Tag: Michigan Football

Report: Michigan football expected to make transfer portal splash with five-star commit

Welcome home! #GoBlue

If at first you don’t succeed, sometimes you’ve just gotta try again. And in a world where the transfer portal has become a part of college football, sometimes things work out that way.

There was very little in the way of success when it came to the recruitment of former Belleville (Michigan) five-star defensive tackle Damon Payne. The Wolverines used to have some issues recruiting out of his high school, but they have since been patched up (five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and safety Elijah Dotson hail from there). But Payne had committed to Alabama, where he’s been since.

Until Tuesday.

Payne entered the transfer portal after joining the Tide in 2021. The former five-star appeared in 30 games and had 30 tackles, with three for loss, and half a sack in three seasons’ time. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, he ended up signing with the Wolverines.

 


Here is how Payne ranks in the transfer portal rankings:

* Ovr Pos
247Sports 3 85 –
On3 3 243 13

Payne will certainly have an inside track to start alongside Rayshaun Benny in 2025.

(Update: multiple reports indicate that this report is premature, and that Payne is still going through the process. Both On3 and 247Sports reported that Payne had either committed or signed, contrary to other reports. Thus, we will continue to monitor.)

(Update 2: Payne had reportedly signed, but that signing has since been rescinded.)

 

Michigan football surprisingly makes top group for top WR in transfer portal

WHOA. #GoBlue

Michigan football needs wide receivers more than just about anything when it assesses its transfer portal needs. The Wolverines were already light on talent in the room, and with Tyler Morris entering the portal, they grew even thinner in the postseason.

The Wolverines brought in Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley, but they’re looking to add to the class. One option may be someone who was thought to be highly unlikely just a few days ago.

USC has seen something of a mass exodus in recent weeks. From quarterback Miller Moss to running back Quinten Joyner to wide receiver Duce Robinson, some of the Trojans’ top talent is departing Los Angeles. But the most surprising entry came on Tuesday with the announcement that former five-star wide receiver and kick returner Zachariah Branch has entered the transfer portal.

And he told On3’s Pete Nakos that Michigan football, Miami, Oklahoma, Georgia and Louisville are in contention for him at the moment.

With Bryce Underwood on the roster in Ann Arbor, there’s certainly an expectation for a player like Branch that he could have the quarterback play, whether it’s the freshman or a veteran who comes in to start in the early going. That’s not even mentioning Chip Lindsey and his more pass-happy scheme coming to The Big House this year.

That’s some stiff competition, but if Michigan pushes with a name, image and likeness licensing package, perhaps it can lure one of the best players in the country at a position of need to Ann Arbor.

Has a new transfer portal target emerged for Michigan football on defense?

Bring him home. #GoBlue

If at first you don’t succeed, sometimes you’ve just gotta try again. And in a world where the transfer portal has become a part of college football, sometimes things work out that way.

There was very little in the way of success when it came to the recruitment of former Belleville (Michigan) five-star defensive tackle Damon Payne. The Wolverines used to have issues recruiting out of his high school, but they have been patched up. Five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and safety Elijah Dotson hail from there.

However, Payne committed to Alabama, where he’s been since joining the Tide in 2021.

Until Tuesday.

Payne entered the transfer portal.

The former five-star appeared in 30 games and had 30 tackles, with three for loss, and half a sack in three seasons’ time. According to The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb, Michigan football could be his destination when everything is said and done.

We’ll see if the Wolverines pick things up here. They’ve been after fellow former five-star Keeshawn Silver, but it’s unclear where he stands.

Will Alabama wear home or away jerseys for ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Michigan? What history tells us

Will it be home or away jerseys for the Crimson Tide in their bowl game against Michigan? Here’s our best guess.

When the Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan Wolverines face off in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl, it will be their third head-to-head meeting in five seasons — and their second in the past 365 days.

At least from the standpoint of uniforms, it will also be an aesthetically pleasing game to watch on TV or in person, if you’re traveling to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

There are few if any teams in all of college football that are as uniquely identifiable as the Wolverines’ in their maize and blue combo, or Alabama in its crimson and white threads (officially named Crimson Flame and Victory White by the university).

But what color jersey will these two heavyweight programs be wearing when they meet again on New Year’s Eve?

Well, neither school has made any official announcement on that front but for a bit of fun, we look to the past for clues as to which team will be wearing home and away jerseys.

