Michigan wide receiver Jake Thaw plays during the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 1, 2023.Neil Blake | MLive.com
The Michigan football special teams contributor who had the entire Wolverines’ fan base on edge late in the Rose Bowl against Alabama is looking for a new college home for his final three years of eligibility.
Walk-on Jake Thaw, who also is listed as a receiver, has entered the NCAA transfer portal, he announced Wednesday on social media.
The 6-foot-1, 191-pounder might best be remembered for his muffed punt in the final minute of Michigan’s 27-20 overtime win over Alabama. Although he wasn’t able to field the punt cleanly inside his own 10-yard line, he quickly backtracked and recovered the ball at the 1 to prevent a safety or potential Alabama touchdown that would have given the Crimson Tide the lead.
Thaw’s recovery allowed Michigan to kneel out the remainder of the clock to force overtime, where it won on a Blake Corum touchdown and a fourth-down stop to advance to the national championship. Thaw and freshman receiver Semaj Morgan, who also muffed a punt against Alabama that led to a turnover, shared time back deep in Monday’s 34-13 national championship victory against Washington.
“”For those that have kept unwavering support — thank you,” Thaw posted on X, formerly Twitter. “And for those that have not, I understand. I made the biggest two mistakes of my life on the biggest stage, and I won’t ever forgive myself. I’ll always love and cherish @UMichFootball and this fanbase. Go Blue.
“On a separate note, I have entered the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining. Thank you for everything Michigan and Team 144. Linked below are my highlights and my recruitment is wide open. Go Blue!”
Thaw had served as Michigan’s primary punt returner earlier this season and finished with 16 for 101 yards in 2023, but Morgan had taken over the lead job late in the year. After Morgan’s struggles fielding punts against Alabama, the Wolverines put Thaw back deep for the first time with the game on the line.
Michigan sophomore receiver Darrius Clemons also entered the portal Wednesday, MLive confirmed. The former top-150 recruit from Oregon has been buried on the depth chart his first two seasons, catching four passes for 40 yards.
Clemons and Thaw are the first Michigan players to enter the portal after the national title game. Running backs C.J. Stokes and Leon Franklin, cornerback Cam Calhoun and linebacker/baseball player Joey Velazquez entered their names before the Wolverines’ Rose Bowl semifinal against the Crimson Tide.
The portal is open for just Michigan and Washington players until Jan. 13 after a new NCAA rule this year gives participants in New Year’s Six Bowl games and extra five-day window after their game to enter the portal. The portal closed on Jan. 2.
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