According to Pete Nakos from On3, Keon Sabb is headed to the portal
February 16th, 2024 at 10:33 AM ^
Harbaugh got out at the right time.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:29 AM ^
So it begins.
February 16th, 2024 at 9:27 AM ^
He’s one I’ve been worried about for awhile even before Harbaugh left because he’s got two guys in front of him. I don’t think it’s indicative of a larger exodus.
We are definitely going to losing guys in the spring who leave for more playing time. This is definitely that sort of move.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:51 AM ^
Top 85 'croot, huh? Can't just say Top 100? ... smh.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:40 AM ^
The lengths to which people will go when clickbaiting ...
February 16th, 2024 at 7:31 AM ^
I wondered how much of a risk he was going to be anyway considering both starters came back, and he's entering into his junior season, when he probably envisioned that he would be a starter anyway. Which means he'd only have his senior year to really prove what he can do as "the guy." I know he was going to be getting a lot of snaps anyway, but he likely wasn't going to be starting over two very experienced, very good seniors who opted to come back.
Don't get me wrong, doesn't make it suck any less. He's an extremely important contributor and was going to have a place on the defense next year. But I was always a little nervous about him coming back when both Moore and Paige announced they were coming back. I figured there were schools out there that were going to throw him a ton of money to come start for them.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:58 AM ^
Sabb was one injury from being a starter, and was going to see significant playing time regardless.
The only way a PT-based decision makes sense is if he’s already decided to go pro after the ‘24 season.
Of course, this may be “NIL” based and have nothing to do with playing time.
But it certainly doesn’t help things that the coaching situation is still so unsettled.
February 16th, 2024 at 9:00 AM ^
Significant playing time does not equal starting minutes. If Keon has ambitions of being a day 1 or 2 pick this draft (which I am sure he does), Michigan cannot offer him that.
February 16th, 2024 at 10:16 AM ^
With the amount of player rotation that happens in most secondaries, not to mention specific schemes that call for extra DBs, I find it difficult that the tag “starter” is so important to this position group considering we haven’t even made it to spring game yet.
Additionally, both Paige and Moore have dealt with recent injuries and in-season starting roles are subject to change.
I’m all for players finding a landing spot to start 100% of the time and make it to the NFL but let’s not act like that wasn’t a possibility for him by remaining on the roster and at least making it to the first game of the season.
February 16th, 2024 at 12:51 PM ^
I think it was pretty clearly a playing time decision.
He was going to play for sure but both starters were returning and it was still going to be a rotational type thing.
I didn’t want to lose him cause I think he’s a good player, but I don’t think he’s transferring if Moore and Paige are going pro (or if even one of them did).
February 16th, 2024 at 7:59 AM ^
This to me means as a junior he's looking to start and go pro at the end of the year.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:33 AM ^
That’s my guess as well. If Moore or Paige had opted to go to the league, I think Sabb entering the portal probably isn’t happening because he’d have a locked down spot as a starter next year.
But they’re both coming back, and while Sabb would be playing, he would not be starting. And I don’t blame him for not wanting to wait another full year to start. He’d be a senior by that point, and maybe he has plans to go pro after his junior year, no matter what.
I’m just speculating, but if it’s true, I can’t say that I blame him. Also, the fact that we have no idea who his position coach is next year doesn’t really help our cause.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:39 AM ^
Honestly, as it stands now (or prior to him entering the portal anyway) I think our best 5 on the back end would have been Sabb and Paige at safety, Rod Moore sliding to nickel, and then McBurrows/Waller/Hill at CB2 opposite Will Johnson.
But alas, there’s no secondary coach right now to communicate any sort of plan around that alongside the DC with these guys.
February 16th, 2024 at 9:41 AM ^
"there’s no secondary coach right now to communicate any sort of plan around that alongside the DC with these guys."
Is Martindale even truly officially hired yet? He's not listed on the MGoBlue coaches page.
February 16th, 2024 at 10:27 AM ^
I’m curious of this as well. I think the most we’ve received so far “Expected to hire” but nothing official.
I hate to beat a dead horse but I hope Moore has someone helping advise him on hiring/vetting potential staff whether he asks for the help or not. I think Jack Harbaugh would be great in an advising role given his experience and connections but c’est la vie.
February 16th, 2024 at 3:11 PM ^
Officially official? No. But he’s been at Schembechler Hall, he’s been involved in the position coach interviews, he’s been watching film, he’s been in contact with players. So they’re essentially just waiting on some formalities and paperwork to go through before it’s “official”
February 16th, 2024 at 7:38 AM ^
Thinking optimistically.
The 30 day transfer window is almost over. Could he be entering now to hedge and come back if he gets the right NIL and position coach?
February 16th, 2024 at 8:02 AM ^
Possibly but he could have waited to the spring as well. This window that is closing is due to coaching change.
February 16th, 2024 at 11:39 AM ^
He'd have to use up his one consequence free transfer if he waited until the spring. If he's maximizing his options, all things being equal, it's better to enter the portal now and keep the one ordinary consequence free transfer in the bank just in case the need arises to transfer for the 2025 season.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:39 AM ^
We lost every coach on the defense... And these players are getting courted 24/7.
It is going to happen. Michigan just doesn't have the depth to absorb key losses.