The ReliaQuest Bowl (formerly the Outback Bowl) has pitted the SEC vs. the Big Ten in every matchup since the 1995 season. The Big Ten representative has been designated as the home team in even years (after the 2016 regular season, 2018, 2020, etc.), while the SEC representative has been the home team in odd years.

When Alabama made its last appearance in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day 1997 (also against Michigan) following the ’96 regular season, the Crimson Tide wore their road white jerseys. Like then, Alabama is the designated visiting team for this year’s matchup.

RELATED: Alabama transfer safety announces playing destination for 2025

A season ago, LSU was the designated home team in Tampa and opted to wear its alternate purple jerseys over gold pants against Wisconsin. When Indiana was the designated home team following the 2020 season, the Hoosiers wore their home uniforms against Ole Miss.

That means the Crimson Tide will likely be in their classic all-white jerseys, though not necessarily. Schools that are designated as the home team still have the option to wear white.

If Alabama indeed takes the field in Tampa in their road jerseys, it will mark the same uniform matchup as last season’s Rose Bowl against Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Wolverines wore a matching blue pant combination in that game but could opt for their traditional maize pants this time.

Regardless of who ends up wearing what jersey, Alabama-Michigan is bound to be as close to perfection as any uniform matchup will get during the 2024-25 college football bowl season.

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Michigan football QB target commits to another Big Ten school

Onto the next. #GoBlue

Michigan football has a phenom quarterback coming in, and he’ll get something of a head start. However, the Wolverines have wanted to get a veteran that can win the starting job out the gates or at least give five-star QB Bryce Underwood some competition.

Well, the maize and blue thought they had their man to compete with the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class. However, Monday brought a turn of events.

Though he gained his first opportunity to start at the outset of a season, Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. ended up hitting the transfer portal on Thursday. From there, it didn’t take long for him to get predictions indicating he’d end up with the maize and blue, with a visit set for Monday. However, he visited Wisconsin first and never made it to Ann Arbor. Late Monday, he pledged to the Badgers — Luke Fickell’s second QB commit of the day.

 

Here is how Edwards ranked as a recruit:

* Ovr Pos St
247Sports Composite 3 1589 103 42
On3 Industry Ranking 3 1497 99 42
247Sports 3 – 118 51
On3 – – – –
ESPN 3 – 69 43
Rivals 3 – – 45

This is Edwards’ second transfer. He got his start at Wake Forest as part of the 2020 class. He comes from Burke (Virginia) Lake Braddock, the same high school as former Michigan tight end Matthew Hibner (who transferred to SMU this offseason), who was there at the same time in the same class.

At Maryland, where he transferred to in 2022, he went 311-for-496 (62.7% completion) for 3,317 yards — 2,881 yards of which came in 2024 — 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also had 144 carries for 377 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns over three seasons.

Michigan will likely see Edwards when Wisconsin comes to The Big House in 2025.

Michigan football gets high-ceiling OL commitment from transfer portal

He just got an Ohio State offer, too! #GoBlue

Michigan football received two late Monday commitments from Arkansas defensive back brothers TJ and Tevis Metcalf. But the fun continues into the night, as the Wolverines are still rolling in the transfer portal.

Though not well known as a recruit, when Cal Poly offensive lineman Brady Norton entered the transfer portal, some eyes widened. Rated by PFF as the nation’s top pass-blocker in the Football Championship Subdivision, Michigan football hurried to get Norton on campus as other programs became aware of his skills. Norton was in Ann Arbor on Monday. Ohio State offered the same day, but he saw what he needed with the Wolverines and  committed to the maize and blue on Monday evening.

Here is how Norton ranks according to the transfer portal rankings:

* Ovr Pos
247Sports 3 225 –
On3 4 35 3
Rivals 4 33 3

Norton is listed at 6 feet, 4 inches and 330 pounds. He can play tackle and inside and hails originally from Mission Viejo (California). Having come in the 2023 class, he’ll have at least two years of eligibility remaining.

Michigan football adds two transfer portal DBs from SEC

Two-for-one! #GoBlue

Michigan football got something of a two-for-one special with its second and third transfer portal commitments of the 2025 cycle.

The Wolverines had previously only brought in one transfer portal commit in former Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley — who had visited in the immediate aftermath of the Ohio State game on Dec. 1. It took him nearly two weeks to make his decision, but the latest pledges came shortly after their weekend visit to Ann Arbor.

