Kyle Whittingham and the Wolverines did all they could to retain Cole Sullivan, but their efforts have officially failed, as the now-former Michigan linebacker is heading to Oklahoma.
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native broke out in a big way for the Wolverines in 2025, racking up 44 total tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced
fumble, one fumble recovery, three interceptions and one pass breakup in 11 games.
Sullivan entered the transfer portal on Jan 2, the first day that the portal opened. Kyle Whittingham did not have a linebackers coach at that point, but news broke the very next day that he was hiring his son, Alex, to become the new linebackers coach in Ann Arbor.
Shortly after the hire was made official, Alex reportedly met with Sullivan and his family in Pittsburgh in an effort to get him back for 2026 and beyond. Unfortunately, those efforts didn’t amount to a return to Ann Arbor, as he will now begin his next chapter playing football in the SEC.
With Sullivan officially out of the picture, the Wolverines will hope to retain Jimmy Rolder, who could either return to college for his final year of college eligibility or declare for the NFL Draft. Regardless, Michigan still has Troy Bowles, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and Chase Taylor at the position, along with a few true freshmen in Aden Reeder, Markel Dabney, Kaden Catchings.
