Whittingham’s portal haul injects elite talent, featuring a Utah pass-rushing force and a dynamic playmaker ready to ignite Michigan's 2026 season.
The winds of change are blowing through the Diag, and they carry the scent of salt air and mountain air. After a tumultuous transition period, the University of Michigan officially ushered in the Kyle Whittingham era in early 2026. Whittingham, the legendary former Utah coach known for his grit and developmental prowess, hasn't wasted any time putting his stamp on the program.
While much of the offseason focus remained on the retention of superstar quarterback Bryce Underwood, Whittingham and his staff—bolstered by offensive coordinator Jason Beck and defensive coordinator Jay Hill—have been surgical in the transfer portal. Facing a roster exodus that saw 22 players depart, Michigan needed immediate infusions of "plug-and-play" talent to maintain its status as a Big Ten heavyweight.
Here are the three transfer portal acquisitions that will define Michigan’s 2026 campaign.
1. John Henry Daley, EDGE (Utah)
If there is one player who embodies the "Whittingham Way," it is John Henry Daley. A 2025 All-American at Utah, Daley followed his head coach to Ann Arbor to serve as the tip of the spear for Jay Hill’s defense.
Daley’s 2025 season was nothing short of historic. He finished the year tied for the FBS lead in tackles for loss (17.5) and ranked second in sacks (11.5). At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, he possesses the frame and the "motor" that Michigan fans came to love during the Hutchinson and Ojabo era.
2026 Impact: With the departure of key defensive linemen, Daley provides an instant elite pass rush. Under Kyle Whittingham's system, which prioritizes physical dominance at the line of scrimmage, Daley will likely be the focal point of the defense, demanding double teams and creating opportunities for the secondary to capitalize on forced errors.
2. Salesi Moa, ATH/CB (Utah)
While technically a transfer due to the timing of his signing, Salesi Moa is being hailed as the "prize" of the 2026 class. A versatile 6-foot-2 athlete with 11.0-flat speed in the 100-meter dash, Moa is the definition of a modern playmaker.
Though he has expressed a desire to play wide receiver to catch passes from Bryce Underwood, his ceiling may be highest on the defensive side of the ball. In the 2026 Polynesian Bowl, Moa showcased elite ball skills and recovery speed that suggested he could be a lockdown corner in the Big Ten from Day 1.
2026 Impact: Whittingham has praised Moa’s "year one" readiness. Whether he is stretching the field for Underwood or locking down opposing WR1s, Moa gives Michigan the high-end athleticism needed to compete with the likes of Ohio State and Oregon. His presence stabilizes a secondary that lost several starters to the portal and the NFL.
3. Jaime Ffrench, WR (Texas)
To ensure Bryce Underwood has the tools to succeed, Michigan landed former five-star recruit Jaime Ffrench from Texas. Ffrench arrived in Ann Arbor looking for a larger role after a crowded depth chart in Austin limited his freshman snaps.
2026 Impact: Ffrench is a silky-smooth route runner with a massive catch radius. Pairing him with returning standout Andrew Marsh and fellow transfer JJ Buchanan gives Michigan a "dynamite trio" of receivers. In Jason Beck’s "user-friendly" offense—which saw Utah’s scoring jump to 5th in the nation in 2025—Ffrench is expected to be the primary intermediate threat, providing Underwood with a reliable safety valve and a red-zone weapon.
The Whittingham Blueprint
The 2026 season will be a litmus test for the "Utah-to-Michigan" pipeline. Whittingham’s philosophy is rooted in toughness, physicality, and discipline. By bringing in proven commodities like Daley and high-upside stars like Moa and Ffrench, he has addressed the three pillars of a championship team: a dominant pass rush, a lockdown secondary, and explosive offensive weaponry.
As the Wolverines prepare for their September 5 opener against Western Michigan, the message is clear: The personnel has changed, but the standard in Ann Arbor remains "The Best."