Michigan junior DB Sabb has entered transfer portal

The coaching staff turnover under new head coach Sherrone Moore has appeared to take its toll on at least one former Michigan football standout.

Keon Sabb, a rising junior defensive back who was expected to compete for a starting job in the secondary, has entered his name into the transfer portal, a team spokesman confirmed to the Free Press on Friday.

Sabb played in 18 games over two seasons with four starts; he recorded 28 tackles and two interceptions as a sophomore, including a career-high six tackles in the College Football Playoff championship game vs. Washington.

A 4-star New Jersey native who finished high school at Florida’s IMG Academy, Sabb was rated the No. 84 overall player in the country in the class of 2022 according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings.

He marks the first notable departure (reserve lineman Reece Atterberry also entered the portal) since Jim Harbaugh left for Los Angeles and took almost the entire defensive staff with him, including defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, defensive analyst Rick Minter, defensive line coach Mike Elston, strength & conditioning coach Ben Herbert and perhaps most relevant to Sabb, former defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale.

Reports earlier this week indicated Moore had agreed to a deal with Houston Texans secondary coach Stephen Adogoke to take over the position in Ann Arbor. But Adogoke reportedly reversed course and instead decided to stay in Houston on Thursday night.

Sabb, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound DB, has been in line at the safety position, where two spots could have been vacant had rising seniors Rod Moore or Makari Paige opted to enter the NFL draft. Both instead decided to stay at U-M for a final season, making the path to the field even more difficult.

Sabb was also an option to fill in for Mike Sainristil at nickel back, but Ja’Den McBurrows appears to be the top option there, too.