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Michigan's Transfer Portal Class Seen as 'Sneaky Good'
Analyst praises Wolverines' roster continuity and coaching staff additions from Utah
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham retained much of the 2025 roster that won 9 games, and supplemented it with 20 transfers to fill key spots. On3 analyst J.D. Pickell explains why he believes Michigan's transfer class, though not flashy, is "sneaky good" and will help the Wolverines in 2026 and beyond.
Why it matters
Michigan's roster was already in good shape, so Whittingham didn't need a major overhaul. The transfers he added, many from his former program Utah, provide valuable depth and continuity as the Wolverines look to build on their success and potentially reach the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2023.
The details
Whittingham brought in 20 total transfers, including 5 players he coached at Utah - defensive back Smith Snowden, wide receiver JJ Buchanan, EDGE John Henry Daley, WR/DB Salesi Moa, and defensive lineman Jonah Lea'ea. Pickell says these players will mix well with Michigan's existing roster, which won 9 games last season, and the coaching staff's familiarity with Whittingham's system.
- Michigan won 9 games in the 2025 season.
The players
Kyle Whittingham
Michigan football head coach who retained much of the 2025 roster and added 20 transfers, including several from his former program Utah.
J.D. Pickell
On3 college football analyst who praised Michigan's transfer portal class as "sneaky good".
Smith Snowden
Defensive back transfer from Utah who joined Michigan.
JJ Buchanan
Wide receiver transfer from Utah who joined Michigan.
John Henry Daley
EDGE transfer from Utah who joined Michigan.
What they’re saying
“It'd be one thing if those players were following Kyle Whittingham from Utah to Michigan and they had one like seven games last year. This was a 10-win football team. And like, when you take a step back, this has kind of been what Michigan football is when they're at their best.”
— J.D. Pickell, On3 college football analyst (On3)
“All I can say right now is I like the inputs. I like the inputs, I like the head coach, I like the roster more than most. I like the continuity coming over from Utah at a roster level and a coaching staff level. I love Jason Beck's scheme having looking more closely at it over the course of the last couple of days.”
— J.D. Pickell, On3 college football analyst (On3)
What’s next
Whether this roster equates to Michigan earning a College Football Playoff berth for the first time since 2023 remains to be seen, but the incoming transfers appear to be a good fit with the existing players and coaching staff.
The takeaway
Michigan's transfer portal class, though not flashy, provides valuable depth and continuity as the Wolverines look to build on their 9-win 2025 season. The familiarity between the new transfers and the coaching staff could pay dividends as Michigan aims to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time in several years.
