Michigan Football has been unusually aggressive on the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, bringing in seven players from other schools. Usually, the Wolverines bring a handful, but this cycle, corn and blue fill in numerous holes in the team.
From offensive line (LaDarius Henderson, Drake Nugent, and Myles Hinton), tight end (AJ Barner), quarterback (Jack Tuttle), edge rusher (Josaiah Stewart), and linebacker (Ernest Hausmann), Michigan produced seven players, all capable of making immediate impact .
ESPN has compiled a list of the 75 best transfers of 2023, and four Wolverines made it — though we certainly think there are two omissions in the list of likely starters.
Here’s who the world leader picked as the top inbound transfers for Ann Arbor. ($)
22. LB Ernst Hausmann
After being listed by 247Sports as the top-ranked transfer on the portal, Hausmann will have high-profile recruits joining him ahead of Deion Sanders’ exodus from Jackson State, if he’s not a starter at Ann Arbor, Hausmann will be in heavy rotation and doesn’t have to be the Bearing the brunt of being a lone playmaker in the face of those playing around him.
ESPN:
Background: Hausmann was a three-star prospect from Columbus, Nebraska in the Class of 2022. He played as a true freshman for the Huskers, starting seven games. He had 54 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss and 1 interception.
How he fits in with Michigan: The Wolverines will lose some linebackers, and Hausmann has already shown he can play in the Big Ten in his first season on campus. The Wolverines don’t take on many transfers, especially newcomers, so staff looking to add Hausmann must think highly of him.
26. EDGE Josaiah Stewart
Stewart’s 2022 from Coastal Carolina came somewhat unannounced and underwhelmed compared to 2021. But given Michigan’s need to move on Mike Morris and Eyabi Okie, he should be an immediate player.
ESPN:
Background: Stewart totaled 43 tackles in his freshman season in 2021 and also had 15.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. He had 36 total tackles with 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in Coastal Carolina this season. Since joining the transfer portal, he has solicited offers from Michigan, Cincinnati, North Carolina, USC, West Virginia, Missouri and the state of Mississippi, among others.
How he fits in with Michigan: The Wolverines lose defensive end Mike Morris and could use some help in the 2023 season’s pass rush. Stewart will give the Wolverines a versatile defender who can rush the passer or take cover. He has plenty of experience and should help keep the defense at the top in most major categories next season.
57. LaDarius Henderson
Henderson, an Arizona State mauler, will likely be Michigan’s left starting player if someone else doesn’t get promoted. He’s rated relatively low across ESPN, but given his pedigree mixed with back-to-back Joe Moore Awards, he was considered a home run for the Wolverines.
ESPN:
Background: Henderson has a wealth of experience, accumulated playing time and even started 2019 in his first season as a left tackle. He played both guard and tackle in an abbreviated 2020 season but started all 13 games as a left guard for Arizona State in 2021 and made six starts in 2022 and served as a cog along the offensive line last season.
How he fits in with Michigan: The Wolverines won the 2021 Joe Moore Award for Best Offensive Line and are in the top two again this season with Georgia. Graduate Transfer Center Olusegun Oluwatimi will move on, so the team will have at least one vacancy along the line. Henderson should be able to fight for a starting spot, or at least rotate with the veteran players Michigan will return in 2023.
74. Myles Hinton
The brother of former Michigan football DT Chris Hinton, the Younger Hinton visited Ann Arbor early and often before settling at Stanford. He didn’t quite live up to his five-star claim in Palo Alto, but he’s hoping for a better result with his change of scenery.
ESPN:
Background: Hinton signed with Stanford after high school in Michigan and played four games during his 2020 freshman season. He was recognized as the team’s most outstanding freshman and then made nine starts while playing in 12 games in proper tackles during the 2021 season.
How he fits in with Michigan: Hinton’s brother Christopher played defensive tackle for Michigan, so his family is already familiar with the program. The Wolverines will lose a few chunks of this season’s offensive starting line, which won the Joe Moore Award (best O-line in FBS) for the second straight year. Michigan added Hinton, Stanford teammate Drake Nugent and Arizona State transfer LaDarius Henderson to the line, and all three will add competition and depth for next season.
nudge
While the above inclusions are certainly potential playmakers and maybe starters, we have a feeling this list is missing center Drake Nugent and tight end AJ Barner, both of whom could be starters in the upcoming season.
Nugent was one of PFF’s top-rated centers last season and a semifinalist in the Rimington Trophy (that honor went to Michigan’s Olu Oluwatimi). Barner may not have much production in his career, but he has the intangibles of leadership to join a tighter Happy system.
Tuttle would then be our only omission, and considering he came to Ann Arbor as backup, it’s no surprise he didn’t make the list.
Story originally appeared on Wolverines Wire