WATCH: Incoming Transfers Rave About Michigan, Describe The Experience As 'Life-Changing'
The Michigan Football program has become a shining example for utilizing the transfer portal the right way in recent years. In the last recruiting cycle alone, Michigan signed nine incoming transfers who have all made a significant impact on the program in 2023.
Speaking recently about their experience of transferring to Michigan, it's clear that they all know they made the right decision.
"It definitely wasn't easy to leave a situation and come here," said AJ Barner. "But I think the way that they've developed me as a player on and off the field in terms of technique and getting stronger in the weight room, the culture that we have, and just being able to go up against my teammates every day in practice has made me such a better player."
Barner, now a senior with the Wolverines, transferred to Michigan after spending three seasons as an Indiana Hoosier. He made the move to Michigan along with Indiana teammate, Jack Tuttle (QB). As far as the message he would give to other athletes looking to transfer to Michigan, Barner cautioned that they shouldn't expect an easy experience.
"If you're looking for something that's going to be easy and something that's going to be giving to you, then don't come here," Barner said. "But if you're looking for some place that, if you're a tough kid that wants to be great at football, and wants to play at the next level and win a lot of football games, then this is the place for you."
Other transfers echoed Barners sentiments, including Stanford transfer Drake Nugent. The 6-2, 301 pound center has been a starter for the Wolverines all season long, recently earning first-team All-Big Ten by both coaches and media. For Nugent, the power of the Michigan brand - being a blue blood of college football - was just too good to pass up.
"A lot of it was just reputation that the offense and the o-line had, and generally the team," Nugent said. "Obviously Michigan itself is like a blue blood of college football and has a very big brand, that's kind of what I wanted."
Josaiah Stewart, who transferred in as a Junior edge rusher from Coastal Carolina, says Michigan is the perfect place for athletes who want to achieve big goals.
"If you want to win big games on the biggest stage of them all, and you have high hopes and high goals, this is the place to do it and achieve it," Stewart said.
Offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson, a graduate transfer from Arizona State, says that the experience at Michigan has been life-changing.
"Just to experience this has been worth it," Henderson said. "Life-changing."
The Michigan Wolverines, now ranked No. 1 in the nation, are preparing for a Rose Bowl matchup with No. 4 Alabama on January 1. Michigan's last appearance in the Rose Bowl occurred in 2007, where the Wolverines lost to USC by a score of 32-18.
