Michigan’s linebacker room is stacked heading into the 2025 season. With everybody from last year returning — and the Wolverines adding some pieces this offseason — it might just be one of the best in the nation:
When it comes to the Michigan Wolverines in 2025, a lot of attention will be on the offense — how things are going to look with new coordinator Chip Lindsey and a new quarterback leading the way. But when it comes to the defensive side of the ball, don’t sleep on what could be a generational linebacker room .
According to college football analyst Phil Steele , Michigan boasts the No. 2 linebacker unit in the country heading into the fall. And with the team’s mix of returning production and added depth, the potential is there for them to meet those lofty expectations.
This isn’t just hype — it’s a deep, battle-tested and versatile position group that brings back nearly every meaningful snap from a defense that ranked top-five nationally against the run in 2024. Seniors Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham are back to lead the charge, and they may be the most complete starting linebacker duo in the country.
Hausmann was the team’s leading tackler in 2024 with 89 stops and seven tackles for loss. A steady, instinctive playmaker, he has blossomed into a defensive quarterback and likely team captain.
Barham totaled 66 tackles last season and graded out as one of Michigan’s top defenders. His 87.2 run defense and 83.2 tackling grades (via PFF) tell the story of a future game-wrecker who has only scratched the surface. In 2025, he’ll be expected to take on an even more dynamic role, potentially rotating between linebacker and edge rusher, further maximizing his NFL-level athleticism.
Beyond the starters, Michigan has a rare level of experience among its depth pieces. Senior Jimmy Rolder has appeared in 31 games and is considered a “third starter” by the coaching staff. He’s expected to rotate heavily, particularly when Barham slides to the edge, and will provide the Wolverines with three seasoned linebackers that can be dispatched in a number of ways.
As if the room wasn’t already stacked enough, Michigan also added former Georgia linebacker Troy Bowles from the transfer portal. He brings high upside after two years in one of the nation’s most competitive linebacker rooms. He’ll compete for rotational snaps this fall and has a great shot at being a starter in 2026 when Hausmann and Barham are both gone.
Fifth-year senior Jaydon Hood and sophomore Cole Sullivan round out the rotation. Sullivan is viewed as a breakout candidate after impressing in limited snaps last season. Head coach Sherrone Moore recently went as far as to describe him as “looking like a defensive end, but running like a linebacker.”
True freshman Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, a highly-touted recruit from IMG Academy, has also turned heads since enrolling early. Fellow true freshman Chase Taylor also flashed his potential in the spring game a few months back and provides even more depth.
With defensive coordinator Wink Martindale also back for another year, his aggressive, NFL-style scheme is likely to put Michigan’s linebackers at the heart of the action. So long as the unit stays healthy, it’s not a stretch to say Michigan could finish the year with one of the top linebacker groups in college football.