Michigan football had a complete overhaul of the program with a coaching change to Kyle Whittingham, which led to some new faces also joining the program.
With the transfer portal having opened on January 2, the Wolverines added quite a few difference-makers, and while some might be a bit unheralded though impactful (like Memphis safety Chris Bracy and North Dakota State linebacker Nathaniel Staehling), three of the four letterman transfers from Utah ended up being the headline stealers.
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CBS Sports’ Cooper Petagna (a former Michigan football staffer in recruiting), listed three new Wolverines to his list of top 100 college football transfers in 2026.
The first is different than what other listings have, with former tight end-turned-wide receiver JJ Buchanan as the maize and blue’s top addition.
19. JJ Buchanan, WR, Michigan (Utah)
Portal Rating: 94
What they’re getting: A former Top247 prospect just a year ago, Buchanan flashed throughout his freshman season in Salt Lake City as Kyle Whittingham pulled off one of the sneakier heists of this portal cycle. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Buchanan’s raw playmaking ability — both outside the numbers and after the catch –should provide an immediate jolt to Michigan’s receiving corps for quarterback Bryce Underwood.
The next on the list comes 32 spots down, as the likely starting nickel to replace TJ Metcalf (who transferred to Tennessee). Smith Snowden took a bevy of visits, but ultimately decided to follow Whittingham from Salt Lake City to Ann Arbor.
51. Smith Snowden, CB, Michigan (Utah)
Portal Rating: 93
What they’re getting: A Swiss-army-knife defender in the secondary, Snowden’s ability to operate both in the slot and on the perimeter gives Kyle Whittingham a tough, dependable Michigan defensive back to help solidify his secondary.
The name that tends to be atop most transfer lists is rated as the third Wolverine on Petagna’s. John Henry Daley could end up being the most impactful, assuming he returns in full health (he ruptured his Achilles tendon in November). An edge rusher that appears to be somewhere between Chase Winovich and Aidan Hutchinson, Daley very well could be one of the best steals via the portal when it’s all said and done.
62. John Henry Daley, EDGE, Michigan (Utah)
Portal Rating: 93
What they’re getting: Second in the country with 10 sacks, Daley brings blue-collar toughness and reliability off the edge for the Wolverines. While there’s nothing flashy about his game, his production and ability to consistently get to the quarterback are hard to ignore.
There was one outgoing Michigan player who made the cut — running back Justice Haynes, who transferred to Georgia Tech this offseason.
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This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: CBS Sports names three Michigan transfers among top 100 for 2026
