Depending on the scouting service, Michigan football signed an elite transfer portal class. On3 ranks the Wolverines haul in the top 10.
247 Sports ranked Michigan football 29th in the transfer portal rankings. Either way, the Wolverines made 12 additions. Some will make a bigger impact next season than others and here are the five transfers that will have the biggest impacts for U-M in 2025.
5. Damon Payne, DT, Alabama
Michigan football had two huge holes to fill on the defensive line with the departures of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant for the NFL.
The good news is that the defensive line looked stout as hell against Alabama and didn't have either of those guys. In fact, every dude who played for Michigan football on the defensive front in the bowl game is back on the roster.
The Wolverines also added two four-star transfers at defensive tackle. One of those is Damon Payne, the former five-star recruit from Belleville, developed into a stellar run defender with the Crimson Tide and he'll excel in that same role in Ann Arbor.
Payne won't be Graham or Grant, but if he can play close to the level of Rayshaun Benny last season, at least on run downs, this will be a big win for Michigan football.
4. TJ Metcalf, S, Arkansas
The former SEC starter is one of the most underrated transfer portal additions by Michigan football this winter. He was ranked as a three-star according to 247 Sports, but last season, Metcalf had 57 tackles, seven pass breakups, and three interceptions for the Razorbacks.
With Rod Moore returning but possibly playing the Nickel spot, Metcalf should be penciled in as a starting safetly most likely next to Brandyn Hillman. Hillman really came on last season and will prove to be one of the most devastating hitters in college football, like he should in the bowl game.
Metcalf will play more of the traditional safety role. He shined at Arkansas and Wolverines fans will be pleastantly surpised by the impact made by Metcalf next season.
3. Donaven McCulley, WR, Indiana
McCulley isn't rated very highly according to the 247 Sports transfer rankings. The former Indiana wideout/quarterback is ranked as the No. 45 wide receiver. He was ranked 242nd overall.
Yet, if the 6-foot-5 wide receiver entered after the 2023 season with the Hoosiers in which he caught 48 passes for 664 yards and four touchdowns, he would have been ranked much higher.
McCulley dealt with some injuries in 2024, and with others ahead of him on the depth chart, he entered the transfer portal early. Oklahoma was another serious contender because when healthy, McCulley is a proven commodity.
in 2023, he had five games with at least 67 yards receiving in Big Ten play. There was a four-catch, 96-yard performance against Penn State that season, as well as an 11-reception, 137-yard game against Illinois. McCulley also caught five for 67 yards against Wisconsin and three for 72 yards against Michigan State.
Last season, Michigan football didn't have any wideouts like McCulley they could count on. He might not be a big name but he's capable of being a No. 1 wideout for this Michigan football team and with Bryce Underwood or Mikey Keene throwing him the ball, I believe we'll see something much closer to the 2023 version of Donaven McCulley in 2025.
2. Tre Williams, DT, Clemson
The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Tre Williams was ranked as the No. 8 defensive tackle in the portal and he's a dude who will make a major impact for the Wolverines.
Williams didn't put up huge numbers with Clemson. He has 35 career tackles, four sacks, and 11 tackles for loss. But with defensive tackles, numbers rarely tell the entire story.
Williams had two sacks against Texas in the College Football Playoff. Thinking back to the bowl win over Alabama, just imagine that pass rush Michigan can trot out with Benny, Derrick Moore, T.J. Guy, and Williams. It feels like Tre will get plenty of one-on-one matchups.
Call me crazy, but Tre Williams and Damon Payne will play better for Michigan than they did at Clemson or Alabama. Benny will get doubled on every single play. He's that good. Williams is good enough to make teams pay and his draft stock wil shoot up after a big-time season in Ann Arbor.
1. Justice Haynes, RB, Alabama
Allowing Michigan football to get the top-ranked running back from the transfer portal is something the rest of college football soon come to regret.
Justice Haynes was a five-star recruit for a reason. Things didn't go quite as expected with Alabama, but it wasn't because of Haynes. The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder just didn't get enough chances.
Haynes carried the ball 104 times for Alabama and produced 616 yards. That's 5.9 yards per rushing attempt and when you watch his highlights, you'll wonder why they didn't give it to him more.
Chip Lindsey has talked about how he wants Michigan football to be "explosive" and Haynes delivered four explosive runs (20 yards or more) in just 79 attempts last season. In a recent video, posted by Haynes, the 43rd overall prospect from the transfer portal, looks ready to roll.
back to work with @UMichFootball running back @justicehaynes6 💎 pic.twitter.com/z3Dk5tdgJa
— Beckwith Sports Academy (@bsa28_) February 14, 2025
The only thing that could keep him from getting 1,000 yards next season is Jordan Marshall, but even so, Michigan football could have the best RB tandem in college football next season.