TAMPA, Fla. — The transfer portal is a tricky thing: You gain some and you lose some.
For Michigan football this past offseason, it lost up-and-coming safety Keon Sabb to Alabama, a team it had just played and is about to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
When the most recent transfer portal period opened in December, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer learned two players he had hoped would suit up for him in the final game of 2024 will sit out, transfer to Michigan and play for the Wolverines in 2025.
Former five-star defensive tackle Damon Payne signed with the maize and blue just over a week ago. Former five-star running back Justice Haynes hasn’t been announced as a Wolverine, meaning he hasn’t signed. As a result, Sherrone Moore wouldn’t speak on the duo leaving the Crimson Tide for the Wolverines. However, Kalen DeBoer shared what it’s like to lose both to his up-and-coming opponent.
“Tough question!” DeBoer said. “I’m just going to say this: I think I’m always going to wish the guys that are in our program the best and those are two really good, solid young men and I’m always going to wish them the best. And I hear the word fit coming from coach Moore’s conversation, talk here and that’s what you always hope is that the college experience for anyone that you get to coach, you want it to be in your program, you want it to be in your program, but ultimately this time comes and goes really fast and so I’m always going to wish the guys the best that were part of the year that we had here or any time I’ve coached throughout my career.”
Both players have a strong shot to be starters for the maize and blue given the departures at both defensive tackle and running back. As for the bowl game, the Wolverines are thin at both positions, but we should see more Rayshaun Benny and Trey Pierce on defense and Jordan Marshall and Ben Hall on offense.