6 biggest winners from 2023 college football transfer portal

5. Michigan

Michigan is another team that makes our list despite not being ranked in the top 10 of the 247 sports transfer rankings. The Irish only took three transfers and Michigan football only took seven, but most of them will play a key role on a team pushing for a third straight playoff appearance.

The Wolverines added five four-star prospects in the transfer portal including Ernest Hausmann, the No. 2 overall player. He’s a linebacker from Nebraska and after a stellar campaign, he’s going to be a huge addition to an already solid defense.

The offensive line also added LaDarius Henderson from Arizona State, who can replace starting left tackle Ryan Hayes and Drake Nugent, who will fill in at center for Rimington Award winner Olu Oluwatimi.

What’s interesting is that Nugent is rated as a three-star by 247 sports in the portal, but pro football focus graded him as one of the best running interior linemen. Nugent who started at Stanford will be a big-time addition.

Josaiah Stewart is a four-star EDGE coming over from Coastal Carolina and he’ll fill a need left by Mike Morris and others, not to mention four-star tight end AJ Barner who comes over from Indiana and should be an ideal replacement for Luke Schoonmaker as a receiver and blocker.

Michigan’s transfer portal class ranks 14th, but when it’s all said and done, the impact will feel much bigger than that.