On Tuesday, the University of Michigan’s football team experienced its first departure of a scholarship player since the departure of Jim Harbaugh as the head coach. Reece Atteberry, a defensive lineman who had transitioned from playing as a reserve offensive lineman for three years, entered the NCAA Transfer Portal as a graduate transfer.
Atteberry marks the seventh scholarship player from Michigan’s 2023 roster to enter the transfer portal during the current offseason. The list includes Matthew Hibner (tight end), Noah Stewart (offensive lineman), Amorion Walker (cornerback), Darrius Clemons (wide receiver), Cameron Calhoun (cornerback), and CJ Stokes (running back).
Despite his recent switch to defense just before the start of the last season, Atteberry managed to play the seventh-highest number of snaps among defensive tackles. He participated in 43 defensive snaps across 14 games, accumulating three tackles. With the graduation of Kris Jenkins and Cam Goode, Atteberry had an opportunity for a two-deep role. However, the positions behind clear-cut starters Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Rayshaun Benny were open, with rising sophomore Trey Pierce as the likely contender for 2023 snaps.
Having spent three seasons in Ann Arbor, Atteberry had previously worked his way just outside the offensive line’s two-deep. He had played in 12 games over the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons. Atteberry, a former three-star recruit from Aurora, Colorado, stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 309 pounds. He seems to have two years of eligibility remaining, considering that the 2020 season did not count toward eligibility, and he received a redshirt for appearing in only three games in 2022.
The article does not specify Atteberry’s preferred position in his next destination, leaving it uncertain whether he will continue playing on the offensive or defensive lines. His career stats show a diverse experience, having played 91 offensive snaps, 43 defensive snaps, and 127 special team snaps.
The timing of Atteberry’s decision coincides with Michigan being in the sixth day of a 30-day window during which players of all classifications can freely enter the transfer portal, a situation triggered by Jim Harbaugh’s departure. However, the potential challenge lies in the fact that winter semesters are already underway at universities across the country, making enrollment and eligibility for spring practices potentially complicated.
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