Michigan football did all it could in the winter period of the transfer portal and it made a splash, but not necessarily a huge one.
Yes, the Wolverines got their overall top target in former Alabama running back Justice Haynes, the No. 1 transfer portal tailback, but they also struck out on many of their top targets as well. On Saturday, it became clear there would be no more winter additions with Notre Dame offensive guard Rocco Spindler canceling his visit to Ann Arbor while his teammate, center Pat Coogan, also canceled his planned visit and committed to Indiana on Friday.
So now that the winter portal additions are set, let’s take a look at Michigan’s overall transfer portal haul, projecting their potential contribution in 2025 with the Wolverines, and more.
RB Justice Haynes
Previous school: Alabama
Haynes was never running back No. 1 but showed a ton of flashes in his two seasons in Tuscaloosa. Arguably Michigan’s biggest get in the transfer portal, though Jordan Marshall burst on the scene against Haynes’ former team in the ReliaQuest Bowl, it’s more likely than not that Haynes will be the workhorse for the Wolverines in 2025. Likely more the Blake Corum to Marshall’s mix of Corum and Hassan Haskins, the future is bright with this pairing.
Projection: Day one starter
DT Tré Williams
Previous school: Clemson
Williams has struggled with staying healthy his entire career, but he managed to appear in all 14 games for Clemson in 2024. He notched two sacks and three tackles for loss with the Tigers. But he’s coming to Michigan for a likely increased workload and should see his numbers rise a bit if he’s able to hit his potential.
Projection: Starter, depending on package
DT Damon Payne
Previous school: Alabama
A former five-star from nearby Belleville (Mich.), Payne never quite reached his potential in Tuscaloosa (we’re sensing a theme here). The explosive man in the middle will have a greater opportunity and while we’re not projecting him as a starter right out of the gates, he has the ability to become one by the season’s end.
Projection: In heavy rotation
S TJ Metcalf
Previous school: Arkansas
Metcalf had a breakout season last year in Fayetteville, with three interceptions and seven passes broken up. Michigan does return standout Rod Moore, who sat out all of 2024 with a torn ACL, as well as future stars (potentially) in Brandyn Hillman, Jaden Mangham, and Mason Curtis. However, given his high-level experience in the SEC, we don’t expect him to end up in the same situation as fellow former SEC safety Wesley Walker, who took much of the year to get acclimated to the Michigan defense.
Projection: Day one starter, but will sub out often for the other options
WR Donaven McCulley
Previous school: Indiana
A big-bodied receiver who was once the starting quarterback for the Hoosiers, McCulley led IU in receiving in 2023 before losing his role after Curt Cignetti brought much of the James Madison squad to Bloomington. He arrives at one of the biggest positions of need for the Wolverines and will likely be one of the top, if not the, top targets for whoever is under center for the maize and blue in 2025.
Projection: Day one starter
QB Mikey Keene
Previous school: Fresno State
Michigan saw Keene in Week 1 last season and was impressed enough to bring him in via the transfer portal. Of course, Bryce Underwood is the quarterback everyone is waiting for, but there’s a learning curve going from high school to college, and Keene is plenty experienced. He’s incredibly accurate and has already had a year with new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, so he should be ready to go. He does make some mistakes and will have Underwood breathing down his neck, but he came to Ann Arbor knowing this. Still, he’ll have an impactful role with his new team.
Projection: Will start the first three or four weeks until Underwood is ready
LB Troy Bowles
Previous school: Georgia
There’s no school in the country that has loaded up on top-tier linebackers than Bowles’ former school. But as the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles should be ready to take the next step forward in his career. He will be behind likely starters Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham (assuming he doesn’t move permanently to EDGE) but will likely be the first linebacker off the bench, perhaps surpassing Jaydon Hood and Jimmy Rolder.
Projection: In heavy rotation
OG Lawrence Hattar
Previous school: Ferris State
A standout at the lower level of college football, Hattar is a big-bodied offensive lineman who has all the traits to be a good player in the Big Ten. But, it is a big jump, and he’s going to have to acclimate more in the offseason than in the regular season. He’ll have some decent warm-up games in Weeks 1 and 3, but will also be thrown to the fire against Oklahoma in Week 2 and Nebraska in Week 4. Still, he likely didn’t come to Ann Arbor for his final year to sit on the bench.
Projection: Day one starter
WR Anthony Simpson
Previous school: UMass
Last season, Simpson only appeared in two games and had three catches for 16 yards, but the year before, under current Michigan tight ends coach Steve Casula, who was the Minutemen’s offensive coordinator, he amassed 792 yards on 57 catches. He comes in at a position of need and if he can stay healthy, he could be a big threat in the revamped Michigan pass game.
Projection: Reserve at first, starter by year’s end
CB Caleb Anderson
Previous school: Louisiana – Lafayette
Anderson has not put up impressive numbers with the Ragin’ Cajuns, but he teams back up with his former defensive coordinator at Louisiana in LaMar Morgan. He has two interceptions in his four seasons and is, if nothing else, a solid depth piece.
Projection: In moderate rotation
OL Brady Norton
Previous school: Cal Poly
A standout at the FCS level, Norton is likely more of a future piece with the possibility of becoming a starter as soon as 2026. However, we expect that he will need a year to develop before he becomes a true option along the offensive line — likely projecting to guard, but has the athletic ability to also play tackle, as he had at Cal Poly.
Projection: Redshirt
DB Tevis Metcalf
Previous school: Arkansas
In his freshman year in college football, Metcalf played in 12 games, mostly on special teams, and notched one tackle. He will likely require some development, and while he could play either cornerback or safety, his role with the Wolverines in year one is likely either a redshirt or special teams.
Projection: Redshirt or special teams
LS Trent Middleton
Previous school: UCLA
With William Wagner moving on, Michigan only has former starter Greg Tarr on the roster at longsnapper. Middleton will likely be his backup.
Projection: Reserve
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Evaluating Michigan’s 2025 transfer portal additions and their role
