Michigan Adds Starting Linebacker From Transfer Portal To Its 2026 Roster

Michigan mislaid rather a spot of talent astatine nan linebacker position aft losing some Ernest Hausmann and Jimmy Rolder to graduation, on pinch Cole Sullivan leaving for Oklahoma. Even pinch returning Troy Bowles, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, and Chase Taylor, nan Wolverines needed to adhd much bodies.

Michigan had already added Max Alford (BYU), Christian Pierce (Western Illinois), and Aisea Moa (Michigan State), but nan Wolverines opted to adhd different body. On Sunday, Michigan received a commitment from North Dakota State standout, Nathaniel Staehling.

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What Staehling brings to nan table

The FCS linebacker started each crippled for North Dakota State this year. He started some astatine Mike and Will. Staehling was nan third-leading tackler for nan Bison this season, pinch 74 tackles. He added 1 sack, and led nan squad pinch 3 interceptions.

For his play, Staehling was named arsenic an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Honorable Mention. Staehling is simply a Minnesota autochthonal and took a redshirt play successful 2022. He saw action successful 14 games successful 2023, and suffered a season-ending wounded successful 2024. Staehling will person a play of eligibility remaining to usage successful Ann Arbor.

“Injuries are ne'er easy,” Staehling said last year. “But you study a batch of caller perspectives connected injuries. My caller domiciled was being a bully teammate, helping guys wherever they request to be, being connected nan sidelines reference scripts, giving signals aliases giving support wherever it’s needed. So I didn’t consciousness ace near retired because I had a batch of support and besides I did everything I could to beryllium a amended teammate and friend.”

Staehling will bring a seasoned beingness to nan Wolverines' linebacker room and should compete for clip successful 2026. He has awesome instincts, ever astir nan football, and awesome imagination to intercept passes.

While nan Michigan's linebacker room has plentifulness of questions, nan Wolverines person surely added immoderate players to nan fold for adjacent season.

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