Running back Justice Haynes spent two seasons at Alabama before heading to Michigan out of the transfer portal this season. Haynes found some solid success with the Wolverines, but his season was cut short due to a foot injury.
There was hope that the injury was not too bad, but later imaging showed that surgery was needed, thus ending his season. Now, Haynes is a later addition to the portal and will be looking for his third school in three years, and he is already being linked to one that could use his skill set.
Haynes is linked not just to a new school, but another new conference, as Georgia Tech is already the early favorites to score the veteran running back.
Georgia Tech will be a team to watch as a potential landing spot for Justice Haynes, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 9, 2026
The Georgia native and former top recruit ran for 857 yards and 10 TDs in seven games this season before a season-ending injury. https://t.co/HP8h1ojDSM pic.twitter.com/NYULE0AAha
Justice Haynes is already linked to Georgia Tech as his next school
CBS Sports is the first report that Georgia Tech is the school to watch early as the best potential landing spot for Haynes. The Georgia native finished his shortened season with 857 rushing yards on 121 rushing attempts and 10 rushing touchdowns. Haynes also averaged 7.1 yards per rush.
As a Georgia native, it makes sense that Haynes could want to return home, plus picking a team outside of the Big Ten and SEC guarantees he won't have to face either former team in the regular season in 2026.
Georgia Tech is losing quarterback Haynes King, so having a big weapon to add to the defense, especially a big rushing threat, would be big for Georgia Tech.
This move by Haynes was expected, especially after the Wolverines picked up Taylor Tatum from Oklahoma in the Transfer Portal. While the Michigan running back could have been the best in the country with those two taking care of the ball, at least Michigan is not left with nothing.