And this is the transfer portal age.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:47 AM ^
Lol....why not. This is damn near going to be a full on rebuild. Thank goodness they finished the job this year
February 16th, 2024 at 8:21 AM ^
Isnt this the first expected contributor to enter the portal? The sky isnt falling
February 16th, 2024 at 11:40 AM ^
Not on defense as long as there isn't a mass exodus.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:52 AM ^
Well, that's not QUITE how I was hoping to start a Friday, but we can't have everything, can we?
February 16th, 2024 at 8:05 AM ^
There’s been a bunch of optimistic happy talk over the last week about how well we were doing on keeping players away from the portal. Might’ve been a bit premature.
February 16th, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
I blame MGoBlog for the jinx. (And also Warde, just because.)
February 16th, 2024 at 9:08 AM ^
Just want you to know that you are good enough, smart enough, and gosh darn it, we mgoblog people like you!
February 16th, 2024 at 7:52 AM ^
A bunch of comments and, so far, no one has asked what seems like an obvious question: Which schools(s), how much $?
If true, this ramps up NIL urgency like very few events before it.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:13 AM ^
I’d be surprised if he doesn’t end up at Clemson or a school down south. We basically wrestled him away from Clemson when he came here. Lost Walker, Calhoun and Sabb from the secondary. That’s a lot of good young talent in one cycle.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:56 AM ^
NO!!!!!! That dude has the makings of a Dax Hill...ish stud break out
however....if he finished his block, Mike Sainristil would have taken that pick to the house in the NC game.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:59 AM ^
Too tired of caring (actually exhausted) all the changes a month after the natty. Hope Moore has it all figured out by September.
I refuse to to worry until our next loss. Until then, we'll still undefeated and all's well.
See ya!
February 16th, 2024 at 7:59 AM ^
Probably inevitable we lose one. Sucks though. He’ll get paid and start somewhere.
does make me wonder if it was one of those tampering cases we’ve been hearing about.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:22 AM ^
Frankly, anyone offering him cash and a starting job would be making a compelling offer. Im sure Sabb wasnt envisioning rotating through the secondary as an upperclassman. He’ll likely go make the same NIL at Michigan with a basically guaranteed starting job at another P5 school
February 16th, 2024 at 8:02 AM ^
Hire Lamar Morgan, get him, Moore and Martindale in a room with Sabb, explain he's basically a starter with less chance of injury and offer him $1 more of NIL money than the best offer.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:06 AM ^
With him entering now when he could have waited to the spring, makes be believe he has something lined up.
February 16th, 2024 at 9:48 AM ^
But there is no way he could already have a landing spot in such a short time. He just declared, so surely nobody has communicated offers to him, because that would have been against the rules.
/s
February 16th, 2024 at 8:09 AM ^
Should’ve been the starter. Glad Paige and Moore came back but Sabb is a play maker with more upside than the other 2. Fast, tough and physical. Wish he would’ve stuck around to make them have to start him. Losing Clink, Minter and Jay does not help. All 3 of his coaches gone with no history with the others coming in.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:21 AM ^
A player like him wants to be on the field for every snap to increase draft stock but he and those around him so be thinking about what is best to keep him in the league when he gets there not necessarily about how high he is drafted. If he truly thinking about leaving after the '24 season, why spend time trying to get comfortable in brand new system.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:25 AM ^
It shouldn’t be a brand new system and you’d think he could wait until the db’s coach is named and go from there. He has another week to wait it out. I don’t know, seems a little premature for basically what is the 6th man who plays starters level minutes.
February 16th, 2024 at 9:11 AM ^
Im was talking bout at new program not Michigan with regard to a new system.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:37 AM ^
Maybe he feels going somewhere else and learning a new defense for a year will help him in the NFL?
February 16th, 2024 at 9:11 AM ^
That is a different way of looking at it.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:23 AM ^
Unfortunately for us, he has a strong national reputation due to his recruiting ranking and his great play in the playoffs (especially the championship game). Also, since he was a highly recruited prospect from IMG, he already has relationships with a lot of elite programs. With Moore and Paige coming back, his role is a bit reduced this year than expected. I'm sure other programs have been hammering him with big NIL offers and a starting spot.
It sucks, and crushes our safety room for '25, but it's possible he is looking for a way to get to the NFL by then anyway.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:25 AM ^
This is confusing to me, we basically have three starters at safety and odds are either him or Moore would have moved to Nickel. Dude was gonna be a starter in some way shape or form. And a key contributor.
Timing is odd too. He waited this long but can't wait til after spring to see how things shake out? Not like he can transfer in somewhere else now and join their spring practices. Can he?
Oh well, onward and upward.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:50 AM ^
I think putting his name in the portal gives him the ability to be contacted and recruited openly now. Entering the portal does not necessarily mean he has left the team yet, but it is not a good sign. The best potential situation for Michigan would be if he were putting his name in the portal to keep his options open while feeling out the new coaching staff.
I may need some clarification from someone else here, but I think the date the portal closes is just the deadline to put your name in. Once your name is in the portal, I think you can still be recruited and transfer after it closes. If you are uncertain about staying, it might be better to enter your name now than wait until the spring window.
February 16th, 2024 at 12:06 PM ^
College kids are going to be selfish and self centered.
Why shouldn't they be? Football success can be fleeting and no guarantee. Take the money and prestige when and where you can.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:32 AM ^
And so it begins…
February 16th, 2024 at 8:35 AM ^
This is where we need our NIL to step up, focus on retention and deals for players that have produced. This will hurt combined with Quinten Johnson entering the draft. I hope Berry is ready.