“First off, I just want to give all glory to God,” said Kenneth Grant as he officially entered the transfer portal. Yes! He has decided to cut the knot with Michigan. The star defensive lineman for Michigan has made a big decision regarding his future: he won’t be returning for another season and is heading straight to the NFL. And guess what? With the potential to be a first-round pick, Grant has certainly lived up to the hype. Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh even called him a “gift from the football gods.” But who can fit in the big shoes?

With Grant’s departure, Michigan’s offensive coordinator, Sherrone Moore, now faces a pressing challenge. According to Michigan insider reports on Michigan Sports Talk, the Wolverines are aggressively pursuing two key transfer targets to bolster their defensive line. They’ve already added Damon Payne, a defensive tackle from Alabama.

The insider revealed the two key transfers and mentioned, “Michigan has been in contact with Washington State defensive lineman David Gusta and also LSU’s Jay’viar Suggs, which is down to a final seven of Michigan, Penn State, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wisconsin.” See, Suggs can be their first choice, as he’s a Michigan native and could make a visit once the dead period ends.

Talking about David Gusta, he kicked off his high school football career at Grand Terrace High School in Southern California. During his sophomore year, he really made a name for himself. In just seven games, he racked up 42 tackles, with 12 of those being for a loss, and he notched 6.5 sacks along with three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Not too shabby, right?

Then, as a junior, he took it up a notch and earned a spot on the All-Sunkist League First Team after making 62 tackles and an impressive 14 sacks. By the time he hit his senior year at Cajon High School in San Bernardino, he was already a three-star prospect, according to ESPN, 247Sports, and Rivals. He was ranked the No. 45 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 97 overall prospect in California by 247Sports.

Now let’s talk about the other prospect Michigan is vouching for. Jay’viar Suggs, in his first three seasons at LSU, was a bit of a rollercoaster. Only in the 2022 season he bounced back and that’s when he made a name for himself! He ended up with 21 tackles, seven of those for a loss, plus three sacks, five pass deflections, and even forced a fumble. In 2023, Suggs kept that momentum rolling with 23 tackles, seven and a half for a loss, and five sacks. After his time at LSU, he is back in the transfer portal.

Now, Michigan is feeling the pressure as they look to replace both Kenneth Grant and possibly Mason Graham, who’s also got his eyes set on the NFL. Losing Grant is a big deal for Moore and his staff, as he was on fire last season and impressed everyone with his impressive performance, which included 32 total tackles, three sacks, and two fumble recoveries. Michigan is not just looking to improve its squad with talented players; it is also looking to strengthen its coaching staff.

Juan Castillo shakes hands with Sherrone Moore

The season wasn’t easy for the Wolverines and their new head coach faced a lot of heat. But when it comes to recruiting for the 2025 season, Michigan is definitely on the right path. With Bryce Underwood’s recruitment, they have shown the college football world that they are still in the game when it comes to recruiting. They’re shifting gears a bit and just made a huge upgrade to their offensive line by bringing in former UCLA offensive line coach Juan Castillo as an analyst.

Castillo isn’t just bringing solid connections with both Harbaugh brothers. He brings the NFL experience to the table. Throughout the season, Michigan’s main challenge was their offense. Although Moore tried his best to resolve the problems with backup QBs, things really did not go in his favor. Last season, they wrapped up with a 7-5 record overall, went 5-4 in conference play, and took home the defending title. With the recent signing of the nation’s No. 1 QB prospect, Bryce Underwood, and Castillo joining the staff, will Michigan make a comeback for the fresh season?

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