Everyone has a different perspective on what happens in the transfer portal. Michigan football fans experienced that with the departure of Justice Haynes.
Some have acted like it's the end of the world. Others see it for what it is: a necessity in this new era of roster building. Haynes is a great back. So is Jordan Marshall. Michigan football also has a five-star signee, the top-ranked back in the 2026 class, Savion Hiter.
Hiter cost a pretty penny, as did Marshall, who re-signed this week. Taylor Tatum was the No. 12 (via 247 Sports portal rankings) running back and signed with Michigan football this week.
With all of that depth, there's no reason to panic about the departure of Haynes. This is one where it made sense for both sides to move on. Ty Haywood (OL), Jayden Sanders (CB), Brandyn Hillman (S), TJ Metcalf (S), and Jordan Young (S) also entered recently.
Before that, the biggest names that stayed in the transfer portal were Cole Sullivan (Oklahoma commit), Bryson Kuzdal, and Jaden Mangham. For the most part, new Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham has excelled in player retention.
Our panic meter is simple. It has three levels: Low, medium, and high. Let's see where the Wolverines 21 transfers end up our meter.
High (Freaking out, not replaceable): None
Bryce Underwood would have fit this category. You could make a strong argument that Andrew Marsh would, too (he's agreed to terms to come back).
If we did this list before Jake Guarnera announced his return he would have gotten strong consideration for this category, too, but he, Andrew Sprague, Blake Frazier, and Evan Link have all announced they are coming back.
It's hard to overstate how important it is to have the starting center, one who should be elite, locked up for all of Bryce Underwood's tenure. Underwood will be a sophomore next season; Guarnera will be a redshirt sophomore.
It's hard to imagine Michigan football could find anyone quite like Marsh in the portal, considering his rapport with Underwood. If Jordan Marshall were gone, Haynes' departure would fall here. But Marshall is back, and with the way both played last season, plus the No. 1 running back in high school coming in, made it unlikely that all three were going to share the backfield.
Medium (Replacement is needed to feel good): Cole Sullivan, Jayden Sanders, Jordan Young, TJ Metcalf, Elijah Dotson and Enow Etta
For starters, there hasn't been any movement with Enow Etta in the transfer portal. He has visited anyone, so it feels like there's a good chance he comes back. That will give Michigan another starting-caliber player on the D-line. The Wolverines also just landed a former Utah starting defensive tackle, and it feels like Trey Pierce is coming back, too, although nothing is official.
Nothing is really official until the player announces it. Losing Sanders makes landing Smith Snowden feel more important. Shamari Earls will need to take on a bigger role, and it's a good sign that the former top-100 corner hasn't entered the portal.
It might be tough to keep Sanders and Earls. It might also be difficult to keep Hillman, Metcalf, and Young. Mason Curtis is still on the roster. There has been chatter that Rod Moore could return. If Moore is healthy, Curtis is back, and the Wolverines get say Young out of the portal, there is no reason to panic about safety.
Others are waiting for an opportunity, too, such as Jacob Oden, Kainoa Winston, and cornerback Joziah Edmond. As long as one of the corners is brought back, or one is added from the portal, just like with safety, the Wolverines will be just fine.
Low (Replaceable): Almost all
Ty Haywood, Bryson Kuzdal, Jadyn Davis, Jaydon Hood, CJ Hester, Fred Moore, Connor Jones, Kaden Strayhorn, Davis Warren, Devon Baxter, Jaden Mangham, Jasper Parker, Semaj Morgan, CJ Hester, Brady Prieskorn, Ben Roebuck.
There are some solid players listed above, but they are all replaceable. None of them were major priorities for the staff. Michigan locked up five other offensive linemen before Haywood, a former five-star recruit. He's the only one I'd like back, because he still has a bright future.
Michigan needs a backup quarterback. It also needs to add a linebacker to replace Sullivan, lock down more defensive backs, either through the portal or retention. Michigan also needs more impact pass catchers (JJ Buchanan and Jaime Ffrench) for Bryce Underwood, and the roster will be set.
It doesn't feel like it's that far away from being finalized. The transfer portal is open for six more days.