Kansas State QB Will Howard transferring
He's a grad transfer and might well be the best QB in the portal. I think because this year's QB draft class is loaded, JJ has a good reason to consider returning, but I'm going to assume that he will declare for the draft and will bring in at least one QB. Howard is gonna be highly sought after but since he'll be a 5th year, M should have little problem in getting him if they want him.
November 27th, 2023 at 6:29 PM ^
He's almost 100% ND bound.
November 27th, 2023 at 6:34 PM ^
Wants to go 9-3 huh? The Freeman experiment will be over in another 2-3 years.
November 27th, 2023 at 6:38 PM ^
It’s quite clear that ND has accepted mediocrity when it comes to their football program.
Good enough to still care and watch but bad enough to never do anything meaningful. Maybe it’s because they no longer play UM but I haven’t heard anything poignant related to ND in years and that’s just fine with me.
November 27th, 2023 at 6:47 PM ^
ND died when it shadow joined the ACC. Too many crap games against Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:17 PM ^
It is on par with MSU. Coaches with winning ambitions go to LSU.
November 27th, 2023 at 6:56 PM ^
My brother is a lifelong ND fan (still gotta love him) and he said they went with Freeman because Kelly couldn’t win the big games and Freeman would get the level of talent Kelly couldn’t get there. If they aspire to win bigger games, Freeman was a huge gamble.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:53 PM ^
Every new coach without any track record is - hell outside of 4-5 guys in CFB everyone would be a risk at a new job.
Remember when Nebraska was sick of 9-3 every year and kicked Bo and his cat to the curb.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:32 PM ^
Truly elite coaches can be counted on one hand for sure but any time you take a coordinator with zero head coaching experience it is a gamble. It could still pay off for them, who knows?
Sherrone Moore, for example, would’ve made people lose their minds if he became Michigan’s head coach prior to the Penn St and Ohio St games. Now, I’d say most people would be fine with him should Harbaugh leave any time soon(hoping not). He’s proven himself to be head coach worthy now.
November 27th, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^
Frank Solich before that. Wishful thinking. Once upon a time the blue chip programs had unlimited scholarships and had 300-400 players on the roster.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:43 PM ^
Ohio state fans will slowly come around, as well. Just give them a few more years.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:09 PM ^
They lost their coach in the middle of the night to not the NFL despite still having a sliver of a chance of making the playoff. They done.
November 27th, 2023 at 6:39 PM ^
it’s a step up from the 8-4 KSU went this year I guess
or he could come to Michigan and go 13-0 and go to the playoffs
November 27th, 2023 at 7:31 PM ^
I think people forget that outside of the Brian Kelly run ND has been an 8-4 outfit basically since the second half of the Hootz run. They're a big legacy name but Freeman getting them a top-15 class and 3-ish losses a year is probably going to be the norm.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:34 PM ^
That’s the thing, they didn’t bring him there to get top 15 classes, they brought him there to get top 5 classes. If he gets top 15 talent and ends up 9-3 a few more times he will be out. His big thing was supposed to be his recruiting ability.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:57 PM ^
I thought ND was getting the Duke QB?
November 27th, 2023 at 6:35 PM ^
UM will bring in a QB. It won’t be Howard. Some more guys will be announcing later.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:17 PM ^
Moore if JJ declares? That would be interesting.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:54 PM ^
He'd go back to a true freshman with admissions...
November 27th, 2023 at 8:22 PM ^
Not as big of a deal for someone who has only been in college for a year.
I don’t think Michigan goes that route, I’d assume the staff was pretty turned off by how that recruitment went down. I also believe they’d be looking more for a bridge QB. A one year rental to get to Davis or (hopefully) Underwood. Not that they’d turn down an elite young talent.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:05 PM ^
Saw Dante play this weekend, every down. He was BRUTAL. Worse than his performance was his demeanor. Just looked flat with no emotions. Seemed disinterested, almost like an entitled, pouty kid
I was high on Dante as a recruit, but after seeing him play a few times, no thanks. Don't think he's a good cultural fit.
November 27th, 2023 at 9:07 PM ^
100% agree. He absolutely looked like he didn't want to be there. His team needed him and he took a dump on the field.
November 28th, 2023 at 8:29 AM ^
If he transfers, wouldn’t that show that he indeed didn’t want to be there? He’s been rumored to want to transfer since August.
I’m not saying I’d want him at Michigan, but I think he got some bad advice when he was choosing his school, and he wouldn’t be the first kid, star quarterback or otherwise, who had a rough freshman year because he went to the wrong place.
November 27th, 2023 at 6:37 PM ^
He was waving good bye to the OSU crowd in Columbus.
