Justice Haynes got his first real taste of Michigan in the 2024 Rose Bowl. One game. One loss. But it changed everything. The Alabama running back watched the Wolverines dominate — and it stuck with him. That night wasn’t just the end of Nick Saban’s legendary run. It was the beginning of Haynes’ Michigan vision. When he hit the portal that December, his mind was made up. He saw what winning looked like — and he wanted in. He didn’t wait around for Alabama’s next stumble in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Haynes was already gone. Already looking maize and blue.
For Justice Haynes, the decision wasn’t just football — it was faith. The former Alabama back felt a shift coming. A pull toward something fresh. Something bigger. “I’m a big faith-based person, and I feel like God was leading me in a different direction,” said Haynes. “Forever happy and blessed for my time at Bama, but I felt like God was leading me in a different direction. But I needed a change of scenery. Needed something new.” Sometimes, a new chapter starts with a leap of faith — and Haynes was ready to jump.
Justice Haynes didn’t waste time proving his Michigan loyalty. On June 13, Pete Nakos reported that the Alabama transfer has already embraced the Wolverines’ culture. He chose Michigan over Ole Miss and South Carolina — but it was the bond with HC Sherrone Moore and running backs coach Tony Alford that sealed the deal. Haynes and Alford go way back — all the way to his high school days when Alford was recruiting him to Ohio State. That connection came full circle in Ann Arbor. When Haynes arrived, his Bama background sparked some playful smack talk from his new teammates. But working with Moore brought a sense of familiarity. It reminded him of Saban’s structure — tough love, high standards, and a clear path to greatness.
Alabama transfer RB @justicehaynes6 tells @On3sports he has quickly bought into the Michigan culture.
“Whether you are the best player or the worst player on the team, you have to meet a certain standard, and it’s the Michigan standard.
“We don’t like Ohio State. We don’t… pic.twitter.com/lNEh9DXQJO
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) June 12, 2025
But it didn’t take long for Justice Haynes to grasp the heartbeat of Michigan football — beat Ohio State, no exceptions. The rivalry runs deep. The expectations run even deeper. “Whether you are the best player or the worst player on the team, you have to meet a certain standard, and it’s the Michigan standard,” he said. “If you have a problem with it or dislike it, that’s OK, then you can happily leave. There’s a certain standard that we have in Michigan. We abide by it.”
Moreover, he added, “We don’t like Ohio State. We don’t wear red.” That’s not just talk — that’s the culture. And Haynes is all in.
(This is a developing story….)
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