The Spring portal window is opening up in two weeks. April 16 is the day for players to initiate changing their minds. But guess what? If you’re a FBS powerhouse struggling to build up your roster class for the upcoming season, you can’t just sit back and chill, thinking you still have time. There are still days on the calendar, but the alarm of the departure has started to ring. Already walking down the path, Michigan felt the pain like no other.

On Wednesday afternoon, Maize and Blue Review divulged that defensive lineman Alessandro Lorenzetti was all set to enter the Transfer Portal next week when it opens. He didn’t start off as a DL, nonetheless. The three-star recruit from Windsor, Connecticut, started his stint with the Wolves as an offensive lineman, but quickly switched positions to the defensive side of the ball later. Changing positions and changing sides are different. While the first is easier, the second takes a lot of diversity and confidence in your skin to be able to cope with the change. The Canadian kid took that up, but he didn’t see the field as a DL in these three years.

“Alessandro came and knocked the socks off of Sherrone Moore, and the recruiting process was really turned up with Alessandro. Great kid, great guy, great parents,” former head man Jim Harbaugh said right after the DL stepped in.

Despite not getting much success outside the practice field, Alessandro has been an asset to Michigan’s DL room. He has always been curious to know and understand things that help him to hone his craft. The perfectionist in nature could have been a great addition to the future Wolverines’ matchups, but he pulled the rug beforehand. It will be interesting to see where he lands next and channels his gifts.

However, things were different back when he chose Michigan back in 2021. He chose the Wolves out of a slew of offers, including Penn State, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Georgia, etc., and for a reason. It was Coach Moore’s amazing hospitality and the infectious culture at Ann Arbor that made him hooked.

Why did Alessandro Lorenzetti choose Michigan in the first place?

When it comes to choosing a college, young athletes look for more than sports- they look for a culture. “I like the people there,” Lorenzetti said. “The offensive line, all nice guys. The academic aspect, I always thought, ‘Where would I want to go to school if there wasn’t football?’ I just saw myself going to the University of Michigan. The degree means a lot there. When you look at football and the academics, it checked all my boxes, and I decided to commit.”

Coach Jeff Moore said he spoke with Lorenzetti several times after the visit, and he was really fond of Coach Sheronne Moore‘s vision. He didn’t take up much time before signing the papers after the visits, as wearing Maize and Blue was his childhood dream.

Of course, Moore didn’t pick him up for nothing. The guy has always been super athletic and flexible as an offensive lineman and was widely known in his high school for his commendable work ethic. He was the one in his class who could excel in multiple positions, from tackle to guard to center. However, as it turned out, he didn’t get the chance to do something productive with his skills at Ann Arbor, so it’s time to give another school a shot. With his remaining two years at college, Lorenzetti can really end up with a big number and records under his belt if he makes a wise choice in the portal.