Michigan football: Wolverines lose another LB to transfer portal

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Wolverines. (Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)
Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Wolverines. (Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports) /
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The Michigan football program has lost a second linebacker to the transfer portal in four days.

Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan football team has lost a pair of linebackers to the transfer portal in the last four days. Ben VanSumeren entered the portal late last week and now Adam Shibley has joined him on Tuesday. They have not even begun spring practice yet.

Moves were expected to happen at Michigan, especially on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. This is because the Wolverines parted ways with former defensive coordinator Don Brown, bringing in coaches like Mike MacDonald and Maurice Linguist to serve as co-defensive coordinators. Maybe other players will join VanSumeren and now Shibley in the transfer portal?

The coaching staff changes have had a huge effect on Michigan already

By hiring Macdonald away from Harbaugh’s older brother John’s Baltimore Ravens staff and Linguist away from the Dallas Cowboys, the Wolverines are not messing around when it comes to overhauling their defense. Michigan does need to be significantly better at the quarterback position, which is supposedly Harbaugh’s calling card, but a better defense will improve this team.

Because Shibley and VanSumeren played sparingly during their time in Michigan, their departures from Ann Arbor may have more to do with playing time than anything. However, one would think an opportunity to compete for snaps for a new defensive coaching staff without having to move would be appealing to players like them. Best of luck to both on their new collegiate endeavors.

Michigan losing yet another defensive player to the transfer portal is not a ton, but it is something.

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