Early transfer portal returns for Michigan Wolverines reveal devastating rebuild ahead for Kyle Whittingham
The Michigan Wolverines have been hit with some tough losses to stomach in the transfer portal
The Michigan Wolverines have begun their first offseason under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, and they are putting the finishing touches on their new coaching staff. However, the biggest priority has to be roster retention with the transfer portal officially open, and so far, their plan is off to a rocky start.
The Wolverines have sustained some pretty tough losses in the transfer portal, and the early returns have highlighted a massive area of concern that the Wolverines and Whittingham will have to fix as soon as possible.
Michigan Wolverines transfer portal
The Wolverines were perhaps expecting some of their departures, but the last 24 hours have revealed a couple of surprising losses, particularly up front. Starting right tackle Andrew Sprague and starting right guard Jake Guarnera entered the transfer portal with no-contact tags, meaning they know exactly where they are going. A troubling sign for Michigan, and perhaps waiting a month before trying to retain any players was a poor strategy.
With those two departures, the Wolverines are likely to have to replace several starters on the offensive line. Left tackle Blake Frazier will (likely) return, but many expect Andrew Babalola to supplant him when he’s healthy. Left guard Gio El-Hadi is off to the NFL, along with center Greg Crippen, meaning all five spots could be filled by new players next season.
This is on top of other offensive losses, such as Justice Haynes, who will likely declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as tight end Marlin Klein and wide receiver Donaven McCulley.
The losses don’t stop there, however. Michigan’s top three pass rushers, Derrick Moore, Jaishawn Barham, and TJ Guy, are all headed to the NFL. On top of that, four defensive tackles are leaving, with multiple players headed to the NFL and Enow Etta entering the portal, with potential for more departures in the near future.
For a coach who prides himself on dominant trench play, Whittingham will have to inject a lot of momentum into these two units if he wants to hit the ground running for next season. As it stands, there will be a steep rebuild ahead for the Wolverines up front on both sides of the ball.
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