Michigan Football: Signing day wrap up and transfer talk

Michigan football’s unprecedented run continues with another modest, yet undervalued class to go along with a blitzkrieg of transfers to fill in the holes of those who are departing.

Everything that the maize and blue are touching these days is turning to gold and this is no different. The Wolverines hauled 23 incoming freshmen to their early signing day class. They also reeled in seven transfers from across the country to help with depth and perhaps find a starter or two to throw into the mix. There are still some big fish left on the board that they are waiting for, but they have undoubtedly reloaded for another championship chase in 2023-24.

Among the highest-rated recruits on four of the major sites is wide receiver Karmello English, which they nabbed from SEC territory. He’ll showcase his skills in the Under Armour All-American game along with offensive lineman Amir Herring. Herring is arguably considered to be the cream of the crop in the trenches on the offensive side. He and Evan Link will be fighting for that distinction.

Enow Etta is Michigan’s preeminent defender in the class. He’s like a blur at the line of scrimmage because of his fast first step. He’s racked up so many sacks in high school that it’s hard to keep count of them. Etta reminds me of Kris Jenkins a little bit because of his build, but he should be better than him in the long term. I think it’s pretty safe to say that he’ll see reps against East Carolina next year if the coaches desire.

Jyaire Hill is another four-star recruit. He possesses the size that coaches want in a corner. He’s track speed fast, which will be a coup when facing the speed of the SEC in the postseason. Cole Cabana is my personal favorite because he fits Jim Harbaugh’s offense like a glove. He’ll be a household name in a few years if all goes well and a Heisman contender like Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards.

In the portal, Michigan football found a tight end to replace Erick All in A.J. Barner. Colston Loveland should still be the primary target at the position, but both will be required to block-first tight ends. His teammate at Indiana, Jack Tuttle, will bring Big Ten starting experience, something that Michigan football loses with Cade McNamara and Alan Bowman moving on.

Drake Nugent, Myles Hinton, and LaDarius Henderson will all hope to fend off a crammed offensive line group. Karsen Barnhart, Giovanni El-Hadi, and Trente Jones could be penciled in as starters if they all return and that’s not even counting what Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter decide to do with their eligibility.

Ernest Hausmann and Josaiah Stewart are going to be two guys who contribute right away too. Hausmann may even start depending upon Nikhai Hill-Green and Michael Barrett.

With the emergence of Jimmy Rolder and the arrival of Hausmann, the transition of Kalel Mullings can be a much easier one now. It leaves the back-to-back Big Ten champions with an overabundance of riches at just about every position on the field.