Michigan is set to host top transfer portal target Upton Stout on Sunday, 247Sports learned on Thursday evening. The Western Kentucky product is the second-ranked cornerback in this year’s edition of the portal (thus far) and he also holds offers from USC, Virginia Tech and West Virginia among others. Stout is a native of Houston (TX) who started his career at North Texas before transferring to Western Kentucky the last two years. 247Sports transfer evaluator Clint Brewster recently named Stout as his top available corner in this year’s portal:
A two-time transfer who’s done his thing at North Texas (2021 season) and Western Kentucky (22-23), Upton Stout is probably ready to try his trade at the Power Five level. Stout had an interception and a forced fumble for the Hilltoppers this past season. Stout has excellent speed and can make up for and cover a lot of ground with his quickness. I love how attached he stays to receivers in-phase.
A former three-star prospect according to both the 247Sports Composite and 247Sports, Stout is believed to be considering USC the most early on alongside the Wolverines. Cornerback is a position we’ve expected Michigan to evaluate heavily as it’s viewed as a position where teams cannot have enough depth.
Entering the NCAA’s Transfer Portal does not mean a player is going elsewhere, of course, as players are free to withdraw from the portal if they choose. That said, the next few weeks are expected to see hundreds and even thousands of players transfer elsewhere in the FBS. This is the first cycle with transfer portal windows, which stretch from Dec. 5 to January 18 for the FBS with another period from April 15-30. No longer can players enter the portal whenever they please, though there are always exceptions to the rules. Graduate transfers and players whose head coaches have left the program are not subjected to these guidelines, which is why athletes have already started entering the portal.
