Michigan · Big TenMichigan’s linebacker competition remains open under Jay Hill
Jay Hill sees five or six linebackers he can play, but Michigan has not settled on starters for its Sept. 5 opener against Western Michigan.
AUG 28, 2026
Michigan has six linebackers Jay Hill believes he can win with, but none has cemented a starting job ahead of the Sept. 5 opener against Western Michigan.
That uncertainty follows major turnover. Ernest Hausmann, Jaishawn Barham, Jimmy Rolder and Cole Sullivan are no longer available for last season’s linebacker roles after moving to the NFL, changing positions, graduating or transferring. Senior Troy Bowles called linebacker Michigan’s most uncertain position group.
Bowles, Chase Taylor, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, Nathaniel Staehling, Aisea Moa and Max Alford are competing for roles. Hill said the group continues to improve while battling for first- and second-team repetitions.
Hill’s true 4-3 asks for distinct linebacker jobs. The third linebacker can align on the line of scrimmage to help set the edge or drop into the box, depending on the call.
“There's really five or six guys that I feel comfortable playing in games,” Hill said. “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.”
Michigan opens against Western Michigan on Sept. 5. The unanswered questions are which three linebackers start and how the six candidates will be divided between the first and second teams.