Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh said the program was going to look to the transfer portal and here are three players the Wolverines should consider.
In the past, Michigan football hasn’t been afraid to use the transfer portal, although the Wolverines have made limited additions compared to some other schools.
But with some key weaknesses to address and some depth needed at certain positions, Jim Harbaugh has already said Michigan football will look to the portal, as well as the late signing period for more talent to add to the 20 players it signed on Wednesday.
Certainly, there are some targets to watch in the 2021 recruiting class and in-state defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny tops that list.
But for a class that was once thought to include 25-26 recruits, there are some spots to fill. Also, Michigan is losing its own transfers as Zach Carpenter and Will Hart have already announced they are in the portal and others are surely to follow.
That’s life in this new age of college football and if Michigan is going to keep up and be competitive, it needs to be as aggressive as anyone in the portal and hopefully that starts now.
There are a few targets that make sense and some that aren’t all that far away, which is where we start — with a former Spartan.
WR/CB Julian Barnett
Julian Barnett was a four-star recruit out of high school but his first two seasons didn’t go great with Michigan State. He started out as a wide receiver then moved to cornerback and saw limited time last season before transferring.
Barnett is from the state of Michigan, so it would make sense for the Wolverines to target him, especially with their need of depth at corner. He’s 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and he’s a solid all-around athlete.
It sounds like Barnett wants to play defense and that would be ideal for Michigan, which signed just one cornerback on Wednesday. But even as a wide receiver, he could have a role especially with his size.
Treshaun Hayward
With the way the defense performed last season, Michigan football can’t afford to ignore any position in the portal and the Wolverines need to add as much depth and talent as possible.
You never know who might leave or get injured or whatever and one graduate transfer who makes a lot of sense is Treshaun Hayward from Western Michigan.
He played high school football in Ann Arbor and he’s been a productive player for the Broncos with 238 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He wasn’t a super highly-rated recruit or anything and there’s no guarantee that he would come in and start but you have to imagine he could fine a role.
The point is that this team needs depth and more talent and if Hayward is willing to finish his career in the Big Ten playing for Michigan football, the Wolverines should take him up on that.
Hayward was the MAC Defensive Player of the Year so I think the coaching staff could find a way to use him.
Duval Paul
One position where Michigan football could probably use some immediate help is at defensive tackle. Benny could definitely make an immediate impact if he winds up flipping from Michigan State to Michigan but it’s hard to know how likely that is or not.
Chris Hinton and Mazi Smith were two high-ranking four-star recruits and the hope is that they can have breakout seasons in 2021. They each flashed promise last season but even if they grow into full-time players, the Wolverines will need more depth.
One thing that the team really seemed to struggle with last year was creating a pass rush on the interior. Defensive tackles don’t always have to get sacks, but if they don’t get a push, it makes it easier for quarterbacks to avoid edge rushers.
And while there are a number of different defensive tackle options in the portal, one that would make sense is Duval Paul of Georgetown.
Isaiah Hole of Wolverines Wire offered up the idea originally, but it makes a lot of sense and when you watch his highlights, you see a guy with some burst. It’s hard to know how that would translate, but he had interest in going to the NFL and I’m sure a program like Michigan is just the opportunity he wants.
There hasn’t been much interest at this point, but he seems like a fit and someone who could offer some depth that’s sorely needed.