Michigan football has done some solid work in the transfer portal. The Wolverines also still have some irons in the fire in the 2025 recruiting class, including five-star offensive tackle Ty Haywood.
U-M also signed five-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola. It's possible that those players could compete for the starting left tackle job next season and that one could play their way onto the field, but playing a true freshman is always risky.
Babalola is incredibly talented. I'm certain he'll be in the discussion but the Wolverines could use a veteran tackle. Andrew Sprague played well in the ReliaQuest Bowl and seems destined to be the starting right tackle.
The left tackle job can't go to Evan Link, who should be a guard. I'd take Babalola or Haywood starting over Link, even if there are some growing pains, which there would be. That's why adding an offensive tackle is essential.
I had hoped that the Wolverines could land Connor Moore, an FCS All-American from Montana State. He would be perfect for the Wolverines but according to EJ Holland of The Wolverine.com, there is no movement there. Shiyazh Pete is an option. He's 6-foot-8, 320 pounds, and has played over 1,700 snaps at left tackle for New Mexico State. He was All-Conference C-USA in 2023 but was limited to last season due to injury.
Pete is ranked No. 11 among offensive tackles in the transfer portal. Nebraska is another team in the mix but they just landed Elijah Pritchett. If the Wolverines make a push, they could land Pete and he would be an ideal addition to solidy offensive tackle.
That could allow Link to move to guard, where he could compete along with transfer addition Lawrence Hattar, a former D-2 All-American who will play guard at Michigan. Link, Giovanni El-Hadi, and Hattar would give the Wolverines some decent options inside.
They would also have a good group of tackles with Pete, Sprague, Babalola, and potentially Haywood. Blake Frazier is a name to remember too.
Michigan football needs receivers from transfer portal
Just as important as adding another offensive tackle is finding a wide receiver. This Michigan football team needs at least one more and another name is on the radar. That's Anthony Simpson, who spent the past two seasons playing for UMass.
EJ Holland reported the interest. A visit hasn't been scheduled yet and other teams like Michigan State, Northwestern, and Oklahoma State have been in the mix. But, Steve Casula was on staff at UMass during the 2023 season so there's familiarity there.
At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Simpson caught 57 passes for 793 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. He also had nearly 100 yards rushing and has been used as a kickoff returner at both UMass and Arizona, where he played before transferring.
This past season, Simpson got hurt and entered the transfer portal in October. Simpson had four 100-yard games during that 2023 season. I don't know if he's graduated or not, which would help with admissions, but if so, Simpson would be a good fit even if he's ranked No. 901 overall among players available in the transfer portal.
I'm still holding out hope for Kaedin Robinson of App State or Tru Edwards from Louisiana Tech. But I don't see why the Wolverines couldn't add one of those guys, and Simpson. This wide receiver room needs more than 1-2 guys. It needed an overhaul and two more players from the portal would be ideal.
Although, it's starting to feel like Michigan football fans might have to be happy with one.