Interesting Transfer Portal Players At Interesting Positions
We all have takes about what Michigan's needs are from the transfer portal. Of course the coaches have the ability to construct a great roster and don't need this thread - but its fun to discuss anyway. Here are some interesting offensive players in the transfer portal (uncommitted) as well as some other interesting names/cases.
Data is from 24/7 because I like the functionality of their site. Please note: I do not know specific player eligibility (grad transfer, credits etc.). Starting with offense today, may do defense tomorrow.
TE - We are starting here because we love our TEs.
Benjamin Yurosek (Stanford) - Has more than 100 career catches and more than 1,000 career yards. Had a down year in 2023 playing in only 5 games (16/239/1) after back to back seasons where he secured 42/653/3 in 2021 and 49/445/1 in 2022. Has a few buddies on the team. Credits should hopefully transfer, I think Stanford is an okay school.
Corey Dychess (Maryland) - Also has a buddy at UM (our new LB). had 49/491/2 in 2023, and 39/494/3 IN 2022. Has played 39 games for Maryland. Tough to find that type of experience and UM loves TEs and is losing Barner a year after losing a ton of underclassmen depth.
Tanner Koziol (Ball State) - Is considered 24/7's top TE. Had 34/295/3 in 2023, and 25/373/7 in 2022.
WR - Everyone's favorite position of need.
Silas Bolden (Oregon State) - Has Texas as his leader, but that might change with Isiah Bond signing with the Longhorns today. Bolden is small (5-10, 170) so he is not the red zone target that everyone has yearned for. Still, he has NFL talent (his brother Victor has bounced around the NFL and played against us a few years ago). Had 54 catches for 746 yards this year. Made big statistical jumps in each of the past two seasons. May have two years of eligibility and was OSU's leading receiver last year.
There are a few other notable players like a pair of USC WRs Mario Williams and Dorian Singer but if they didn't get the money and or targets at USC, I doubt they are coming to Michigan. The rest of the list are not notable players - not even big names from small schools. WR may be slim pickens (like QB).
QB - Let the debate begin whether we need a player here our not. I'm not saying we do, or don't. I'm putting names on a list.
Will Rogers (Washington, via Mississippi State) - Mike Leach's Bulldog gunslinger who threw for more than 4,700 yards in 2021 and 3,900 yards in 2022. His best season was in 2022 when he had a completion percentage of 73.9% to go along with 4,739 yards, 36 TDs and 9 interceptions. Worst season was 2023 where his rating dipped to 59.9 for 1,626 yards, 12 TDs and 4 interceptions. Is not a rusher. Adjusted for sacks has never had positive rushing yards in a season and only one rushing TD (way back in 2022). Likely wants to go somewhere to sling the ball around, hence the transfer to Washington. May not be the right fit stylewise, but probably the only legit transfer QB available. Outside of Rogers, its Jordan McCloud from James Madison followed by nothing.
Unless you want someone like like Grant Gunnell (who looks like Lloyd Brady).
This one is not a transfer!*
Michael Pratt (Tulane) - Remember when Tulane beat USC in the Cotton Bowl in January 2023? Pratt threw for 234 yards and 2 TDS in that came to go along with 83 rushing yards. And sure USC's defense is so bad, MGrowOld could put up similar stats. But this one is interesting because Pratt is headed to the Senior Bowl in an obvious attempt to boost his draft stock. I've searched and don't see if he has hired an agent. Assuming he hasn't, he could be an option.
Pratt is as solid as they come (6-2, 200 lbs) and was expected to put up gaudy numbers in 2023 - but he got injured the first game of the season, missed a couple contests and wasn't used again in the run game until late October. He also didn't have a signature win like he did in the 2022 season vs. USC.
In 4 years (3+ as a starter), Pratt has 730 completions (60.6 rate) for 9,611 yards and 90 TDs with 26 picks. He's added 1,147 rushing yards foe 28 TDs.
This one is not a transfer either, but I feel compelled to put it here. Don't neg me too much - because again, I am not in the admissions office....
Mark Gronowski (South Dakota State) - Just won his own National Championship in the FCS and is considered a fringe NFL talent. Played four three years for the Jackrabbits - the Spring of 2021 (as a weird Covid shortened/delayed season), and then two real seasons. In his two real seasons, he was steady. 2022 saw a 64.6% completion percentage with a 46:9 TD to interception ratio and an average of about 66% of passes completed. He also has 23 career rushing TDs. Maybe that makes him a FCS man's Alex Orji. But I thought it was interesting considering he could benefit from heightened completion (like Pratt)
Taulia Tagovailoa (Maryland) - A lot of people go to school for 7 years!
