Michigan adds Nathaniel Staehling, ex-North Dakota State captain

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Michigan football continues to bolster its linebacker depth.

The Wolverines added North Dakota State linebacker Nathaniel Staehling in the transfer portal on Sunday, Jan. 18 − he posted the news with a graphic that said “committed” on social media with a caption that said, “Go Blue.”

Staehling is a 6-foot-2, 238-pound linebacker from Baxter, Minnesota, who was a captain in 2025. He finished second on the team with 75 tackles and was named All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honorable mention. He also had six tackles for loss and three interceptions in 2025, including two returned for a touchdown, to go with 1½ sacks.

ALL THE MOVES: Michigan football transfer portal tracker

He’s the second linebacker to commit over the weekend, joining Aisea Moa, the former Michigan State product who played at BYU before that.

Michigan lost its top four linebackers from the start of last season − Cole Sullivan (transfer, Oklahoma), Ernest Hausmann (medical retirement), Jimmy Rolder (NFL) and Jaishawn Barham (NFL).

Staehling has one year of eligibility remaining.

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Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football adds Nathaniel Staehling, ex-North Dakota State LB

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