Having success in the transfer portal is a major part of winning in college football. You might not want to build an entire team through the portal, but it's hard to win without at least supplementing your roster with transfer portal talent.
That's what Michigan football was trying to do in 2026. The Wolverines had a talented roster that mostly needed to be retained and developed (better).
Outside of a few key players, the retention went really well. Michigan football added some impact players from the transfer portal, too. You need more than superstars, though. You need solid starters, role players, and depth.
Truth be told, Michigan lost more defensive pieces than offensive ones. So there was more work to do in the portal. The Wolverines had to replace their top two pass rushers. They also lost their best defensive tackle, their top two linebackers, and two starting safeties from last season.
Some of those spots will be filled internally. Yet, Michigan added players from the portal at those spots, too, and here are three who are among the most under-appreciated.
Chris Bracy, S (Memphis)
Talk about valuing production over potential. Michigan lost two players who started a lot of games for them (Brandyn Hillman and TJ Metcalf) but their impact was up and down.
Rod Moore getting healthy is the most important thing for the safety position. If he's 100 percent, that will be a game-changer for the secondary.
Bracy is ranked by 247 Sports as the No. 1,276 player overall. That seems crazy for a guy who had 81 tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine pass breakups (most in American) and an interception.
It's fair to question if Bracy can produce like that in the Big Ten. But this new defensive coaching staff knows defensive backs, and they seem very high on Bracy. Don't be shocked at all if he's in the starting lineup game one next to Moore.
Nathaniel Staehling, LB (NDSU)
The 6-foot-2, 238-pound linebacker is ranked as a three-star, outside the top 1,000 by 247 Sports and Rivals. The North Dakota State captain, and former starting inside linebacker, is ranked 99th among linebackers in the portal (Rivals).
Like Bracy, he was productive for one of the best teams in the FCS. He's not as athletically gifted as Cole Sullivan. Yet, he produced 76 tackles, six tackles for loss, and three interceptions last season.
Michigan needs someone who can hold up against the run, and not get torched against the pass, to play alongside Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng.
Turns, another Nathaniel might be all that Michigan needed.
Jonah Lea'ea, DL (Utah)
Michigan football needed some help on the defensive line, and Jonah Lea'ea, a 12-game starter for Utah at defensive tackle last season was a great option.
Lea'ea is 6-foot-5, 285 pounds. He's someone who could play three-technique or five-technique. Last season, he had 38 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup.
Adding him to a defensive line that includes Enow Etta and Trey Pierce is a really solid trio, especially with John Henry Daley and Cameron Brandt (at least for run downs) on the edge. Nate Marshall and Carter Meadows are two names to know at EDGE, but Jonah Lea'ea can also rush the passer.
Lea'ea's best football is ahead of him, and thankfully, he will play it in a Michigan football uniform.