Everyone Michigan football added/subtracted via transfer this offseason
On pretty much every front, it has been a tumultuous offseason for the maize and blue.
Michigan football had a solid sprint across the finish line to close out its 2021 recruiting class (though it lost one of its big stars in Xavier Worthy just a few short weeks ago) and had a complete overhaul to its entire coaching staff.
But that wasn’t all. Given the schematic and coaching changes, there were a lot of personnel changes as well. The Wolverines brought in some grad transfers but also lost quite a few players to the NCAA transfer portal.
Here is everyone who has come and gone from the program this offseason.
List
Michigan football: Every former Wolverines player currently on an NFL roster
Added: DT Jordan Whittley
Photo: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Fulfilling a need at nose tackle in defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald's new 3-4 defense, Whittley comes aboard after having played at Oregon State and is Michigan's newest addition, having committed on Friday.
Added: QB Alan Bowman
Photo: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Coming in from Texas Tech, where he passed for 5,260 yards, 33 TD and 17 INT in three years, Alan Bowman enters the Michigan quarterbacks room with an opportunity to seize the starting job right away. He'll have fierce competition due to Cade McNamara being the incumbent starter at the position.
Added, then lost: OT Willie Allen
Photo: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Formerly a player at LSU, before having gone to JUCO, the former Louisiana Tech starter announced his transfer to Michigan during the 2020 season. He only lasted through spring ball, however, as he entered the NCAA transfer portal then committed to UMass.
Lost: RB Zach Charbonnet
Photo: Isaiah Hole
After only getting 19 carries in five games in 2020, it was much surmised that Zach Charbonnet would be on the way out from Ann Arbor. He intended to stay and sort things out, but a month into the offseason, he had a change of heart, and transferred to UCLA.
Lost: WR Giles Jackson
Photo: Isaiah Hole
It was a big surprise coming out of spring, that the reportedly banged up Giles Jackson was opting to seek greener pastures. He ultimately committed to Washington, which means he'll be returning to The Big House in Week 2 this year.
Lost: QB Joe Milton
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Joe Milton was thought to be the QB of the future in Ann Arbor, and while he had a solid debut, he eventually lost his job to Cade McNamara. He announced after the season that he was transferring and wound up committing to Tennessee.
Lost: QB Ren Hefley
QB Ren Hefley and DB Caden Kolesar. Photo: Isaiah Hole
A walk-on quarterback, Ren Hefley was in Ann Arbor for two years, but opted to transfer this offseason. Naturally, he was behind several on the depth chart, but it's a loss for the scout team.
Lost: Michigan RB Gaige Garcia
After spending one season in Ann Arbor, walk-on running back Gaige Garcia -- who was also on the wrestling team -- entered the NCAA transfer portal. He came from the same high school as Ohio State five-star receiver Julian Fleming in Pennsylvania.
Lost: OC Zach Carpenter
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Expected to be the center of the future, Zach Carpenter got some limited time late in the year due to Andrew Vastardis' injury. He surprised many by entering the NCAA transfer portal and ended up committing to Indiana.
Lost: RB Christian Turner
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Turner opted out of the 2020 season initially, but ended up returning just before the season opener. Relegated to the practice squad, he was somewhat buried on the depth chart, despite high expectations. He opted to transfer and ended up at Wake Forest.
Lost: QB Dylan McCaffrey
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Anticipated when he opted out of the 2020 season quietly during the summer, QB Dylan McCaffrey didn't officially enter the NCAA transfer portal until the offseason. He opted to transfer to Northern Colorado to play for his father, Ed McCaffrey, who is the head coach there.
Lost: DE Luiji Vilain
Photo: Isaiah Hole
With a bigger role anticipated in 2021, Luiji Vilain opted to test the market instead, entering the NCAA transfer portal. He saw increased playing time in 2020 after having seen limited action in 2019, subsequent to being held out with injuries the prior two years. He also transferred to Wake Forest.
Lost: DT Phillip Paea
Photo: Isaiah Hole
An oft-injured defensive tackle, Phillip Paea entered the NCAA transfer portal in April after spring ball. His transfer destination is yet unknown.
Lost: LB Ben VanSumeren
Photo: Isaiah Hole
The starting SAM linebacker in 2020 in Don Brown's defense, Ben VanSumeren moved from linebacker to fullback to tight end to H-back and back to linebacker during his tenure in Ann Arbor. Left without a position, he opted to enter the transfer portal and ended up committing to rival Michigan State, which garnered some interesting reactions.
Lost: LB William Mohan
Photo: Michigan football
Expected to be the VIPER of the future in Don Brown's defense, the safety/linebacker was left without a position with the Mike Macdonald hire. He entered the NCAA transfer portal and joined Joe Milton at Tennessee, where he'll be playing for his former position coach Brian Jean-Mary.
Lost: LB Adam Shibley
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Once a special teams standout and walk-on, the scholarship linebacker saw a lot of time at the MIKE position with injuries sustained to Cam McGrone in 2020. He ended up transferring to Notre Dame.
Lost: LB Adam Fakih
Photo: Isaiah Hole
A walk-on linebacker and special teams star, Adam Fakih transferred to Duke this offseason, joining former safety J'Marick Woods.
Lost: S Hunter Reynolds
Photo: Isaiah Hole
Another player who appeared to have secured increased playing time, Hunter Reynolds played a bit in 2020 due to an injury to Brad Hawkins. Having gotten his start on special teams, the walk-on-turned-scholarship player transferred to Utah State this offseason.
Lost: WR Xavier Worthy
Honorable mention: Xavier Worthy signed his letter of intent on early signing day, but requested a release this spring. He ultimately committed and signed with Texas.
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