Michigan football loses multiple defensive back starters to the portal
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The Michigan football secondary has been thinned out by the transfer portal.
Michigan defensive backs TJ Metcalf and Jayden Sanders have both entered their names in the transfer portal, program spokesman Dave Ablauf confirmed to the Detroit Free Press.
Other reports have indicated that safety Brandyn Hillman has done the same, however he has not officially filed the paperwork with compliance as of the morning of Friday, Jan. 9.
There is an expectation he will enter the portal.
Sanders, a 6-foot-1, 193-pound defensive back from Kilgore, Texas broke into the rotation early in his career, starting in Weeks 3 and 4 when Zeke Berry was injured and Rod Moore was working his way back. He appeared in all 13 games for Michigan and played 10 or more snaps in 12 of them, recording 16 tackles and one pass breakup in his first collegiate season.
Metcalf, meanwhile, was a a big part of the the secondary in his first season in Ann Arbor after transferring in from Arkansas, along with his brother, Tevis. Metcalf finished with 58 total tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and four passes defended, playing both nickel and safety. He led the team with 778 defensive snaps, most of which came in the slot (426), but he also played frequently in the box (145) and at safety (122).
Should Hillman leave, too, that would be another blow. He was U-M’s biggest hitter and was named a All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2025, recording 49 tackles, including 2½ for loss to go with four pass breakups an interception and a forced fumble. He appeared in 32 games over the course of his Michigan career, with 11 starts, all this season at safety.
He played 545 snaps for U-M this year and was consistent outside of his ability to wrap up in space. Despite his propensity for big hits, there were times when he didn’t break down and play with fundamentals. He led the team with 14 missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
The defensive back room was young last season, but seemed to be promising going into 2026 with so many players getting trial by fire. However, five players who saw the field with some regularity now could be on the way out as the trio follow Elijah Dotson and safety Jordan Young, both of whom have already entered the portal.
It appeared as though the exodus may be worse, however Zeke Berry – a mainstay who was briefly in the portal – has opted to return to Ann Arbor for 2026.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football’s DB room thinning out from transfer portal
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