Michigan Football: Wolverines still after elite LB in transfer portal

Michigan football is still making a push for a linebacker in the transfer portal and here’s the latest on the Wolverines pursuit.

When Henry To’o To’o hit the transfer portal, there was no shortage of schools that were interested in him and you could count Michigan football among those in pursuit of the former four-star recruit.

There was some thought that the Wolverines could be in the mix for the former Tennessee football standout, who left following the departure of former head coach Jeremy Pruitt, however, it has long been thought that To’o To’o would wind up at Alabama.

In fact, there hasn’t been much mentioned about him, as far as Michigan football is concerned with most of the talk surrounding Alabama, Ohio State, and a possible return to Tennessee.

Yet, according to an interesting report from Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider on Tuesday night, the Wolverines are still pushing for the linebacker, which could mean they’ve got a chance. Here’s what Webb wrote:

"“The Michigan Insider learned this week that it only appeared that way. The Wolverines’ pursuit of the former Concord (Calif.) De La Salle standout is ongoing. That being said, there are a couple of familiar hurdles hindering Michigan’s chances here –a.) would he clear admissions? b.) if he did clear admissions how many of his credits would transfer? The difficulty in clearing both hurdles automatically make every transfer pursuit more challenging, but that the Michigan brass is still hanging around this recruitment suggests they believe there’s a chance.”"

The thought has been that To’o To’o was waiting for finalization that he would be able to play right away for Alabama, which has been a question in the SEC.

So Ohio State has emerged as the top team in the To’o To’o sweepstakes assuming he doesn’t wind up with the Crimson Tide. For the Buckeyes, it would be the rich getting richer, but for Michigan football, it would fill a huge need in the middle of the defense.

More than anything, it would add a playmaker to the front seven and the entire defense, which is lacking in impact players outside of Daxton Hill and potentially Aidan Hutchinson.

Last season in nine games the 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker was credited with 68 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception. He also had 68 tackles, five for loss and one sack as a freshman as well as two pass breakups. He has four of those during his career.

With Michael Barrett and Josh Ross the projected starters at inside linebacker right now, Michigan football could use an upgrade. Barrett especially has never played the position before.

We’ll see if it happens and I wouldn’t hold my breath, but at least there’s hope and at least the Wolverines are making the effort.