Michigan RB Gaige Garcia enters NCAA Transfer Portal

Michigan sophomore running back Gaige Garcia has entered the NCAA transfer portal, a team spokesperson confirmed with Maize n Brew on Tuesday morning.

A member of the 2020 recruiting class, Garcia did not see playing time this past season as a freshman. This spring, he was behind Hassan Haskins, classmate Blake Corum, and true freshmen Donovan Edwards and Tavierre Dunlap.

During his time at Michigan, Garcia was also a member of the wrestling program. In fact, the scholarship he received from the University of Michigan was with the wrestling program, with the option of acquiring a football scholarship at a later time.

Coming out of high school in Catawissa, Pennsylvania, Garcia was a low-three-star recruit in football. He was the No. 2,211 overall player in his class, according to the 247Sports composite, and the No. 137 player at his position.

Garcia is one of several Michigan players who have entered their name into the transfer portal this offseason. Others who have transferred away from Michigan include offensive linemen Zach Carpenter and Willie Allen, quarterback Joe Milton, running backs Zach Charbonnet and Christian Turner, wide receiver Giles Jackson, defensive lineman Luiji Vilain and several others.

The opportunity just was not there for Garcia, as the running back room is as deep as it has been in a long time. With Corum and Haskins bound to take the bulk of the snaps this upcoming season, and Edwards and Dunlap showing flashes this spring, the writing was on the wall for Garcia. He could have stayed at U-M and continued his scholarship with the wrestling program, but this goes to show his desire to have meaningful playing time on the gridiron. Hopefully he can land on his feet and find that playing time he is looking for.