Projecting Who's Staying and Who's Leaving from Michigan After Bowl Game
Between a new coach, quarterback carousel and wildly up-and-down series of results, the reigning national champions had an awfully adventurous 2024 campaign.
Michigan celebrated a title last season, then Jim Harbaugh left his alma mater and returned to the NFL sidelines. The school promoted offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore as the roster dealt with a massive overhaul, and his full-time coaching debut was, well, complicated.
During the regular season, the Wolverines lost a handful of games and weren't much of a threat offensively.
But they toppled Michigan State and shocked rival Ohio State. It wasn't a disastrous year in Ann Arbor, either.
Following a 19-13 win over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl, Michigan's attention shifts to restocking the roster this offseason.
Who's Staying
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Very Little of the Offense
Michigan brings back right guard Giovanni El-Hadi and right tackle Evan Link. Beyond them, not much! That duo at least gives the Wolverines a foundation up front, but there's a serious rebuild on the horizon.
Promising Front Seven
On the other side of the ball, there's a lot more returning production. Linebackers and top tacklers Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham are able to return, as well as key edge-rushers TJ Guy and Derrick Moore with defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny.
All-American Kicker
Touchdowns are the goal, of course. But when an offense stalls, it sure is nice to have an incredibly reliable kicker. Dominic Zvada, a second-team AP All-American, hit 16-of-17 field goals this season with critical fourth-quarter kicks in wins over Minnesota and Ohio State.
Who's Leaving
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So Much on Offense
For various reasons, starting QBs Davis Warren, Alex Orji and Jack Tuttle are gone. Running backs Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards used up their eligibility, as did left tackle Myles Hinton and left guard Josh Priebe. Tight end Colston Loveland is headed to the NFL draft, too.
Even More on Defense
Despite the team's frustrating year, Michigan still had three AP All-Americans on its defense. Mason Graham secured first-team honors at defensive tackle, while position-mate Kenneth Grant was a third-teamer with cornerback Will Johnson. They're off to the NFL alongside top pass-rusher Josaiah Stewart and longtime safety Makari Paige.
Lots of Transfers
As of this writing, Michigan has 17 outbound transfers. The biggest loss is starting center Dominick Giudice, and don't underestimate the departure of punter and kickoff specialist Tommy Doman. Along with Orji, backup quarterback Jayden Denegal is gone, too.
Who's on the Way
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Impact Transfers
So far, Michigan has landed seven transfers. Indiana receiver Donaven McCulley, Alabama defensive tackle Damon Payne and Arkansas safety TJ Metcalf are strong candidates to start in 2025. Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene and Cal Poly offensive lineman Brady Norton should not be overlooked, either.
The Nation's Top QB Prospect
In an ideal situation, the Maize and Blue brought in Keene to serve as a veteran backup. The sooner Bryce Underwood starts, the better—in theory. Michigan flipped him from LSU late in the 2025 cycle. Underwood, who's a local product, is the No. 1 player in the class.
Top-10 Recruiting Class
Michigan has a second 5-star signee with offensive tackle Andrew Babalola, who's rated 14th overall in the nation. Overall, the Wolverines have the ninth-ranked class with 14 other blue-chip talents. The best 4-stars in the haul are defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall (55th), wide receiver Andrew Marsh (70th) and cornerback Shamari Earls (86th).
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