That's a start for now. Who else do you see as an offensive option in the portal?
January 14th, 2024 at 8:08 PM ^
Very interesting in an interesting way.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:32 AM ^
I love how the very first comment took the snarky words right out of my mouth.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:47 AM ^
What a site.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:11 PM ^
The tight ends are interesting options, especially since the WR options don't look great (at least not right now).
January 14th, 2024 at 9:23 PM ^
Silas Bolden is very fun to watch. I cant see him coming but he is electric. Can someone like Maalik Murphy or Dante Moore change their minds? How does it work when a transfer “commits”?
January 14th, 2024 at 10:03 PM ^
Just depends on if they’re enrolled in the new school I believe, classes start tomorrow for most schools so it’s safe to assume most people who have committed to a school are already enrolled.
January 15th, 2024 at 8:35 AM ^
Amari Niblack, the #1 TE in 2022, is leaving Alabama. He started four games as a sophomore and has two years of eligibility left. He is from Florida and the speculation is he will move closer to home. The usual undergrad transfer warning lights apply.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:13 PM ^
I'd be curious about Taulia, but I highly doubt he comes here. Also Milroe??? He'd be a perfect fit because the dude needs a lot of work but is athletic as hell
January 14th, 2024 at 8:20 PM ^
Milroe is NOT in the portal. National outlets got trolled by someone on Twitter about that one.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:31 PM ^
I know. I was suggesting that if he did hit the portal, we could pursue..
January 14th, 2024 at 8:41 PM ^
Milroe would be a perfect fit for UM's run heavy offense. For all the hand wringing about everything we are losing to the draft this year, the defense is still loaded.
We have the best DT duo in the country returning, and a bunch of talent in the front 7 again. Will Johnson is that dude, and McBurrow has shown ability to step in to Mikey's role. I'd expect one of the many corners to step up and fill the role.
Milroe + Mullings behind our O-line would a battering ram. That said, Orgi may very well fit that exact role if he is a decent downfield passer. I expect UM to be much better than everyone thinks going into next year, with a bunch of contributors returning.
15-0, almost. certainly not - but we don't need a dream season to make the expanded playoff.
Also, beat OSU. Born on 3rd trying to build a super team of avengers because he's a mid coach that needs an uneven playing field. Smash them in the face again.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:52 PM ^
Guessing he's gonna stay especially with the kind of offense DeBoer wants to run, that should be very exciting for Milroe.
January 14th, 2024 at 10:05 PM ^
Milroe isn’t really a fit in an air raid offense though. He’s not a sling it all over the field kind of QB.
January 15th, 2024 at 6:10 AM ^
DeBoer doesn't run a true air raid offense. There are certainly air raid principles to their passing attack, but they use TEs, play action, etc. as well. They also don't go warp speed all the time.
That said, with as much as they threw the ball with Penix, it'll be interesting to see if he still prefers Will Rogers, who WAS an Air Raid QB for Leach.
Hopefully he does, because I like Milroe at Michigan more than Rogers (who struggled mightily in a pro style attack last season under a new head coach).
I also like Milroe because Orji feels like a natural backup QB and you don't have to change whatever offense you come up with for Milroe.
That said, this feels like it's headed to...let's try this out in the spring and if it works, great, if not...Milroe leaves in May. I don't see him leaving before giving it a shot.
January 15th, 2024 at 2:50 PM ^
Air raids in general are evolving to include more tight ends and play action. As defenses have evolved in the last 10 or so years, all offensive schemes have had to evolve along with them. Air raid offenses are no longer just 4-5 wide up-tempo passing offenses. You regularly see them with 1,000 yard rushers and involve more complex concepts/personnel to put defenses in conflict.
The goal is still generally the same, they’re passing offenses that want to spread the ball around with lots of quick short passes. But there’s a general understanding that you can’t get by with just that anymore. That’s where the TEs and play-action has come into play. But Milroe isn’t a guy you want throwing the ball 35+ times a game.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:56 PM ^
He's not going anywhere.
January 14th, 2024 at 10:01 PM ^
...but if he left, he'd be perfect for Michigan and Orji would be the perfect backup.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:39 PM ^
100%, but I bet he ends up there. Square peg, round hole at QB is a horrible combo (we've unfortunately been there). And that's a baaaaaad fit.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:13 PM ^
The April portal will have entirely new/different names in it. Conjecture for the fun of it, but there is little way to predict who our QB1 will be… and not the least of the reasons is that we have no idea who the HC will be either.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:19 PM ^
Tua is not getting a 7th year - he played 5 games in the season he is arguing about.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:25 PM ^
Not to mention him being the starting QB for the Dolphins.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:31 PM ^
I’ve been drinking and I’m not changing it. Lol.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:45 PM ^
Had to read this to my Wife. She literally laughed out loud.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:03 PM ^
because she figured out he had a sock puppet account?
