Michigan’s football program has gotten quite the shakeup over the last few weeks. With almost an entirely new coaching staff and several new players on both sides of the ball, fans should expect things to look vastly different for the Wolverines in 2026.
When it comes to roster turnover, Michigan had plenty of it with several established players either heading to the NFL or transferring to new schools. But the good news is Michigan is getting plenty of new players in the fold that can help replace what was lost, if not exceed it. Today, we will look at three transfers and two freshmen that can make the biggest immediate impact for the Wolverines.
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Transfer: WR/TE JJ Buchanan
In my opinion, JJ Buchanan is the most underrated of the incoming transfers. Listed as a tight end at Utah, he played mostly in the slot and really impressed as a freshman, posting 427 yards and five touchdowns on just 26 receptions. Regardless of what position you list him as, he should make a big impact in Michigan’s passing game right away.
Last season, Buchanan did most of his damage over the middle of the field and showed an ability to both run after the catch and get physical at the catch point. With inconsistencies from slot receivers and tight ends last year, Michigan never really had a reliable weapon it could trust over the middle, which it should now have with Buchanan while Andrew Marsh and the other receivers operate on the outside.
Furthermore, Bryce Underwood showed a tendency to throw over the middle of the field when he was on the run rather than throwing safely outside the numbers. Oftentimes, he would do this to receivers that weren’t open — sometimes it worked and resulted in perfectly placed throws into tight windows, while other times it ended in disaster. With Buchanan now roaming that area of the field, it should increase Underwood’s margin for error.
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Freshman: RB Savion Hiter
Michigan has had plenty of great running backs come through the program the last few years, but not many of them made a big impact right away. Donovan Edwards had a few big moments in 2021, but sat behind Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins on the depth chart. Zach Charbonnet was the last true freshman running back that had significant playing time, and he rushed for 726 yards in 2019.
In 2026, Savion Hiter has a chance to come close to that level of production, even working behind lead back Jordan Marshall. Hiter was a five-star recruit and was incredibly productive in his high school career in Virginia. His raw talent as a runner and pass-catcher will give him a chance to do damage at the college level right away.
Additionally, Jason Beck also relied on two running backs and a running quarterback last season at Utah, suggesting there should be plenty of opportunities for Hiter to touch the ball. With Taylor Tatum reportedly being moved to safety and Bryson Kuzdzal being the only other major competition for touches out of the backfield behind Marshall, we should see Hiter early and often in 2026.
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Transfer: CB Smith Snowden
Michigan’s secondary was decimated this transfer portal season, but the Wolverines landed a player that trumps all those losses — cornerback Smith Snowden. He made 23 starts for Utah the last two seasons and immediately jumped out as a priority for Michigan when he entered the portal. By adding him, he slots in nicely as the nickel to go alongside Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry on the boundary.
An All-Big 12 selection in 2025, Snowden made 37 tackles, two tackles for loss, nine pass breakups and two interceptions. He even got a bit of action on offense as a receiver, catching 13 passes for 57 yards while rushing eight times for 40 yards and a touchdown. It remains to be seen if Michigan will use him at all on offense, but his experience and skillset on defense are the draw here.
Freshman: WR/DB Salesi Moa
While he’s technically a transfer since he was briefly enrolled at Utah, Salesi Moa has yet to play a college snap and should still factor into Michigan’s plans in 2026. The Utah native was one of the highest ranked players in the 2026 class thanks to his abilities on both sides of the ball. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, he could make an impact as a receiver or as a defensive back.
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On offense, Moa already shows great run after the catch and ball skills, making him a candidate to add some spark to the receiver room. He might face an uphill battle for playing time there, as Michigan has Marsh, Ffrench and Buchanan there already. That’s not to mention returning players like Channing Goodwin and Jamar Browder, or fellow highly ranked freshman Travis Johnson.
Instead, I think Moa might have a better chance of seeing the field as a defensive back this season while still making a big impact. The cornerback rotation is thin behind Hill, Snowden and Berry, and Moa could fill in admirably in the slot. He could also fill in at safety, where the rotation is also thin. Regardless, his athleticism and versatility should allow him to get on the field right away.
If you want another selection here since Moa is technically a transfer, you can’t go wrong with either defensive tackle Alister Vallejo or the aforementioned Johnson.
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Transfer: DE John Henry Daley
Derrick Moore, T.J. Guy and Jaishawn Barham are all gone, leaving room for a new edge rusher to emerge. Look no further John Henry Daley, who recorded 11.5 sacks and was a first-team All-American in 2025. I originally debated leaving Daley off this list due to a lower leg injury that popped up near the end of the season, but he cleared the air by commenting back in December that he would return in six months.
Even if he’s not at the 100 percent level he was last season, Daley should still be an impact player next season, especially with no other proven edge rushers in the rotation alongside him. If he’s good to go, he offers a much higher ceiling than any of Michigan’s edge rushers from last season, but he should have a starting spot locked up and will be a player that opposing offenses will have to scheme around on third downs at the very least.
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As an honorable mention, his Utah teammate Jonah Lea’ea could factor into the rotation as either a defensive tackle or an edge rusher after recording 38 tackles in 2025.
