Michigan Football: 5 Candidates to replace D-line coach Shaun Nua

Michigan defensive line coach Shaun Nua is reportedly departing the Wolverines, accepting the same position with the USC Trojans early last week. While the Harbaugh to the NFL rumors are still floating, he’s still reportedly been out scouring the nation for a replacement. 

The Wolverines find themselves with an opening on their coaching staff, after losing defensive line coach Shaun Nua to the USC Trojans according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. Nua had been with the Wolverines since 2019, coming to Ann Arbor from the Arizona State program.

The task at hand now turns to finding his replacement. After a terrific season from the Wolverines, interest in the position will likely be high. We take a look here at five names that would make sense for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football.

Ryan Osborn (Michigan)

The most likely option is a very familiar one for Jim Harbaugh and company. Osborn has been working as a defensive analyst and has been heavily credited for his work with Michigan football’s dynamic pass-rushing duo of Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo this past season.

Osborn was reportedly going to be the new defensive line coach at UCONN under recently hired Jim Mora, but ultimately changed his mind and stuck around in Ann Arbor. Prior to joining Michigan, Osborn worked as the defensive line coach at the University of Tennessee-Martin and was a graduate assistant under Florida coach Dan Mullen prior to that.

Highly regarded by recruits and players alike, Osborn seems like the easiest choice, keeping continuity with the current group, and promoting a promising assistant who is certainly on the rise.