January 15th, 2024 at 12:53 AM ^
Do we have a sticky for when alt accounts get busted?
But I think Mercury Hayes (who is OP) thought he was at fault for writing Tua in OP (which he was not), thus causing EikM to write Tua.
January 15th, 2024 at 9:23 AM ^
I didn't realize until now (14 hours after posting) that I had it correct as Taulia. When the commenter called me out, I just assumed I made a mistake
January 14th, 2024 at 9:25 PM ^
I accidentally caught some of Cowherd’s show the other day, and he said that Tua would be traded to Atlanta if Miami lost bad at KC.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:32 AM ^
Yeesh. What’s worse is that I was NOT drinking when I posted this…
January 15th, 2024 at 1:52 AM ^
His reason for a waver, "I honored my brother by playing ~3 snaps in my 5th game." If the NCAA buys that, then I've got 4 burgers with cream cheese for them...
January 14th, 2024 at 8:22 PM ^
I don't know how anyone thinks we don't need a portal QB. Great post and interesting names to keep an eye on. Thanks!
January 14th, 2024 at 8:41 PM ^
I don't think anyone is anti-portal. There just isn't a guy. We can add in the spring window but player will be coming from way behind.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:35 PM ^
Yeah I think spring time is going to be their best option.
January 15th, 2024 at 8:24 AM ^
But even then, the second point still stands: A post-spring transfer would be way behind.
Still definitely all for bringing one in, but Orji may very well end up being the better option.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:23 PM ^
First world problems obviously -- but it seems like making the CFP (and Championship) really dicks you over in transfer portal recruiting.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:37 PM ^
Having a coach pursuing other job prospects is our real issue. Unfortunately this thread needs to be put on ice and updated when we know who our 2024 coach is going to be. Until then, none of this matters.
January 14th, 2024 at 10:01 PM ^
Coach or no coach, there were probably some decisions swayed by winning or not winning the championship (especially JJ). Hard to recruit a QB when all the major transfer QBs are in the portal and on to their next team before you even finish your season.
January 14th, 2024 at 11:13 PM ^
I wonder if there is an opportunity to take whichever QB doesn't win the starting job for Oregon.
January 15th, 2024 at 6:23 AM ^
Dante has already said that sitting for a year and watching might be the best thing. He was nowhere near ready this past year. Think the assumption is that Gabriel will be the starter, with Dante getting some non mop up duty here and there.
January 15th, 2024 at 1:53 AM ^
Time for Michigan to tamper with bag in hand. Do it on Twitter with a verified account so there isn't any doubt.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:29 PM ^
Interesting indeed.
I absolutely think we need a portal QB. No one currently on this roster makes me feel comfortable.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:42 PM ^
Will any portal players commit this cycle while Harbaugh is in limbo?
January 15th, 2024 at 1:54 AM ^
Cade might
January 15th, 2024 at 6:24 AM ^
Bridge burned.
January 15th, 2024 at 5:48 PM ^
Rebuild it.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:06 PM ^
I like Diego Pavia, QB from New Mexico State. He would fit in well with our offense: mobile, gritty, strong leadership skills, can make all the basic throws. He could be a game manager with flash.
January 15th, 2024 at 12:55 AM ^
I agree, I have seen him play, he's legit
January 15th, 2024 at 9:01 AM ^
WR may be slim pickens
I love Slim Pickens for WR. He was awesome in Dr. Stranglove and Blazing Saddles!
January 14th, 2024 at 9:11 PM ^
Unfortunately, I think he's already signed with UCF, but KJ Jefferson from Arkansas would actually be a pretty good quarterback for our system. (Wife is an Arkansas alum, so I've seen a lot of his games). Pretty decent running quarterback who can make good decisions, and would probably be a lot better if he had a good O line in front of him.
January 15th, 2024 at 7:40 AM ^
Which is why the CFB calendar sucks.
FA starts while teams are still trying to win a championship.
It would be like the NFL FA starting now.
The portal also opens before the draft deadline...I think things would look a lot different if the portal opened today (on the draft deadline date). Or even last Monday.
January 14th, 2024 at 9:15 PM ^
Anyone know anything about Austin Mack at Washington? He just entered the portal. True freshman, didn't see any time this year.
I assume he's not ready, considering they brought in Will Rogers.
We also need a CB. Muhammad at Washington would be a home run, obviously there is a link to Alabama now.
Alabama just lost a couple of backup CBs as well.