Michigan Football’s most uncertain position group plans to surprise in 2026

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The most uncertain position for the Michigan football team heading into the 2026 season is the linebackers.

That isn’t just us saying that. In fact, senior linebacker Troy Bowles said as much to the media earlier this week.

“I feel like people are going to be surprised because we’re definitely the most uncertain group,” Bowles said on Aug. 24. “So I feel like we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

Even into fall camp, defensive coordinator Jay Hill said the linebacker position is the room with the most competition.

“Well, probably linebacker,” Hill said on Aug. 20. “There’s really five or six guys that I feel comfortable playing in games. I’d like to see some of those guys just completely cement themselves as a starter, but that’s a good problem that we have right now.”

Last season, the Wolverines started off with Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham working at the linebacker spot before Barham moved to the edge. That move allowed Jimmy Rolder and Cole Sullivan to earn more snaps as well. Now, all four players have either moved on to the NFL (Barham, Rolder), graduated (Hausmann) or play for a different school (Sullivan).

That left guys like Bowles, Chase Taylor and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng going from taking a few snaps on defense and a good amount on special teams, to being projected starting contributors in 2026. Michigan also brought in Nathaniel Staehling from North Dakota State, who has received plenty of hype during fall camp, often being talked about in the same conversation as a starter.

This season, Hill is planning to implement a 4-3 where the third linebacker can serve as a hybrid between an additional edge rusher and a player that will drop back into coverage in the box.

“Every one of those three backers has a very specific role,” Hill said. “A lot of times, that third guy will be up on the line of scrimmage and helping to set the edge. Sometimes he’ll be falling into the box. We’re playing a true 4-3, and they’re off the ball. It depends on the call, and it depends on the job description within that call as to what that extra guy does.”

When Hill mentions an additional two or three linebackers fighting for reps with the ones and twos in practice, he’s likely referring to Taylor as one of them — a sophomore who played sparingly but showed potential last season. Hill is also likely referring to two graduate transfers — Aisea Moa from Michigan State who played for Hill at BYU in 2023 and 2024, and Max Alford who played for Hill at BYU last season.

“That group continues to solidify themselves every day,” Hill said. “There’s six right now that I think we can win with, and it continues to be a battle as to who’s in there with the ones and who’s in with the twos. But for the most part, I see the group continue to elevate.”

And all the talk and conversation that this linebacker group is uncertain and up in the air really only adds fuel to the fire for players in the room like Bowles.

“It definitely is, it pushes you to be your best every day,” Bowles said when asked about the competition and whether it motivates him. “You can’t take a day off because somebody might take your spot. So we’re all battling in the room, all rotating. We’re having fun with it, though. There’s no ill intent behind any of it.”

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