’s unclear why Parker is departing. However, he has depth ahead of him: Jordan Marshall, Savion Hiter, Bryson Kuzdzal, and perhaps a returning Justice Haynes (if he chooses to come back). He has a promising future and looked good in a reserve spot this year. He has four years of eligibility remaining.
Update: Parker has signed with Arkansas.
IOL Kaden Strayhorn – leaving (committed to Alabama)
A MSU legacy who surprisingly committed to Michigan, Strayhorn was expected to be the center of the future. He even saw some late-season playing time, including in the bowl game against Texas, at guard. With a new coaching staff in East Lansing, could he end up at his father’s school after all?
Update: Strayhorn has committed to Alabama.
Edge Devon Baxter – leaving
An early enrollee in the 2024 class, Baxter hasn’t seen any time since arriving. Dominic Nichols and Nate Marshall seem to have passed him on the depth chart.
S Jaden Mangham – leaving (committed to Purdue)
Banged up during his first year in Ann Arbor, the former Spartan was hit or miss this season when inserted into the lineup. Michigan is rather deep at the safety position, but given Mangham was a former starter for MSU and a little-used reserve for the Wolverines, it appears he’s seeking more time on task than what he has been getting.
Update: Mangham has committed to Purdue.
RT Andrew Sprague – now staying
Something of a surprise because Sprague is a starter. He entered the portal on Friday. Sprague didn’t dress or practice for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. He has a do-not-contact tag and reported Missouri interest; the Kansas City native may be set to return home.
Update: Sprague announced his decision to stay via Instagram on Wednesday.
WR Semaj Morgan – leaving (committed to UCLA)
Morgan was a starter the past two seasons but never quite reached his full potential. Though he had a penchant for getting open, he struggled with dropping even routine catches and was much maligned by the fan base as a result. With his position coach Ron Bellamy departing, it’s not a surprise to see the West Bloomfield native seek a new opportunity.
Update: Morgan has committed to UCLA.
RG Jake Guarnera – now staying
This one is a surprise on the same level as Sullivan. However, according to Maize & Blue Review’s Trevor McCue, he is open to returning. He also has a do-not-contact tag, and was expected to be a key member of the future offensive line. We met with Guarnera before a Citrus Bowl practice, and he appeared amenable to a new staff.
“I think he’s great. I’ve heard all great things,” Guarnera said. “One of my buddies was a D-end at Utah, and he told me all great things about coach Whittingham, so I’m really excited.
“I reached out to him, I called him. I was like, ‘What do you think of coach Whittingham?’ I asked him a bunch of questions, and I was just really impressed with everything that he said.”
We’ll see if he ends up returning or leaving.
Update: Guarnera announced on Tuesday that he is returning to Ann Arbor.
DT Enow Etta – leaving
Etta was the hypebeast of spring ball two years ago, but he never quite had the production that matched that hype. A revolving interior player, he was solid, and this could have been his year, given the Wolverines don’t have a lot of depth with so many players departing as they’re out of eligibility.
WR Logan Forbes – leaving
A walk-on, Forbes didn’t see the field much, if at all, but announced on his social media that he is departing the program.
Utah EDGE John Henry Daley – committed
Given he played for Whittingham in Utah, his entry into the transfer portal is notable. Michigan will likely be on his short list, and he’s an elite-caliber edge rusher who could help replace one of the departing edges in Ann Arbor. He was coached by new Michigan edge coach Lewis Powell.
Update: Daley was reported to be on campus on Wednesday, January 7.
Update: Daley has committed to Michigan.
TE Brady Prieskorn – leaving
Prieskorn is a local player who was once the top tight end in the recruiting class, but he fell down the rankings before they were finalized. He’s struggled to remain healthy and was passed over by other players on the depth chart, including Hogan Hansen, who was also in the 2024 class.
OL Ben Roebuck – leaving
One of the many Ohio commits of the 2024 class, Roebuck didn’t see action in either of his two years and was surpassed by some other second-year players, such as (also departing) Jake Guarnera, Andrew Sprague, and (staying) Blake Frazier.
QB Mikey Keene – leaving
Keene was supposed to be the bridge between the 2024 era and the Bryce Underwood era, however, an upper body injury precluded him from practice and ultimately ever seeing a snap for the maize and blue. As Keene still has another year of eligibility, he’s not sticking around for the Kyle Whittingham era, instead opting to hit the portal.
K Beckham Sunderland – leaving
Michigan had one year with Sunderland, who handled the kickoff duties all season long and punted in the latter part of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas. As of current, there’s no obvious heir apparent.
QB Bryce Underwood – returning
Though there was very little doubt about this one, given his recruitment, until there was some indication, it was up in the air.
RB Bryson Kuzdzal – leaving
A former walk-on, Kuzdzal worked his way up to No. 3 on the running back depth chart this past year, and ultimately started in two games (Maryland, Texas) while getting the bulk of the carries vs. Ohio State. He showed that he’s capable of being a solid runner in Power Four football, but with Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter on the roster, and a potential return of Justice Haynes, the room was getting awfully crowded.
OL Blake Frazier and Andrew Babalola – returning
Both announced via social media that they will be coming back to Ann Arbor for yet another year. Neither appeared likely to leave, but such is often the case in modern day college football.
Pitt LS Nico Crawford – committed
With Evan Boutorwick departing, Michigan football got its longsnapper for the season.
WR Andrew Marsh – staying
Not officially announced, but as first reported by Sam Webb, Marsh appears set to return after there was a lot of smoke in December that he may enter the transfer portal.
S Jordan Young – leaving
In a bit of a late surprise, Young appears to be on his way out. He saw a lot of playing time down the stretch of his freshman season and made key plays against both Northwestern and Texas. He originally committed to Clemson and flipped just before signing day.
RB Justice Haynes – potentially returning
Been hearing that this will likely be the case. Kyle Whittingham and Sean Magee spent a fair amount of time talking to him before the Citrus Bowl, as well.
OL Evan Link – returning
After an injury-plagued season, Link announced he will return to Ann Arbor in 2026 under the new staff. It will be interesting to see if he moves inside after playing tackle for two years.
UNLV P Cam Brown – signed
Pitt K Trey Butkowski – committed
Oklahoma RB Taylor Tatum – committed
Not the position group anyone would have expected Michigan football to target, but the former No. 1 overall running back in the 2024 class, Taylor Tatum, has committed to the Wolverines. He has three years of eligibility after missing most of his sophomore season due to a hamstring injury.
Thursday visitors
Michigan has several key players on campus visiting, including:
OL Ty Haywood – leaving
A bit of a surprise departure rather late, but given all of the returning players along the line, it’s not necessarily a surprise.
CB Jayden Sanders – leaving
Somewhat of a surprise as he got quite a bit of playing time in his freshman year, but the Texas native is on his way out.
S Brandyn Hillman – leaving
After starting for a year, Hillman is on his way out. He’s the third departure — second of the defensive backs — today.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football 2026 transfer portal tracker
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