Arkansas had two defensive backs with wandering eyes, brothers who both play defensive back in T.J. Metcalf and Tevis Metcalf. Just one day after their visit to see what the maize and blue have to offer, both brothers committed in a joint announcement by On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Here is how T.J. Metcalf rated according to the recruiting services:

* Ovr Pos
247Sports 3 214 13
On3 4 83 7

And Tevis:

* Ovr Pos
247Sports – – –
On3 3 – 57

The duo hails from Pinson (Ala.) Clay Chalkville, which happens to be the same high school as former Michigan football standout wide receiver Nico Collins.

Michigan will be without another threat for ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Alabama

Michigan player opts out of bowl matchup with Alabama.

The Michigan Wolverines will be down a running back when they face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Senior tailback Donovan Edwards announced Sunday that he would opt out of the ReliaQuest Bowl matchup, ending his college career after four seasons in Ann Arbor.

Edwards rushed for 589 yards on 128 carries (4.6 avg.) this season, good for 19th in the Big Ten. He was second on the team in rushing behind Kalel Mullings (185 carries, 948 yards).

A season ago, Edwards ran for 497 yards on 119 carries behind starting tailback Blake Corum during the Wolverines’ 15-0 national championship season.

Michigan (7-5) has notable players skipping its bowl matchup with Alabama (9-3). Tight end Colston Loveland declared for the NFL draft over the weekend, as did star defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson.

Kickoff for Alabama-Michigan is 11 a.m. CT on New Year’s Eve in Tampa. The game will be televised on ESPN.

For coverage of the Michigan Wolverines, visit Wolverines Wire.

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Michigan football transfer commits to Big Ten school

Best of luck to him. #GoBlue

Michigan football had a loaded running backs room on paper, but it’s continuing to thin out a bit in between the end of the regular season and the offseason.

The Wolverines will lose Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings as their eligibility runs out, and Tavierre Dunlap and Cole Cabana both entered the transfer portal following the 13-10 win over Ohio State. Cabana, who hails from nearby Dexter, Michigan, has been oft injured in his short tenure as a Wolverine, and it turns out he’s looking to get fresh new life with another Big Ten program.

According to 247Sports, Cabana will continue to pursue his career after transferring to Minnesota.

 

Cabana has not played any meaningful snaps in his Michigan career. Despite having been on the roster for two years, he’ll have at least three years of eligibility with the Gophers and could potentially receive four, depending on if he looks to seek to reclaim one of the years with a medical redshirt.

Where Alabama vs. Michigan ranks among best/worst bowl games of 2024

Where does Alabama vs. Michigan rank among the best/worst matchups of bowl season?

Neither the Alabama Crimson Tide or the Michigan Wolverines had the types of seasons they wanted in 2024.

Alabama (9-3 overall) lost three games, which was one too many to keep them out of the 12-team College Football Playoff. Michigan (7-5) won the national championship a year ago while going 15-0 but was never in contention to repeat as champions this season.

This year’s ReliaQuest Bowl (formerly the Outback Bowl) matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Wolverines won’t have near the amount of stakes as last season’s Rose Bowl, a playoff semifinal game that Michigan won 27-20 in overtime.

But it’s still Alabama vs. Michigan, and college football blue bloods like the Tide and Wolverines carry a lot of weight. That’s particularly true for bowl games that aren’t normally accustomed to having two historical powerhouses play in lower-tier postseason events.

USA TODAY Sports recently ranked all 35 non-playoff bowl games for the 2024 season from best to worst. Alabama-Michigan ranked in the top 10 at No. 7, one spot behind the Music City Bowl matchup between the Missouri Tigers and Iowa Hawkeyes.

Eddie Timanus of USA TODAY Sports explained his ranking for Alabama vs. Michigan this way:

“One might expect a rematch of a playoff game from a year ago to be higher on the list, though clearly a lot has changed at both programs since. The Wolverines’ decline was more precipitous than the Crimson Tide’s ebb, but both teams own victories against playoff teams, so clearly there is still enough roster talent to give us a quality contest.”

On that note, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and linebacker Jihaad Campbell announced last Thursday that they intended to play in the ReliaQeust Bowl. Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer had said earlier in the week that he didn’t expect many Alabama players to opt out for the game.

“I feel like right now we’re at a place where most of those guys are planning on playing,” DeBoer had told reporters.

RELATED: Alabama football 2025 roster, depth chart tracker

Alabama and Michigan are scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Dec. 31 from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The game will be televised on ESPN. The Crimson Tide are ranked No. 11 in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25. Michigan is unranked.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Alabama news and notes, plus opinions.