According to Pete Nakos from On3, Keon Sabb is headed to the portal
February 16th, 2024 at 7:21 AM ^
This one hurts big time.
Sabb was going to rotate in with Moore and Paige. Moore and Paige have also played NB so I was expecting all 3 to be on the field extensively.
We are down to 3.5 proven DBs in a system that keeps 5 on the field.
Zeke Berry, your time is now.
This really hurts us in 2025 when Berry and Sabb were going to be your starters and there is an argument that they could've finished '25 as the best safety tandem in the conference.
(Quinten Johnson also gave up his last year of eligibility to test the NFL and life after college)
February 16th, 2024 at 8:05 AM ^
Sabb is planning to enter the draft at the end of this season. He wouldn’t have been here in 25 anyways. It shocked me when Moore and Paige both announced they would return and I think it had to shock him a little as well. He was ready to be a full fledged starter and build his draft stock. I do think there’s a chance he doesn’t go but he’s probably looking for somewhere he can play basically all defensive snaps at his preferred position.
I do think that could be at Michigan with them moving guys around in the secondary. But Michigan will need to convince him of that before he goes. He’s got enough talent to be a late 1st, early 2nd guy in the draft and he wants to showcase that. If he can do that and double his NIL it’s a win-win for him. I would bet Clemson and Georgia are big players here going after him.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:26 AM ^
Exactly. Ready made starter for a P5 contender who wants to hit the draft after this year and can do that more effectively getting a big ole NIL bag to go be a starter somewhere else.
February 16th, 2024 at 9:27 AM ^
I would bet Clemson and Georgia are big players here going after him.
Not sure about that with the way Dabo just doesn't use the transfer portal. Maybe he'll change his strategy this year?
February 16th, 2024 at 9:37 AM ^
I hope it turns into a UM / Clemson battle with Dabo needing to bend on his transfer portal stance. I like our odds there!
February 16th, 2024 at 11:22 AM ^
If it comes down to having a slide in the football building, we're in trouble.
February 16th, 2024 at 3:45 PM ^
I think you forgot about Warde needing to bend on his NIL stance in calculating these odds...
February 16th, 2024 at 11:24 AM ^
This is a MASSIVE loss. Our fake NIL partnerships from last week are working great.
This is Jim Harbaugh's definition of passing the torch.
February 16th, 2024 at 11:58 AM ^
No, it isn’t. He isn’t even a starter.
Kid wants to start. He won’t be starting here.
February 16th, 2024 at 12:25 PM ^
This is clearly NIL. Oregon, Alabama and Ole Miss are the contenders. They offer big money. We don’t. With everyone gone on the coach side, there was nothing to hold the kid in the face of the big bag.
February 16th, 2024 at 1:08 PM ^
Which is sad as hell. Not saying every kid on the team needs a Lambo but dam! He was a big time contributor this season and was on track to be even more of one next season.
February 16th, 2024 at 1:58 PM ^
My thought exactly. A very talented kid who's got plenty of talent and he wants a big stage to display it on. If it's not Michigan, it'll be one of the bigger names in the SEC. A shame, because he showed out so well in the Championship game, I was just assuming he'd be seeing considerable playing time in 2024.
February 17th, 2024 at 2:40 AM ^
I thought we do offer big $$$ to proven performers. That is Sabb. We should have someone putting a significant package together for him.
February 16th, 2024 at 10:36 AM ^
Dude, this one hurts. Not doom and gloom, just looking at the reality of the situation. This team isn't going to resemble much at all of the last 3 years. Very little stability and continuity on the coaching staff. Legendary RB and QB duo gone. What looks as incredibly poor options at QB and decent yet unproven at RB.
Just setting my expectations. I think I would say Moore does a decent job just to get 7-8 wins next year. Will be rooting with all I have.
February 16th, 2024 at 11:34 AM ^
I count 5 games (Texas, USC, Washington, Oregon, and Ohio State) that could give Michigan trouble next season. What other teams are you worried we won't beat?
