Michigan football has been active in the transfer portal but the Wolverines might have made their most impactful addition via the transfer portal on Tuesday.

Former five-star running back Justice Haynes, who averaged 5.7 yards per attempt last season for Alabama, is expected to transfer to Michigan football according to Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports.

Haynes was down to Michigan and South Carolina. The Gamecocks just landed Air Noland from Ohio State and were pushing for Haynes, who is the No. 1 ranked running back in the transfer portal according to 247 Sports.

But Michigan football doesn’t lose NIL battles to SEC schools anymore and when all things are equal, there wasn’t a better fit for Justice Haynes than the Wolverines.

Justice Haynes and Michigan football are a perfect marriage

In two seasons, the 5-foot-11, 211-pound running back has 104 carries for 616 yards and nine touchdowns. That’s an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Haynes has also had at least one carry of 10 yards or more in 13 different games in his career (out of 18 total).

Haynes has only gotten double-digit carries once in his career. That’s probably the biggest reason for his transfer and why Michigan football is such an ideal fit.

The Wolverines will throw the ball more in 2025. They just added transfer QB Mikey Keene who is a placeholder for five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood. Yet, “smash” is still going to be a huge part of the identity, especially in 2025.

Whether it’s Keene or Underwood playing quarterback, Michigan football will need an elite running game if it wants to be a playoff contender. Jordan Marshall, a top-100 running back in the 2024 class, is expected to compete for the starting job along with Haynes and Benjamin Hall.

Haynes has had elite production in limited opportunities with Alabama. Honestly, with him averaging nearly six yards per attempt, it’s curious that Alabama didn’t use him more.

However, a lack of rushing attempts won’t be a problem in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines will feed Haynes the rock, which is probably the exact reason he is choosing Michigan football.

Alabama’s loss will be Michigan football’s gain.