Michigan Adds Veteran LB Nathaniel Staehling from NDSU, Bolstering Defensive Depth with Proven Playmaker
Michigan just made a significant move to shore up its linebacker corps, landing graduate transfer Nathaniel Staehling from North Dakota State. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound linebacker brings more than just size and experience-he brings production, leadership, and a nose for the football that could make an immediate impact in Ann Arbor.
For a Wolverines team entering a new era under head coach Kyle Whittingham, Staehling’s arrival is timely. With one year of eligibility remaining, he steps into a linebacker room that’s been thinned out by graduations and transfers, and he does so with the kind of résumé that suggests he’s ready to contribute right away.
A Breakout Season at NDSU
Staehling’s 2025 campaign at North Dakota State was his coming-out party. After a redshirt season in 2022 and battling through a shoulder injury in 2024, he took over the starting MIKE linebacker role and made the most of it. He racked up 75 total tackles-second-most on the Bison defense-while flashing the kind of all-around game that translates well to the Big Ten.
He wasn’t just a tackle machine. Staehling made plays behind the line of scrimmage (6.0 tackles for loss), showed off his coverage skills with three interceptions, and even turned defense into offense with two pick-sixes-including a highlight-reel 73-yarder against Illinois State. That kind of versatility is rare, and it’s exactly what Michigan needs in the middle of its defense.
His performance earned him All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Honorable Mention honors, but more importantly, it showed that he’s fully healthy and capable of being a difference-maker.
Why Michigan Wanted Him-and Needed Him
The Wolverines didn’t just add Staehling because he’s productive-they added him because he fills a very real need. With the transfer portal window closing and several veteran linebackers moving on after the 2025 season, Michigan was looking for experienced bodies who could step in and compete right away. Staehling fits that bill.
He’s the second linebacker to join the program in recent days, following former Michigan State linebacker Aisea Moa. Together, they add depth, competition, and maturity to a position group that’s otherwise leaning on youth. While blue-chip recruits like Andrew Marsh and Savion Hiter represent the future, Staehling brings the kind of "right now" readiness that’s hard to find.
And he’s not just a body. Staehling is a "plug-and-play" linebacker who’s played in pressure-packed playoff games at the FCS level. He understands how to prepare, how to lead, and how to make plays when it matters.
Built for Big Ten Football
Staehling isn’t some undersized linebacker trying to make the leap-he’s already built like a Big Ten player. At 240 pounds, he brings the physicality to take on pulling guards and shed blocks in the run game, but he’s also shown the range and instincts to drop into coverage and make plays in space.
That blend of physicality and football IQ is what makes him such an intriguing fit in Michigan’s system. Known for his quick diagnostic skills, Staehling thrives in complex defensive schemes-exactly the kind Michigan likes to run. He’s the kind of linebacker who doesn’t just react to plays; he anticipates them.
There’s also the off-the-field component. Staehling’s reputation as a “great locker room guy” matters, especially for a coaching staff that’s trying to build a strong culture in year one. He’s a finance major and a multi-time MVFC Honor Roll member, so learning a new playbook in a short time shouldn’t be an issue.
What It Means for 2026
Staehling’s addition caps off a busy stretch of portal activity for Michigan, which also brought in defensive backs Smith Snowden and Chris Bracy, as well as punter Cam Brown. But Staehling might be the most impactful of the bunch, simply because of what he brings to the heart of the defense.
As spring practice approaches, all eyes will be on how quickly he can integrate into the rotation. Based on his 2025 tape, he’s not coming to Michigan to sit. He’s coming to compete-and likely start.
The Wolverines are in transition, but adding a seasoned, playmaking linebacker like Staehling is a sign that they’re not interested in rebuilding-they’re reloading. If he can bring the same energy, leadership, and production he showed at NDSU, the Big House might have a new fan favorite at MIKE linebacker.