Michigan Football: Are there more transfers on the horizon?

There are rumors floating around about some more Michigan football players leaving via transfer. But even if it happens, it’s no reason to panic.

It’s sometimes hard being a Michigan football fan. You might be feeling good after watching the men’s and women’s basketball teams reach the Sweet 16, then you pop on Twitter and find out that players could be transferring.

In some ways, this is going to be a new normal. With the transfer portal and players essentially being able to play right away wherever they go, players going into the portal will keep happening.

Not every transfer is an indictment of head coach Jim Harbaugh and that remains true even if a guy like Giles Jackson ends up entering the portal. That’s the biggest name that’s being rumored to leave, although it sounds like multiple guys could be transferring.

Brandon Brown of the Wolverine Digest tweeted out this thread.

And then Chris Balas of Rivals (subscription required) reported that an offensive player was going to leave and it sounds like Jackson could be that guy. Balas mentioned a receiver who has “helped in other areas.”

It sounds like Jackson and of course, Michigan Twitter is having a field day.

Looking at potential transfers

At this point, the school hasn’t said anything and it hasn’t been confirmed, but there sure seems to be a lot of smoke.

If Jackson does leave, that will be a bummer, especially for what he can bring on special teams, but as a receiver, there’s probably a reason he has fallen down the depth chart.

Jackson was given plenty of opportunities last season to emerge and really didn’t do much. He caught 15 passes for 167 yards and in five games. He was one of the more reliable skill guys last season but he didn’t take the big step forward that some thought he would.

That doesn’t mean I want Jackson to leave. I’d much rather he stay. But if the depth chart isn’t working in his favor, you can see why guys would leave.

That’s not the fault of the coaching staff and it’s not a sign that the sky is falling. Sometimes, things just don’t work out.

There’s talk of some defensive players leaving too and with the departure of Don Brown, that makes sense. Some players might not like their fit in the new defensive system, so why not go somewhere else that suits you better?

The other thing is that we haven’t heard anything official. There are tons of rumors circulating right now and the bottom line is that guys are going to leave in the spring too.

It’s a good time to see where you could stand on the depth chart, while still having the chance to go somewhere else and play a key role next fall.

My biggest worry about Jackson leaving is Xavier Worthy. Those two seemed to have a strong connection and with different rumors about Worthy enrolling, that could hurt, but then again, even if does happen, it’s not Michigan football’s decision.