February 16th, 2024 at 12:06 PM ^
Outside of the games you listed, what makes you confident we will beat the other teams? Serious question. Looking for your / other peoples thoughts and opinions.
I simply base my (7-8 wins) opinion on Michigan taking the field with no proven QB that has shown they can throw the ball and no proven RB. Edwards is a stud for sure talent wise, but he hasn't shown that he can be the guy for an entire season. WR seems a bit thin and untested too. I believe our D should be solid, and easily the biggest strength of the team.
Who knows. Maybe we won't miss a beat. I just don't think that will be the case but happy to be proven wrong.
February 16th, 2024 at 1:43 PM ^
If the rest of the defensive roster stays, an elite defense.
If the offense can gel enough to score 20 in those seven games, Michigan should sweep 'em.
If the offense can gel enough to score 20 in the five listed (and Washington loses a lot), playoffs here we come, another B1G title is well within reach, and there's an outside shot of a repeat Natty.
Also, your analysis of the offense should start with the line. If it's a reloading from the best O-line program--and the starters will be upper-classmen--then the offense should be good enough to make Michigan very competitive. (Coming together by the Sept 7 Texas game is going to be tough, however.) If not, we're going to have to hope to win some Iowa-like 13-10 games. (Let's hope not.)
February 16th, 2024 at 1:21 PM ^
While overall I get your point, but Washington is getting gutted (draft and portal) even worse than us and USC is a 1 side football team. Both of those teams are a step down from Texas, Oregon, and Ohio State...
February 16th, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
It’s February.
February 16th, 2024 at 12:25 PM ^
"Incredibly poor options at QB"?!?! Unproven does not mean poor. Will there be a drop off from JJ McCarthy (could be QB2 in April), yeah probably but that doesn't mean the guys in the QB room are scrubs. I'm so pumped for team 145 and all of this doom and gloom is bullshit.
February 16th, 2024 at 1:06 PM ^
Is saying I think we will have 7-8 wins doom and gloom? I think that is a fair and reasonable prediction and far far from "doom and gloom". Do you think 7-8 wins next year is "doom and gloom"? I certainly don't.
We have an unproven head coach, unproven coordinators, an unproven quarterback, an unproven RB, etc. The objective outlook is next year is going to be challenging. That just happens with all the changes have transpired at UM.
February 16th, 2024 at 3:52 PM ^
Unproven HC? Who coached when Harbaugh was suspended?
Unproven coordinators? NFL coordinator on D. UM promotion on O with former coordinator at HC.
Unproven QB? Who knows, but they all played some.
Unproven RB????????????? LOL
February 16th, 2024 at 1:17 PM ^
I’m OK with our qb situation. Dengal could be a Haskins type passer, Orji is a freak and we have a freshman who could be the next JJ. My hopes was keeping the D together to keep us in games until the offense gelled. Losing Sabb sucks and if he’s the only one then we’ll manage. Unfortunately situations like this tend to lead to more. I pray I’m wrong.
February 17th, 2024 at 9:01 AM ^
we have a freshman who could be the next JJ.
I don’t know if you know anything about Jadyn Davis, but he’s much more in the Cade McNamara mold than the JJ mold. Not a huge arm, he’s accurate, he’s smart with the ball and he breaks down defenses well for his age. I think he has the ability to be a more polished version of Cade, but his game is very different than JJ’s game.
February 16th, 2024 at 2:26 PM ^
Love JJ but zero chance he’s qb 2 in the draft. I can’t believe how down so people are on this team just chalking up every difficult game as a lose. This D will be elite still next year. Not good, freaking elite. How do you guys not see that? The oline will be good with potential to be more than good. Experienced developed guys under an elite oline coach for years im confident the run game is still going to churn. Passing game who knows but Loveland, Morris and Morgan are good enough for a run 1st team. Not to mention Don.
