Drafting Michigan football’s transfer portal wish list
The transfer portal has changed the dynamic of college football. No longer are teams forced to rebuild their program using solely their recruits and development. Now, teams like Ole Miss can end up in a New Year’s Six bowl with 16 of their 22 starters beginning their college careers elsewhere. Crazy stuff.
Michigan has done a great job of developing players recently, but that doesn’t mean that the staff won’t look to the portal to fill any gaps that may pop up with players leaving for the NFL or the portal themselves.
I have put together a list of five players that top my portal wishlist. These names are not based on rumors, but rather where I see the best combination of talent and need.
1
Dante Moore, QB, UCLA
This one could actually happen.
Moore was a five-star quarterback from Michigan just one year ago, but chose to go to UCLA to further his football career. Well, apparently California failed to live up to expectations as Dante is now back on the market.
Moore did not have the best stats completing 53% of his passes for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. That being said, he is still the top target at quarterback. He showed really high level flashes and can certainly be a J.J. McCarthy level talent if he opts to return to the great state of Michigan. Moore could start next year or learn for a year if McCarthy opts to come back for his senior campaign. Either way, I see him as Michigan best options at some point in the near future.
Moore currently has a .9500 grade from 247Sports and is the third overall player in the portal.
2
Walter Nolen, IDL, Texas A&M
Nolen was once Michigan’s top overall target as a high schooler, now he should have a similar priority in the portal.
Nolen is a freaky athlete on the inside of the defense and instantly improves Michigan’s ceiling and floor on the defensive line. Nolen had 37 tackles, eight and a half tackles for loss, and four sacks for the Aggies as a true Sophomore.
Nolen is just different gravy. He is 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, but he moves like he’s 240 and hits like he’s 340. The kid was a top-five talent in high school for a reason and will likely be a first round draft selection in 2025. If Michigan can pair him up with Kenneth Grant, Mason Graham, and Rayshaun Benny next year, it would be a dream come true.
Nolen currently holds a grade of .9900 from 247Sports and is the top ranked player in the portal.
3
Cayden Green, OL, Oklahoma
This is another former recruiting target.
Green just finished his true freshman year, and shocked the college football world by entering his name into the portal. Green was a top-100 recruit coming out of high school, and started seven games for the Sooners as a true freshman.
Michigan will be looking to add one starter to the offensive line next year through the portal. It’s likely that Michigan loses Henderson, Keegan, Nugent and Zinter to the NFL, and Barnhart has a decision to make himself. That leaves Hinton and Jones starting at tackle, El-Hadi at left guard, and question marks at center and right guard. Green can play either tackle or guard, and honestly looked better than Hinton did this season. He would be a starter for certain and possibly Michigan’s top offensive lineman.
Honestly, this spot could have gone to Chase Bisontis as well, but I chose Green due to Michigan’s involvement in his recruitment. Either player would be a massive win for the Wolverines.
Cayden Green does not have a great from 247Sports yet, but Chase Bisontis is the eigth overall player with a .9400 grade.
4
Princely Unmanmielen, EDGE, Florida
Another SEC defensive lineman rounds out the wish list.
Unmanmielen just finished his fourth year of college football and could easily be a top-100 pick in the draft, but could opt to return for a fifth year.
Unmanmielen is 6-foot-4 and 260lbs, so he would likely team up with Derrick Moore as Michigan’s larger edge defender. He is an experienced pass rusher and understands how to wreck havock against top offensive lineman.
He registered 39 totals tackles, seven sack, and 11.5 tackles for loss last season and was probably the best player on a pretty dismal Florida defense. Being able to work with other strong pass rushers like Josiah Stewart, Derrick Moore, and Kenneth Grant next year would boost Unmanmielen’s stock and push him into the second round.
Unmanmielen holds a grade of .9400 from 247Sports and is the seventh highest rated player in the transfer portal.
5
Andrew Mukuba, S, Clemson
Just like the offensive line, Michigan will be losing a big chunk of its secondary this offseason. That includes three of the top safeties Rod Moore, Makari Paige, and Quinten Johnson.
Assuming all three depart for the NFL, Michigan would be left with just Keon Sabb as an experienced playmaker. Zeke Berry would be the other starter, and while I have high expectations for him, adding a veteran to the room is more of a need than a want.
Mukuba is the perfect fit here. The true junior has started in all three of his seasons at Clemson and much like Umanmielen, could have been an NFL draft choice had he declared instead of entered the portal. Mukuba has 142 tackles, 15 passes defensed, and one interception in his career.
Mukuba holds a .9300 grade for 247Sports and is the 10th-ranked player in the transfer portal.