He's not sticking around for another trip down there.
November 27th, 2023 at 6:55 PM ^
He waved so nice he'll do it twice.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:07 PM ^
I am pretty sure he waived last year, too
November 27th, 2023 at 7:31 PM ^
He was waving goodbye because the game was over and they were leaving the stands.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:09 PM ^
Unless JJ lights it up in the playoffs, he is coming back imo
November 27th, 2023 at 7:24 PM ^
I tend to doubt it but a precedent of guys coming back has been set…
November 27th, 2023 at 7:29 PM ^
exactly! look at the QB class next year...he'd be lucky to be #3 this year and he could play his way to QB1 next year
November 27th, 2023 at 8:41 PM ^
I think he is coming back regardless. He is well paid and he loves this university, his teammates and his coach.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:50 PM ^
Very much agree. He’s just that kind of guy.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:23 PM ^
JJ has work to do if he wants to declare and be drafted in the 1st round imo. That being said, next year the offense will almost definitely have some growing pains with most of the OL being gone and replacing a lot of WR and probably both RBs. Maybe that creates a situation where you lean on JJ a little more and he can put up some more numbers that get him drafted higher? I don't know.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:34 PM ^
NFL drafts on potential and he's also shown plenty in his two years as starter, he's a first rounder this year but probably in the 20's. If he comes back and improves he could be a top 5 pick next year.
Selfishly I would love him back but I don't see it happening.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:04 PM ^
We’ll see.
I do think that conversations have more than likely have already occurred as to his future status. UM would need to get a new starter in ASAP. I’m sure JJ wouldn’t want to leave the program hanging.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:25 PM ^
Does the NFL draft on potential? The NBA does but football players can’t go till their junior year. If a guy hasn’t produced in college by then he’s not going to. JJ has some solid production. Another year could help if he was lights out but he’s probably shown enough.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:04 PM ^
Anthony Richardson was just drafted 4th overall, so NFL teams definitely do draft on potential. Especially at QB.
November 29th, 2023 at 11:18 AM ^
I had to look him up, but now remember who he is. Colts will regret that choice. There is a huge learning curve to reading college defenses and an even bigger curve in the pros.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:40 PM ^
That could be a gamble for him as well. If he’s running for his life or getting hit often it could hurt his production. Other than Semaj, and Morris to a lesser extent, nobody has stepped up at wide receiver besides Wilson and CoJo. I’d hope we pick up one or two good linemen in the portal to go with returning talent. JJ will also look at who is coming back with him as well. Nobody wants to win 12+ games three years in a row and then take a step back as a senior.
November 27th, 2023 at 10:31 PM ^
Pretty sure that Loveland guy is going to be a decent player.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:31 PM ^
KSU grad here. Interesting dude. Came in last year and played lights out winning the Big 12. If he plays even remotely the same this year, they are in the championship game this weekend. Def not all his fault, but he was just baaaaaad in several games. He was also very good in several games. I’d pass because of his decision making and interceptions, but it would be interesting seeing what JH could do with him. I doubt UM will give him a look for those reasons specifically.
November 27th, 2023 at 7:40 PM ^
On another note, Zach Carpenter, who transferred from us to Indiana is back in the portal.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:09 PM ^
Does he get another "free" transfer b/c of the coaching change?
November 27th, 2023 at 8:29 PM ^
I think Crippen will be ready, but Carpenter would be an interesting find at C if the coaches disagree.
He didn't burn any bridges, he, like Aaron Lewis, truly went home to be closer to family.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:28 PM ^
Sounds like Riley Leonard may enter the portal now that Elko left Duke for Texas A&M.
If so, he's absolutely the best fit of any of the current options.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:44 PM ^
Don’t sleep on Orji.Just sayin
November 27th, 2023 at 8:53 PM ^
Who in their right mind would ever sleep on an orgy?
I will let myself out.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:58 PM ^
He's intriguing for sure. I just wish we had some sample size for his passing. He's only inserted for read options. Not sure if it's because of coaches confidence or just a result of the situation.
November 28th, 2023 at 8:34 AM ^
I hope we’re saving the play-action pass for Orji for the CFP.
November 27th, 2023 at 8:52 PM ^
If JJ declares: Cam Ward (if he enters portal)
For a multi year option to challenge existing Qb room: perhaps Nate Johnson or Brendan Sorsby from Indiana (3 to 1 td to int ratio as freshman running for his life plus has some mobility)
November 27th, 2023 at 10:30 PM ^
Nate Johnson is very intriguing as a runner with excellent speed, unproven as a passer so far.