Transfer portal: 5 immediate impact candidates for their new Mitten teams
The transfer portal period is still underway but some key contributors have already likely made their pledges to the five programs in the Mitten.
It’s very early in the offseason and the transfer portal window hasn’t wrapped up entirely, but the five Mitten programs have done enough to at least take stock of the portal classes as they currently stand.
From Eastern Michigan’s small cadre to Michigan State’s roster rebuild, there’s lots to get into.
For now, as Mitten Football has updated the the Mitten Football Transfer Tracker (as best we can, with more info to be added as this week rolls on), here’s a look at who might have a shot to be an immediate impact maker for their respective new squads, one from each portal class — plus an honorable mention.
Central Michigan: RB Jayden Clerveaux, Holy Cross
In his sophomore and junior seasons at Holy Cross, Clerveaux served as a driving force of the offense. He rushed for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns in a career year in 2024 and followed that up with 762 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. He averaged 4.8 and 4.7 yards a carry each of those seasons, respectively.
He’ll arrive to Central Michigan out of the portal to a running back room that returns one of three backs who took the majority of non-quarterback carries in Brock Townsend. There’s an obvious path to Clerveaux getting plenty of touches and being a major part of the 2026 CMU offense.
Honorable mention: Edge Hunter Zirkle, College of the Cumberlands
Eastern Michigan: DL Joseph Oluwayemi, Harding
Oluwayemi comes to Eastern Michigan after a run to the Division II title game at Harding in 2025 and should be in line to win a starting or significant rotational role on the EMU defensive line. For a unit that struggled against the run and with missed tackles in 2025, shoring up the front is a critical offseason endeavor.
In 30 games in two seasons at Harding, Oluwayemi didn’t start but played in every game. He has 3.5 career sacks, a pair of passes batted down and a forced fumble. And at 6-foot-2, 310 pounds, he’s got the size to be a run plugger in the middle of the EMU defense.
HM: OL Cole Dellinger, Michigan State
Michigan: Edge John Henry Daley, Utah
Daley could’ve been the top sackman in the country in 2025 if he didn’t get sidelined by a late-season injury. Either way, his 11.5 sacks placed him in the top ranks of the country individually, anyways.
He’ll come to Ann Arbor and immediately be expected to feature off the edge, both assailing opposing passers and stuffing up the opponent’s run game. For a defense needing to replace Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham’s ability to rush the passer, it’s hard to do better than slotting in Daley.
HM: WR Jaime Ffrench, Texas
Michigan State: RB Cam Edwards, UConn
Michigan State’s last 1000 yard rusher? You guessed it: Kenneth Walker III in 2021. The Spartans actually haven’t had a player rush for more than 800 yards since Walker’s titanic 2021 campaign. Edwards — along with a remade offensive line room, admittedly — is poised to break that streak.
He rushed for 1272 yards at a 5.9 yards per carry clip for UConn in 2025 as the Huskies enjoyed a highly successful season. Edwards added 15 rushing touchdowns and 19 catches for 187 more yards and another touchdown. He can be the sort of bell cow back that produces a punishing, productive run game in Year 1 under Pat Fitzgerald.
HM: TE/ATH Carson Gulker, Ferris State
Western Michigan: DT Eric “Scoop” Gardner Jr., LIU
The Broncos need to replace more or less the entire defensive front that led a MAC-championship defense. There are some in-house names who will surely step up and contribute but the Broncos needed more help than that and got it in the portal, in part, in Gardner. And Gardner brings a productive, disruptive presence.
In 12 games at LIU in 2025, Gardner finished with a team-high seven sacks as part of a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss. He also finished tied for second on the team in total tackles. He also forced a fumble and blocked a kick. He’s a bit undersized for a defensive tackle but should be a piece that defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary can make hay with.
HM: OL Ben Roebuck, Michigan