Texas has lost a lot. There stud DT’s, both stud wr’s, stud TE and stud rb. Yeah that got Ewers and talent in the wings but I think Michigan wins this game at home and should beat USC and Washington. The season comes down to Oregon and OSU and frankly 10-2 should still get them in maybe even an outside shot at a home game
I like Orji but there will be a lot of eyes on the spring game and if none of the QB’s stand out there will likely be a talented qb from a lesser program looking to transfer
February 16th, 2024 at 7:21 AM ^
Big loss if true.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:57 AM ^
Agreed. I figured we would lose some bigger names to the portal, and I believe the window they have to enter ends next Friday.
To note, Sabb was basically a signing day flip from Clemson to us, so I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up back at Clemson or with Oklahoma and Venables. Further, 247 shows his primary recruiter as Courtney Morgan for us, who is now at Alabama.
February 16th, 2024 at 9:30 AM ^
FWIW, Webb just said this morning that the biggest players for Sabb are Oregon, Ole Miss, and Alabama.
February 16th, 2024 at 10:06 AM ^
Based off those names, those are all pro nil teams. Not saying that’s a primary reason but I just wonder if maybe the nil package isn’t up to his standard and play time at UM?
February 16th, 2024 at 10:12 AM ^
Transformational not transactional lol
February 16th, 2024 at 10:53 AM ^
Not sure if they’ll ever become enough of a rival to earn our sports hatred, but I’d like to offer up a fuck Oregon for them just for being who they are.
February 16th, 2024 at 11:57 AM ^
You should be saying fuck Michigan as they're the ones that are refusing to get with the times. Will Johnson now the last top 100 player on our team and I believe we only have 1 from our last 2 recruiting classes. Michigan football will be competitive this year but don't be shocked if the basketball program isn't the football program in a few years.
Our fan base is part of the problem they should be up in arms right now but instead we just lay down and accept it.
February 16th, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
Jesus, shut the fuck up.
February 16th, 2024 at 2:05 PM ^
We are the undefeated national champions who have lost 3 games in 3 years. I do accept that.
February 16th, 2024 at 9:59 AM ^
Window closes soon, but opens up again after spring practice
February 16th, 2024 at 11:28 AM ^
The "it doesn't count in case you have to do it again" 30 day post Harbaugh departure window closes in a few days.
For our really big fish, whether the transfer counts or not doesn't matter as they're off to the NFL after next year anyway.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:22 AM ^
That really sucks. I was super excited about him, especially the way he ended the season. Hope it isn't true, but if it is, I hope he has success where ever he ends up.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:29 AM ^
Sigh. I suppose there is only so much uncertainty a guy can put up with.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:35 AM ^
He might have been offered a couple of cheeseburgers.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:30 AM ^
By whom?!
Whoever they are, shut the program down! This is the worst scandal in college football history! No, wait, in American history!!
February 16th, 2024 at 8:35 AM ^
I can't blame him. I love cheeseburgers.
February 16th, 2024 at 12:23 PM ^
He might have been offered a couple of cheeseburgers.
Maybe he wanted a tattoo.
February 16th, 2024 at 11:30 AM ^
Thanks for the key tackle in the Bama game.
I hope he reconsiders. I'm also hoping this is more of a contingency plan in case he doesn't like whoever the new DB coach turns out to be.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:23 AM ^
This hits keep on coming for Moore
February 16th, 2024 at 7:23 AM ^
F_ _ _ !
February 16th, 2024 at 8:10 AM ^
Rebel
February 16th, 2024 at 7:25 AM ^
I don’t do the pay sites anymore. Is Pete Nakos usually a credible source?
February 16th, 2024 at 8:21 AM ^
It’s everywhere now. He actually has been pretty credible with the portal and nil related stuff. Angelique and others are reporting it now.
February 16th, 2024 at 7:29 AM ^
Got to cherish that National Championship and can't follow every move anymore.. because the new age of college football hurts.