Veteran Michigan Offensive Lineman Enters NCAA Transfer Portal, Sparking Fresh Opportunities

The Michigan football team is poised for a surprising late departure from its roster via the transfer portal, as offensive tackle Jeffrey Persi reportedly entered the portal Wednesday morning, according to Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press.

Jeffrey Persi

Persi, a 6-foot-8, 310-pound lineman from Mission Viejo, California, played in 38 career games, including 14 appearances on the offensive line and three starts at left tackle. With one year of eligibility remaining, Persi also holds at least one degree from Michigan, having been listed as a graduate student last fall.

Despite battling injuries this season, Persi was expected to compete for one of two open starting offensive tackle positions. Michigan returns Evan Link and Andrew Sprague, who started in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama, while younger players like Blake Frazier and Andrew Babalola, along with veterans such as Connor Jones, are expected to be in the mix. Additionally, transfer linemen Brady Norton (Cal Poly) and Lawrence Hattar (Ferris State) bring tackle experience, and Michigan continues to pursue more offensive tackles through the portal, though no commitments have been secured.

Persi, however, was one of the most experienced options among the group outside of Link. Over his career, he logged 653 snaps, including 404 on offense, and started one game in 2022 and two in 2024. He contributed to Michigan’s offensive lines that won the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s best offensive line in 2021 and 2022 and played a key role in the team’s national championship run in 2023.

A four-star recruit from the 2020 class, Persi was ranked No. 312 overall and the No. 24 offensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite. He chose Michigan over 25 Power Five offers, including UCLA, Stanford, USC, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss.