The Michigan football team’s linebacker corps is going to look different next year.
And that’s twofold. Part of the change is the scheme — with new defensive coordinator Jay Hill preparing to run a 4-2-5 defense, there are two linebackers on the field instead of three, with the two covering much more of the field than they would otherwise. But the other change is who’s gonna be on the field, with the Wolverines seeing a litany of new faces step into big roles after some major switchups. Jaishawn Barham, Jimmy Rolder, Ernest Hausmann and Cole Sullivan all exited this past offseason, leaving Michigan in desperate need of its next great linebacker.
Continuing our look at the 2026 Michigan football team, position by position, Maize and Brew takes a look at the Wolverines’ linebacking corps.
The projected starters: Troy Bowles, redshirt junior;Nathaniel Staehling, redshirt senior
At the moment, all four of these spots are up for grabs, but I’m gonna go with the two who have the most experience. Bowles played two years at Georgia before spending last year in Ann Arbor, tallying 27 tackles and a sack in all 13 games he played. Meanwhile, Staehling, a transfer from North Dakota State, already has four years of college football under his belt, logging 75 tackles with 1.5 sacks and three interceptions in 2025. He sustained an injury this spring, but is back to practicing and has put himself in a position for meaningful snaps this year.
Therotation: Chase Taylor, sophomore;Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, sophomore
Owusu-Boateng is a sophomore and a former four-star recruit who played sporadically last season, though he’s hoping to see more of the field in 2026. Fast and capable of hawking down receivers and running backs, he is considered one of the players with the highest ceiling in the room.
The rumors in camp suggest Taylor is in for a big year. At 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, he possesses size and has flashed tackling ability, and though Owusu-Boateng is considered to have a higher ceiling, Taylor could very easily be a Week 1 starter as well.
Other names to know
The rotational pieces of note are transfers Max Alford — who followed Jay Hill from BYU, where he played in 10 games in 2025 — and Aisea Moa, who transferred in from Michigan State to be able to play one season of college football with his brother, true freshman wide receiver Salesi Moa.
Kaden Catchings, Markel Dabney and Aden Reeder replenish the room as freshman signings.
Verdict
I share the common sentiment that this room is something of a cause for concern. There isn’t a tremendous amount of experience, the talent lost is sizable, and whoever fills the void will have to take a significant step forward to do so. On the bright side, the raw talent, especially from Owusu-Boateng and Taylor, is considerable — but until it stops being “raw,” I’m hesitant on giving a higher grade.