Big things were expected of the Michigan football 2024 recruiting class and while the jury may be out for some time, the Wolverines had something of a surprising departure via the transfer portal.

Having flipped originally from Notre Dame to the Wolverines, despite being a three-star prospect, Princeton (N.J.) Hun School defensive tackle Owen Wafle quickly was becoming a fan favorite due to his aggressiveness. However, Wafle didn’t play his freshman year and quickly opted for the transfer portal after the ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama.

It was a surprising decision, and it gets even more surprising as Wafle announced on Instagram that he’s transferring to Big Ten rival Penn State.

Wafle will have a full four years of eligibility from here on in. The Wolverines had also been targeting his edge rusher brother, four-star Luke Wafle, to join the 2026 recruiting class.

Michigan didn’t reel in many 2024 defensive tackles, but 2025 saw the Wolverines bring in Travis Moten.