The transfer season is a series of ups and downs. Michigan may have headlined by flipping the top prospect in the nation, Bryce Underwood. But Sherrone Moore also lost some players along the way, and he isn’t going to leave that gaping void unattended. Perhaps their coveted 6’8, 320-pound target could be key to a winning offense in 2025. But the last-minute competition has sent the Wolverines exploring more options. 

Who wouldn’t want a massive offensive tackle like Shiyaz Pete? He’s been a hot commodity in the transfer portal, with offers pouring in from Iowa State, Oklahoma State, USC, Stanford, and even Vanderbilt. While Michigan has a strong reputation for recruiting and developing offensive players under Coach Moore, the competition for Pete is heating up. A section in the new YouTube episode on Michigan Sports Talk on January 17 discussed how Michigan just found an added competitor in their pursuit of New Mexico State transfer OT Shiyaz Pete.

The report reads, “While it was thought to believe that Michigan and Nebraska were battling for him, according to On3’s Pete Nakos, it appears Kentucky has entered the mix and right now could be training to land him, so that’s another competition for Michigan.”

Michigan offered Shiyaz Pete back in December. The Montana native is a former first-team All-Conference USA who had a standout season with the Aggies in 2023 at left tackle. The past season at New Mexico State hasn’t been as productive as he dealt with an ankle injury that limited his plays to just six games. With another SEC team entering the picture, the best thing for Sherrone Moore to do would be to get him on campus for a visit.

While their 2025 roster is already crammed with talent, the Wolverines aren’t spared from the transfer heartbreak when their 6’8, 310-pound prodigy hopped into the portal. Michigan lost their OL Jeff Persi to the transfer portal on Wednesday. The former 4-star OL had been in Ann Arbor since 2020 and appeared in 38 total games. Besides, their OT Myles Hinton will be entering the 2025 NFL Draft. So, a hunt is necessary to stitch that O-line together. But Sherrone Moore’s already in contact. 

Sherrone Moore is relentless in his O-line pursuit

Michigan already has the best quarterback in the nation. Now, their job is to surround Bryce Underwood with the right people, and the O-linemen will be key in his protection. So, as Shiyaz Pete tempted another interested program, Sherrone Moore expanded his hunt by contacting Troy OT transfer Daniel King and Arizona OT transfer Leaf Magnuson. Both players are physically intimidating, standing at 6’5, 340 pounds, and 6’5, 300 pounds, respectively.

According to On3, Daniel King is the top available OT in the portal. He is the No. 72 player in the nation and the No. 8 OT and has one year of eligibility remaining. Leaf Magnuson, a former 3-star recruit out of Canada, is another target who can play at OT and guard as well. But word alone isn’t going to win them. 

Michigan fans look forward to seeing these valuable targets in Ann Arbor. Will Sherrone Moore’s damage control strategy keep Michigan in good shape if a worst case scenario were to happen with Shiyaz Pete?