Looking back, it’s hard not to be impressed by the 2023 transfer portal class that Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff assembled — it was a huge reason that the Maize and Blue went 15-0 last season, claiming the program’s first national title since 1997. While a number of players from the 2023 team are heading to the NFL, a key Michigan football defender will be staying put for another year: edge rusher Josaiah Stewart.
Michigan football defender Josaiah Stewart will return in 2024
Josaiah Stewart, a transfer from Coastal Carolina, came to Michigan football in the spring with the intention of establishing his legitimacy in a conference like the Big Ten. In 2023, he accomplished precisely that, making 13 appearances for the Wolverines and being named an honorable mention on the All-Big Ten team.
Stewart had 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in his one and only season as a Wolverine—quite an accomplishment. With a social media post on Monday morning, Stewart formally announced his intention to play football for Michigan one more season (see below).
With Jaylen Harrell and Brandon McGregor, two more Michigan edge rushers, having recently declared their intents to enter the draft, Stewart’s choice to play in the NFL is significant for the Wolverines’ defense going into the 2024 campaign.
