The newly appointed head coaches tend to rely on their former programs to build their rosters. James Franklin did the same (to an extent) at Virginia Tech. Now, Kyle Whittingham is doing it with Michigan by targeting former Utah defensive standouts, with ex-Ute EDGE John Henry Daley emerging as a top priority.
“I think with bringing in a new staff, bringing in a new DC, Jay Hill, who was announced from BYU,” Michigan insider EJ Holland said on the January 3 episode of the Rivals. “They’re going to target some guys that he was familiar with. John Henry Daley, a defensive end at Utah, hit the portal. He’s probably the biggest known target as of today for Michigan. So he’ll definitely be one to watch.”
Daley stands out as one of the most talented defensive players in the transfer portal, with two years of eligibility remaining. The CBS Sports second-team All-American feels like a natural fit for Michigan. His 2025 season ended earlier than expected after a non-contact injury in the second-to-last regular-season game sidelined him for the rest of the year…