Michigan adds NDSU linebacker Nathaniel Staehling for 2026

Nathaniel Staehling commits to the University of Michigan, a rapid addition that addresses immediate depth needs at linebacker for the Wolverines. The former North Dakota State starter announced his commitment Jan. 18, with social media confirmations following his Jan. 16 entry into the transfer portal on the portal’s final day.

Staehling closes his NDSU career on a clear upward trajectory. In 2025 he posted 75 tackles, six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while intercepting three passes and returning two of those for touchdowns. He also finished the season with a fumble recovery, earned All‑Missouri Valley Football Conference honorable mention and posted excellent Pro Football Focus run-defense and tackling grades. Those numbers underline a profile built on instincts, playmaking in coverage and wrap-up tackling against the run.

Michigan gets a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining, a move that’s built for immediate contribution rather than development time. With several linebackers now departed from the Wolverine roster, Staehling projects to compete for snaps right away and bring FCS playoff-tested toughness to a Big Ten unit that has prioritized physical, assignment-sound play.

Staehling’s quick turnaround from portal entry to Power Five commitment also highlights the compressed January transfer window. The portal cycle ran Jan. 2–16, and Staehling’s decision-making timeline illustrates how the window forces fast evaluations and rapid roster reshuffles. It’s another instance of high-volume movement from top FCS programs, including North Dakota State, into Power Five rosters during that two-week period.

For Michigan’s coaching staff, the addition is pragmatic: a proven tackler and instincts-first defender who can step into subpackages, special teams and early-down rotation work. For Bulldogs fans and FCS trackers, Staehling’s move is emblematic of the pipeline trend—FCS standouts converting playoff experience into immediate roles on bigger stages.

What comes next is straightforward. Staehling arrives with one eligibility year to make his case in fall camp and the regular season; Michigan will evaluate him against returning linebackers and transfers for roles in the rotation. For readers tracking roster construction, this is a late-window pickup with real, short-term impact on Michigan’s linebacker depth chart and another data point in the ongoing flow of FCS-to-Power-Five transfers.