Michigan football had one obvious top target in the transfer portal this cycle in running back Justice Haynes, who is coming off of a two-year career at Alabama.
247Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported weeks ago that Haynes was ‘expected’ to commit to the Wolverines, hours after putting in a 247Sports Crystal Ball, yet there never was an official post noting he had committed or signed. However, Zenitz updated on Thursday that Haynes is expected in Ann Arbor in short order. Further, On3’s Pete Nakos says that Haynes to Michigan football is a done deal and that he will officially become a Wolverine.
So, what’s been the holdup? We reported on the Locked On Wolverines Podcast on both Wednesday and Thursday that the holdup has been somewhat administrative in nature, according to one person close to the situation. We can confirm it’s not an admissions issue and it’s essentially been a waiting game for him to officially sign, but there are no concerns within Schembechler Hall in regards to Haynes ending up in Ann Arbor.
From what we were told, he’s been locked in to Michigan and now it appears as if he will begin his Michigan career in earnest sooner than later.
On losing Haynes and defensive tackle Damon Payne to Michigan football, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer commented on Monday from the ReliaQuest Bowl:
“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.”