Michigan’s linebacker room is starting to look a lot less like a question mark and a lot more like a group that can hold its own.
That was the message from defensive tackle Enow Etta on Friday, when he pushed back on the talk that linebacker is a weakness for Michigan football. Etta said the room has "dudes" in it and added that they have been making plays in camp.
That confidence comes in the second week of fall camp under first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham, where the energy around the program has been hard to miss. Michigan has kept most of its key players intact, with Cole Sullivan the notable departure, and Whittingham also brought in talent from Utah, including John Henry Daley and JJ Buchanan, among others expected to play major roles.
The one spot where Michigan didn’t land an obvious impact addition was linebacker, but Nathaniel Staehling has changed the conversation quickly. The former North Dakota State starter and ex-team captain arrived with less buzz than some of the other additions, yet he has been one of the standouts of camp. He’s been described as a "tackling machine" in fall camp, and there’s even chatter that he could work his way into the starting lineup.
Michigan does have some experience to lean on. Troy Bowles played in all 13 games last season and finished with 40 tackles, giving him the most proven production in the room. Chase Taylor has reportedly taken a step forward, while former five-star Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng also looks like a player on the rise.
Staehling’s background makes him easy to notice, too. He had three interceptions last season for North Dakota State, and it has been reported that he has been clocked running at over 21 MPH.
There may not be the same kind of depth Michigan has been used to at linebacker, but the picture in camp doesn’t sound nearly as shaky as some outside the program assumed. If that group can stand up to Michigan’s offensive line and run game, there’s a real chance the Wolverines end up feeling much better about that unit by the time 2026 rolls around.
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