Why Justice Haynes chose to leave Alabama for Michigan football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — There were rumblings in late November that Michigan football could get a big boost once the transfer portal opened again for business.
The late-season recruiting win of flipping Bryce Underwood from LSU gave the Wolverines all kinds of juice, so it was something of a surprise to those outside of Ann Arbor when Alabama running back Justice Haynes hit the open market in December, and Michigan was among his top suitors.
Given that 2025 could have been Haynes’ breakout with the Tide given that dual-threat quarterback Jalen Milroe graduated, thus freeing tailback carries, it would have made sense if Haynes opted to stay put. However, as he delved into prayer nearing the end of the season, he felt like a change was coming and that it was necessary.
And once he saw Ann Arbor, he knew he had found the answer to his prayers.
“I’m a big faith person. I felt like God was calling me in a different direction in my life, and so I’m just relying on His plan that He had for me,” Haynes said. “I’m thankful for my time at Alabama. It was an amazing two-and-a-half years I had there, being coached by Coach Saban, being coached by Coach DeBoer. Great people, great men.
“But Michigan, you know, it just – I fell in love with the place. I knew (running backs coach Tony Alford) from when I was getting recruited from Ohio State. I came up here, and this is the place I knew I wanted to be as soon as I got here.”
Part of what attracted him to the program wasn’t just the facilities or the city of Ann Arbor itself. A big part of it was the people.
Not only did Alford play a big role, but Haynes connecting with second-year running back Jordan Marshall also was a factor. Now that he’s gone through winter conditioning and is participating in spring ball, Haynes feels like a part of the brotherhood.
“I remember when I came up here, T.A. connected with me with Jordan Marshall,” Haynes said. “J. Marsh has been great. That’s like a little brother to me. I’m older than him, but he’s been great. The whole running back room as a whole, I’m just very thankful and blessed the way that they’ve accepted me, brought me in, been there for me. I’m very thankful to them boys, and I love them boys. I’ll do anything for them boys.”
Given that Alabama under Nick Saban was the gold standard for a full decade, and that Michigan has been on the rise, there has to be some similarities and differences. However, now that Haynes has been in Ann Arbor since January, he sees more things that are alike between the two schools in terms of the football program compared to things that are different.
“I feel like it’s very similar — very similar program,” Haynes said. “Every program has its differences and the different ways they go about things. But very successful programs like Michigan, like Alabama, they all have a secret formula, a secret sauce that they all use. They put their own little taste on it, you know. And that’s what Michigan has here.
“Very regimented physicality. We’re going to work. Blue collar. We’re going to go out and ball. That’s what we do.”
