Is linebacker Nathaniel Staehling the next Michigan star?

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — While Michigan football got a bevy of transfers this offseason, all eyes are on some of the bigger names, particularly three of the players who followed Kyle Whittingham from Salt Lake City to Ann Arbor. However, there was one late addition who could end up being fruitful for the Wolverines and could even potentially be in a starting position.

Having transferred over from North Dakota State at the FCS level, linebacker Nathaniel Staehling accrued 75 tackles in 13 games, with six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. It was his best season yet, and he’s easily the productive linebacker on the roster for the maize and blue.

On Monday, head coach Kyle Whittingham shared more about the linebacker, especially given that he was still recovering from an injury this spring.

“Nathaniel Staehling is instinctive,” Whittingham said. “He’s a big comparator. He reminds me of some of the backers you’ve seen in the NFL. He’s got that great body position, instincts, uses his hands, block destruction, outstanding tackler. He was a tackling machine last year in North Dakota State. 

“He’s a guy that’s going to figure prominently in the defense this year. He’s been a big plus in everything we hoped he’d be. He wasn’t with us in spring. He was with us, but he had an injury. It’s been really good to have him on the field. He’s got an exceptional football IQ. He’s picked things up very quickly.”

Both starting linebacker spots are up for grabs, and Staehling is firmly in the mix. Whittingham says there are multiple players vying for not only those two starting roles, but also roles within the rotation.

“We’ve probably got five or six that are really playing at a high level,” Whittingham said. “Chase Taylor, we talked about Staehling, Troy Bowles, Owusu-Boateng. I’m sure I’m missing somebody. (Aisea Moa) is doing some good things. There’s five or six that are doing a really nice job. Max (Alford) is doing a nice job.”

Fall camp will continue until game week, and then Michigan football will get ready to face Western Michigan at The Big House on September 5.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Is linebacker Nathaniel Staehling the next Michigan star?