Michigan lands Northwestern OL transfer Josh Priebe
The Michigan Wolverines have added to the 2024 roster in the form of offensive lineman Josh Priebe from Northwestern, he announced on Dec. 28. He is U-M’s second transfer portal addition of the cycle, joining former Maryland linebacker Jaishawn Barham.
Priebe started 12 games this season at Northwestern at left guard and could compete for a spot there next season with both Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter moving on to the 2024 NFL Draft. Among his highlights this season included allowing zero pressures on 46 pass-blocking snaps in the season opener against Rutgers and following up with a performance against Minnesota with no pressures in 61 dropbacks.
During the 2022 season, Priebe started seven games and made eight appearances and made nine starts in nine games during the 2021 campaign. The On3 Transfer Portal rankings list him as a three-star addition and the No. 597 player available.
Priebe was a three-star recruit and the No. 422 player in the country in the 2020 class, per the On3 Industry Ranking. The Niles, Michigan native held an offer from Michigan in addition to offers from Auburn, Boston College, Duke, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas State, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue, Tennessee and Vanderbilt before committing to Northwestern.
Priebe’s addition will give Michigan some needed competition on the interior alongside players like Giovanni El-Hadi, Creg Crippen, Raheem Anderson and others that are expected to have larger roles in a revamped offensive line in 2024.
Priebe joins Barham in a transfer portal class that could continue to grow in the days and weeks to come. Barham starred at linebacker this season for Maryland, registering 59 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 pass breakup and a forced fumble as a freshman, playing in 12 games. He was slowed by injury in 2023, seeing time in 10 contests, but still recorded 37 stops, 3 sacks, 1 pass breakup and an interception that came at the goal line in a 31-24 loss to Michigan on Nov. 18.
Last season, Michigan brought in nine players via the transfer portal and has used it to augment the talent on the roster over the last few offseasons, so more additions could be on the way with transfer and NFL decisions looming soon.
But first, the task at hand is handling the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Michigan is currently listed as a 1.5-point favorite in the College Football Playoff semifinal, which is set for a 5 p.m. ET kickoff from Pasadena and will be broadcast via ESPN.
