Michigan football lost standout linebacker Cole Sullivan to the Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday, but might already have a replacement lined up.
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Michigan is hosting Pittsburgh linebacker Rasheem Biles for a visit. The timing isn't clear, but the All-ACC linebacker is expected to visit the Wolverines instead of Florida State.
Coveted Pitt linebacker transfer Rasheem Biles is expected to visit Michigan, sources tell me, @ZBlostein247, @BriceMarich and @chris_hummer. No longer set to visit Florida State.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 8, 2026
The All-ACC selection had 101 tackles, an ACC-high 17 tackles for loss and two pick-sixes this year https://t.co/TaOlBcq5R7 pic.twitter.com/eAlvPmqKJm
That's huge news, because outside of the defensive line, linebacker is the biggest need on the defensive side of the ball, following Sullivan's departure. Biles always made sense as a replacement, perhaps as much as any linebacker in the portal.
Last season, he was credited with 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, which led the ACC conference, and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. One thing that made Sullivan special were his three interceptions this season.
Biles is the second big-time transfer portal target visiting in two days. John Henry Daley, the former Utah EDGE, who had 11.5 sacks last season, was also on campus.
Landing either player would be huge. But if Michigan could get both, retain Trey Pierce and Enow Etta, then the Wolverines would have filled their most glaring needs on defense with big-time talents.
Special teams shored up
Dominic Zvada struggled this season. He's also out of eligibility, so Michigan needed to add a kicker, and landed one of the best in the portal, signing Trey Butkowski from Pittsburgh.
Michigan has signed Pittsburgh freshman kicker Trey Butkowski, @mzenitz and I have learned for @CBSSports.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 8, 2026
He went 20-for-23 this season on field goal attempts. https://t.co/ArLr7xN7iJ pic.twitter.com/cphTXwnyin
Last season, as a freshman, Butkowski made 20-of-23 field goals with a long of 48 yards. He's got a history of making kicks of longer than 50 in high school, too. Kerry Coombs also added a long snapper earlier this week (Nico Crawford) and a punter, so special teams have been locked down, especially if Andrew Marsh is back in the fold, and he can serve as the return guy.