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Michigan football has three of nation's top impact transfers in 2023

clayton-sayfieby: Clayton Sayfie08/27/23CSayf23
Josaiah Stewart
(Photo by Michigan Football / Instagram)

This offseason, Michigan Wolverines football brought in nine scholarship transfers, its most under ninth-year head coach Jim Harbaugh. Many are expected to impact, and several are projected to start. The Athletic broke down the top 100 impact transfers in the country ahead of the 2023 campaign, citing intel from coaches, and three Wolverines appeared in the top 35 — graduate center Drake Nugent (No. 6), junior EDGE Josaiah Stewart (No. 24) and graduate cornerback Josh Wallace (No. 35).

Nugent is at the top of our projected depth chart at center, though junior Greg Crippen is battling. The Athletic‘s Bruce Feldman and Max Olson believe Nugent is going to step in seamlessly. Nugent started 24 games at Stanford and has loads of experience. The Athletic has him as the top impact transfer offensive lineman this season.

“Nugent developed into a two-year starter at center for Stanford and looks ready to be a plug-and-play solution for the Wolverines as they replace Olu Oluwatimi, who also came in via the portal and became a consensus All-American and winner of the Rimington Award (college football’s best center) and Outland Trophy (best interior lineman),” the article read. “That’s a lot to live up to for Nugent, but the 6-foot-2, 301-pound grad transfer has impressed teammates with his work ethic and tenacity. One coach said he’s smart, quick and dependable and plays like a “little pit bull.”

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Stewart is the fourth defensive end or outside linebacker to appear on the list. A true pass-rusher, Stewart has impressed since joining Michigan this past winter.

“Stewart made a name for himself right away at Coastal Carolina as a Freshman All-American and All-Sun Belt defender who produced 25.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks over his first two seasons. In the Wolverines’ loaded defense, the 6-foot-1, 245-pound junior should get lots of opportunities to rush the passer, and his explosiveness has evoked comparisons to Josh Uche among coaches,” the reporters wrote. “Stewart is a top-10 underclassman edge prospect in [analyst Dane] Brugler’s preseason 2024 draft rankings.”

The Uche comparison is apt. Uche led Michigan in sacks in both 2018 and 2019 despite not being an every-down player. Their size is similar, with Uche having been listed at 6-2, 250 as a senior in 2019.

Michigan picked up Wallace from UMass in June, and he’s quickly established himself as a projected starter at outside cornerback. The Wolverines don’t have much experience at the position overall, with sophomore Will Johnson, a preseason All-American per the AP, only having five starts under his belt.

“Wallace started 34 games for the Minutemen and was a three-time captain,” the reporters wrote. “Over the past two seasons he has broken up 22 passes and posted seven TFLs and 85 tackles. At Michigan, the 6-foot, 190-pound senior has brought a calm, mature presence and picked up the Wolverines’ defense very quickly.”

Four former Michigan players who are now elsewhere also checked in on the rankings — quarterback Cade McNamara (Iowa; 64th), wide receiver Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma; 75th), tight end Erick All (Iowa; 79th) and defensive lineman Eyabi Okie-Anoma (Charlotte; 95th).

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