Perhaps no position took more hits this offseason for Michigan than the linebackers, with the four top contributors from last season all gone.
The Wolverines made valiant efforts in the transfer portal to land some of the top linebackers like Rasheem Biles and Cade Uluave, but ultimately missed on both. The options dwindled, but they were still able to make the most of their circumstances by adding four players to the group, in addition to a trio of returning players that hope to take steps forward.
While it would appear on the surface that Michigan attempted to take a “quantity over quality” approach with the linebackers, defensive coordinator Jay Hill doesn’t seem fazed by the lack of experience and is confident the position will be in a good spot by the time the season starts on Sept. 5.
“(Michigan’s linebackers) are young and they haven’t played a lot, but I see a lot of talent,” Hill recently told the media. “I like where they’re going to be. I see potential and I see a lot of talent in that group. We just gotta get some experience.”
Hill emphasized the importance of practice, noting the on-field reps should help prepare the group for the season ahead.
The most experienced of Michigan’s returning linebackers is Troy Bowles, who played in 12 games on defense and 13 on special teams last year and compiled 27 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. He and sophomore Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng have had Hill’s attention so far this spring, along with Chase Taylor.
Owusu-Boateng was a highly-touted four-star recruit in Michigan’s 2025 class that came into the program billed as a great athlete without much size. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds, he’s made some progress in putting on muscle (he was 205 pounds as a recruit) and could be a breakout candidate if he continues to develop his skills and his strength during the offseason. Taylor could be a name to watch as well, as he impressed the staff during last year’s fall camp.
One of the more underrated additions in Michigan’s portal class was former North Dakota State linebacker Nathaniel Staehling, who has appeared in 32 games during his four years in Fargo. He had a great senior year there, racking up 75 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, two quarterback hits and a fumble recovery. He was an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honorable mention, and earned a 78.7 overall defensive grade, an 80.8 run defense grade and a 78.2 tackling grade on Pro Football Fo cus. His presence could prove valuable if he’s able to secure a starting spot.
The position looks different than it did a year ago, but by gathering as many players as possible during the offseason, the coaching staff has created a good environment for competition that should ensure a few quality options rising to the top by the time the season begins. And while the lack of experience is a bit concerning, the raw talent is there and offers some optimism that the position won’t be as much of a glaring weakness as we might have thought.
