Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer gets transfer portal curveball from Michigan ahead of ReliaQuest Bowl

Michigan scored big time in the transfer portal against Alabama.

Just days before taking on the Crimson Tide at the Raymond James Stadium, the Wolverines landed the former 5-star RB Justice Haynes. 

However, it didn't come as an absolute shocker. Sherrone Moore and Co. were linked to Haynes ever since he stepped into the transfer portal earlier this month as reported by Clayton Sayfie of On3.

Surprisingly, maize and blue just took about four days to confirm a deal with former Alabama star RB, sweeping him away from top programs like Ole Miss, Ohio State, South Carolina, and others.

Per Sayfie, the real tussle for Haynes was between the Gamecocks and the Wolverines.

Additionally, Haynes was reportedly set to land a $500,000 deal in the transfer portal, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Ranked No. 1 RB in the transfer portal, according to On3 industry rankings, Haynes has a current NIL valuation of $397,000.

As Sayfie notes, the Wolverines RB room will continue to be its strength in 2025.

"The Wolverines have three running backs that are slated to return in 2025 in sophomore Benjamin Hall and freshmen Jordan Marshall and Micah Ka’apana. Michigan will also bring in two 2025 signees in Jasper Parker and Donovan Johnson," Sayfie wrote.

The most intriguing of it all? The perfect timing Moore pulled against Bama head coach Kalen DeBoer, just mere days before they faced off in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

That's gamesmanship on the recruiting trail indeed.