The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2023 THE WOLVERINE 19 portal additions, for step one. Because they're not going to have a Will John- son, a [freshman All-America tight end Colston] Loveland and a [freshman de- fensive tackle Kenneth] Grant next year, I don't think. But they're going to have transfers who could play just as well as those kids did as true freshmen. "There's got to be further mitigation by going back to the portal over the next two or three years, until this incoming class essentially rolls out." Here's a closer look at Michigan's in- coming transfers, with observations by those who have watched and studied them closely. HELD BACK BY INJURIES Tight end AJ Barner started 10 games as a team captain for the Indiana Hoo- siers last season, making 28 catches for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns. He's bat- tled both physical setbacks — including a foot injury last year — and the drag of a struggling Indiana offense through a combined 6-18 record the past two seasons, according to Indianapolis Star reporter Zach Osterman. "The injuries held him back a lot," Osterman said. "He had these flashes. I know it was just Idaho, but he had a 70-something-yard touchdown that was basically a catch and run. As a tight end, to catch it 15 or 18 yards downfield and do the rest yourself, it tells you what kind of athlete he is. "He just couldn't outrun injuries at times. And I don't think it's controver- sial to say, Indiana's offense has really struggled the last couple of years to maintain a consistent rhythm." When he's healthy, watch out, Oster- man noted of the 6-foot-6, 251-pound tight end. "The physical tools are all there," Osterman stressed. "He was one of the team's leaders. He was one of the guys they brought to Big Ten media day, which is not the biggest deal in the world, but obviously they take some time and care in selecting who they want to represent them at an event like that. "I don't want to speak for Indiana, but I don't imagine they'd have wanted to lose him. But you've got a College Football Playoff semifinalist in Michi- gan. It's fair to say that if he can stay healthy, his best football is still ahead of him." LEADERSHIP INTANGIBLES ABOUND Quarterback Jack Tuttle, another Hoosier import on the Wolverines' ros- ter, arrived at Indiana during a stretch when it became quarterback rich, fea- turing such standouts as Peyton Ramsey and Michael Penix. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Tuttle went 9-for-12 pass- ing on the season for 82 yards after throwing for a combined 785 yards and 4 touchdowns the previous two seasons. "He played his way up, particularly once Ramsey left," Osterman said. "He had a couple of really good games af- ter Penix got hurt in 2020. His stats weren't gaudy in the Outback Bowl (201 yards passing, 26 rushing), but he played that game with a pretty serious shoulder injury. "Tuttle was a player who really seemed to command a lot of respect, irrespective of his playing time. He seemed to have a lot of influence in the locker room. When he announced he was going to enter the portal … he also announced he was going to stay with the team. Everyone within the program took that as a sign of his leadership and commitment, sticking it out. "He was another guy that was a cap- tain last season. So, the intangibles are certainly there. If Michigan needed him, it wouldn't shock me if he could come in and be effective." INSTINCTS AND ABILITY Callahan describes Ernest Hausmann as Nebraska's "most promising fresh- man" in 2022. Given the Wolverines' thinness at linebacker, he could become a prominent piece of the puzzle quickly Athlon Sports, in rating U-M's transfer group the best in the Big Ten this year "This class isn't as large as some of the others in the Big Ten or in college football. However, all seven players could be im- pact additions for coach Jim Harbaugh." At Nebraska, Ernest Hausmann posted 54 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery, including a 10-tackle game versus U-M with a sack on quarterback J.J. McCarthy. PHOTO BY SCOTT BRUHN/NEBRASKA COMMUNICATIONS