Cole Sullivan is off the board to Oklahoma. He's the only one of many who will be departing Ann Arbor thus far. Michigan's linebackers will have a new coach in 2026 and could be looking for some new members to join the team. Here are three names that have ties to Michigan football in the past or with Kyle Whittingham from his time at Utah. None of which may seem like real options, though, as they have not heard from Whittingham's staff yet.
Matai Tagoa'i-USC
Sherrone Moore's staff offered Tagoa'i out of high school. Kyle Whittingham had him on campus before he committed to USC, where he barely played in 2025 and would build the depth to the linebacker room, especially if Jimmy Rolder goes pro. Gabriel Duarte of Sports Illustrated USC claims that Tagoa'i is an instant impact potential starter that the Trojans will miss. 247sports named him as a top 100 player and one of the composite top linebackers in the country. He's visited Clemson so far.
Jamal Anderson-Clemson
Anderson visited Utah twice before choosing Clemson in 2023. In three years, he's compiled 16 total tackles and one sack. He's the most experienced of the three listed here. Anderson is the son of a former NFL All-Pro running back. ESPN ranked him as a top-10 prospect coming from Georgia. Sounds like a fresh start could be exactly what Anderson is searching for. Anderson has two years of eligibility to his credit.
Rasheem Biles, Pitt
The Columbus native had five games with double-digit tackles. Biles is visiting Deion Sanders in Colorado as well as Florida State. Biles picked off Miller Moss for a 75-yard touchdown pass in the Louisville loss. His bowl performance was outstanding. Sullivan was from the Pittsburgh area, and Biles would be an upgrade over the newest Sooner.