The 2026 College Football season is still several months away, but spring practices are just around the corner. New head coach Kyle Whittingham and the Wolverines did pretty good in his short time in Ann Arbor, working the transfer portal. With major pickups in WR JJ Buchanan and Jamie Ffrench, and two-way players like Salesi Moa and Smith Snowden getting a lot of attention, there are a few portal additions that haven’t gotten enough attention.
QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (Colorado State)
Quarterback Bryce Underwood still looks to be the future of Michigan Football under center, and that’s why the pickup of QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi needs to get some more attention. Michigan’s quarterback room was so incredibly thin, even without the departures of Davis Warren and Jadyn Davis, it wasn’t like the position was dripping with talent up and down the roster. It’s a tough task to bring in an experienced quarterback to compete with a young guy like Underwood. Fowler-Nicolosi had his best season in 2023, throwing for 3,460 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s had some turnover issues, throwing 16 interceptions in that same season. Still, he’s got years of experience on his resume. Props to Whittingham and his staff for convincing someone to come and fill out the group.
LB Aisea Moa (Michigan State)
While LB Aisea Moa’s stats aren’t anything exceptional from his time at Michigan State, he’s familiar with new DC Jay Hill. During his time at BYU, Moa had 16 tackles and a forced fumble. While Michigan had one of the deeper linebacker rooms last season, that’s changed heading into 2026. Picking up more players at linebacker is huge, and one who’s familiar with the system can’t get overlooked. While Moa’s younger brother is getting a lot of focus this offseason, don’t be surprised if you see the older brother making some plays of his own this fall.
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DL Jonah Lea’ea (Utah)
Michigan’s defensive line group could stand to improve in 2025, and DL Jonah Lea’ea can help with that. He ended the 2025 season with 38 tackles, including one sack, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection. It’s especially encouraging to see that pass deflection on his stat line because you know that means he’s looking to make a play even if he’s not getting to the quarterback. With the addition of edge John Henry Daley, there hasn’t been enough focus on what Lea’ea brings to the defense heading into 2026.
Which transfer portal addition do you think isn’t getting looked at enough? Let us know why in the comments below!
