On December 24, 2024, at 7:49 PM, Alex.Drain reported that Michigan secured a significant holiday transfer portal commitment in RB Justice Haynes from Alabama, potentially the standout player of the class. Haynes recently completed his sophomore season with the Crimson Tide, marking his first year of substantial playing time. The son of former Georgia RB Verron Haynes, who was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2002, Justice was a two-sport athlete at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, GA, before finishing his final season at Buford High School in 2022. Coming out of high school, he was a highly regarded prospect, ranked 29th nationally and a five-star recruit (narrowly) in the 247 Composite rankings, as well as 34th in 247’s own listings, classifying him as a high four-star and making him the third-ranked RB in the country.
Despite offers from notable coaches like Tony Alford at Ohio State, Haynes committed to Alabama. His true freshman year limited his playing time due to a competitive depth chart, where he ranked fourth behind Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, and Jamarion Miller. Although he didn’t feature in the FFFF for Alabama in 2023, he surprisingly saw action in the Rose Bowl, carrying the ball four times for 31 yards. This season, he found more opportunities, rushing 78 times for 440 yards with an impressive 5.6 yards per carry and adding 17 receptions for 99 yards.
Michigan’s acquisition of Haynes is a notable addition, as he was widely regarded as the top RB prospect in the transfer portal by analysts. The question remains whether prioritizing the RB position was the right move, especially considering the reported high cost of his recruitment through NIL deals. Regardless, Haynes is undoubtedly a talented player who enhances Michigan’s offense significantly. Pairing him with Jordan Marshall could create one of the strongest RB tandems in the Big Ten, although it raises questions about the implications for Benjamin Hall’s role and the coaching staff’s assessment of him.
With Haynes now on board, he becomes Michigan’s eighth transfer portal acquisition this cycle, joining Mikey Keene, Donaven McCulley, Brady Norton, Damon Payne, Troy Bowles, Tevis Metcalf, and TJ Metcalf. There are still needs at WR, OL, CB, and punter, but the recruiting class is beginning to take shape. Haynes’ commitment marks a significant recruiting success for Alford as Michigan’s RB coach, who aims to build on this momentum for the 2026 recruitment cycle.
