Jaden Mangham provided one of the more eye-opening transfers of the college football offseason, switching from Michigan State to in-state rival Michigan.
Mangham earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as a sophom*ore in 2023 when he started 10 games for the Spartans and recorded 53 tackles, a team-high four interceptions, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery. According to Pro Football Focus, that resulted in a 69.6 overall grade, including a run defense mark of 82.7 anda coverage grade of 64.8. Those respectable scores came despite playing on an MSU defense that allowed 237.8 passing yards per game, tied for 13th in the Big Ten.
But, as Mangham told The Michigan Insider in a recent episode of "Behind the Uniform," there were "trust issues" between the safety and the new staff in East Lansing that ultimately resulted in his departure this summer.
"There were a lot of trust issues that were going on with my family, me and my brother," Jaden said, referencing his brother Jaren, then a running back for the Spartans.
"We felt that it would be best for me to take a step back and just go out there and explore my options. So that's what I did. I never once told the staff, 'We need to stop talking. It's over with.' I was still communicating with the DB coach and all of that. But somebody reached out. Basically, they just said, 'It's done. Don't come back.'
"When they said that, I was just like, 'Oh, OK. I'm fine then.' … They closed the door on me."
Mangham explained he otherwise would've been happy returning to MSU, calling the Spartans an "ideal situation" given his personal success and the momentum generated by the new coaches. But once Michigan State "closed the door," Mangham committed to leaving. (His brother did too, committing to Minnesota.)
Then Michigan DBs coach LaMar Morgan reached out to Jaden, and the conversation generated mutual interest.
"He's a great guy. I love him," Mangham said. "I love everything about him. I love the way he coaches, how he is as a man. It's great. He spoke the truth to me. And that's what I could appreciate."
"The truth" included critiques of Mangham's game. It included Morgan detailing what Mangham would have to do in order to earn playing time — which the safety said he appreciated in comparison to other program's coaches who offered generic platitudes and promised he would "start immediately."
Speaking to TMI in late July, Mangham detailed his early impressions of the Michigan football program.
"My experience has been great. It's been great," Mangham said. "Coming in, I could tell it was different. Doing things — the lifts, workouts, just running, seeing how people carry themselves, seeing how people prepare. Seeing that, it was different.
"There were some guys who did do a little bit of that [at MSU]. But it's just so much more here. … Coming in here, it's been different. And they've been helping me a lot. The resources that are here, they're amazing. So I'm taking advantage of everything that I have here, using it for my success so I can become an even better player and a better person."
Mangham and the Wolverines begin the 2024 season on Saturday, August 31 against Fresno State.
Watch: Behind The Uniform with Jaden Mangham
In this episode of Behind the Uniform, we feature senior defensive back Jaden Mangham.
In his first interview since transferring from Michigan State he opens up on the factors that went into that decision. He also addresses the negativity directed his way by former teammates and Spartan fans. From there the conversation turns to the differences he noticed in his college football experience during his short time in Ann Arbor, his relationship with LaMar Morgan, his fast bond with his new teammates, and more. Mangham also spends time detailing his financial journey in the era of NIL.
Table of Contents:
- 00:00- Introduction
- 01:25 - Golden Limousine Golden Ticket
- 04:34 - Welcome Jaden Mangham
- 04:58 - Jaden's HS Recruitment
- 07:17 - Transition from HS to College
- 08:51 - Playing with his brother at MSU
- 11:06 - Dealing with the distractions at MSU
- 13:55 - When did you come to the conclusion to transfer?
- 14:51 - MSU told me not to come back
- 15:44 - Michigan comes calling
- 19:13 - What was the family's reaction
- 19:58 - Will Graduate in December
- 22:52 - Financial Literacy Bootcamp
- 33:21 - No NIL money from MSU
- 35:16 - The culture here at Michigan is different
- 37:27 - Former MSU teammates calling you soft
- 39:50 - Doing team activities
- 42:28 - Can't wait for that game against MSU
- 42:51 - Give a Jaden Mangham scouting report
- 45:34 - How impressive Michigan's DL is
- 46:53 - Conclusion
