​One of the most pressing questions facing Michigan football this offseason has centered on the linebacker room. A year ago, the Wolverines boasted at least four players anticipated to contribute, and they did. Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham began the season as the middle of the defense’s backbone, but by season’s end, Jimmy Rolder and Cole Sullivan had emerged as the primary standouts there, with Hausmann sidelined for the remainder of the year and Barham gradually shifting to an edge-rusher role. Now, all four are gone: Rolder declared early for the NFL, Sullivan transferred to Oklahoma, and Hausmann and Barham are no longer eligible. That leaves Michigan with substantial questions at linebacker.
On Wednesday, Wolverines linebackers coach Alex Whittingham spoke with Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches podcast and outlined what he’s seen from the players he inherited. Among the names he discussed, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng—a former four-star recruit—has drawn a fair amount of attention, and Whittingham has expressed positive impressions of his early progress. “Nate has done a great job of buying into what we’re trying to do,” Whittingham noted. “And he dealt with some injuries this spring, just some minor things here and there. But he showed his toughness by playing through it and doing the best that he could to get his body healthy to get out there and practice for us. And he’s getting more physical each and every day.”
While Owusu-Boateng carries ample name recognition, it’s 2025 classmate Chase Taylor—the former three-star recruit—who has perhaps generated the most off-the-record buzz behind the scenes. There have been persistent whispers that the coaching staff is thrilled with what Taylor brings to the table and that he may ultimately emerge as a true star. Whittingham’s comments reinforce that optimism. “Chase Taylor, man, he’s going to be special,” Whittingham said. “I think we should be really excited about him. He’s filling out, putting on weight, maturing as a student, as a player, as a person. He makes things look easy out there and just has so many athletic gifts that he’s been blessed with, and he’s going to be fun to watch for sure.”
Beyond Owusu-Boateng and Taylor, there are several others who could contribute this season. That list includes the two BYU transfers who joined from Jay Hill’s defense—Aisea Moa and Max Alford—along with transfer Nathaniel Staehling, who was sidelined by injury this spring, and the three true freshmen who enrolled early: Aden Reeder, Markel Dabney, and Kaden Catchings. Whittingham indicated that he expects all of them to see game action, though the final outlook remains contingent on the injuries that persisted through spring practice.
“Our young freshmen class that has come in—Aden Reeder, Markel Dabney, Kaden Catchings—they’ve done a fantastic job getting up to speed and are doing a good job picking up the system,” Whittingham said. “There’s a certain level of senior-type leadership that has transferred into the program with Aisea Moa, Max Alford, and Nate Staehling. They bring experience and steadiness to the room, which can help anchor the defense as the younger players continue to develop. We’ll evaluate injuries and performance as we move forward, but I’m confident we’ve assembled depth and talent that can grow into a cohesive unit as the season unfolds.”