The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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LINEBACKERS THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 99 tions will be high, and there will be plenty of calls centered around their play. With a stout defensive line keeping them clean of blockers, they were able to produce with their speed and athleticism. "I've seen great progress in that group," Hill said. "Chase Taylor was maybe the most improved player on our football team this spring. He's got great athleti- cism, and he plays the game the right way. I'm excited to see how he continues to develop." Some might call the 6-2, 237-pounder a pleasant surprise after he arrived as a three- star prospect, No. 799 overall in the 2025 class, but he was good enough as a fresh- man to see the field. He played 10 games at linebacker and also contributed on special teams, notching 10 tackles. He started to see more action later in the year, recording 3 tackles in extended play in a Nov. 1 win over Purdue, and continued to improve. Bowles, too, started to show the con- sistency they were looking for. A former blue-chip prospect who appeared in all 13 games last season, including 12 at line- backer, he got more playing time later in the year and notched 27 tackles, including 2 for loss with 1 sack, a blocked kick on special teams and a forced fumble while showing his potential. "I really like where Troy Bowles is," Hill said. Bowles, the son of current Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, looks comfortable and confident heading into his senior season, Hill said, ready to impact. He and Owusu-Boateng took on a leadership role in the room despite not having played a lot of snaps, understand- ing what's expected of them. That will be a huge leap for Owusu- Boateng, who appeared in only seven games a year ago on special teams, five at linebacker, and notched only 4 tackles. But he was ranked as high as the No. 28 overall player nationally by Rivals coming out of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy in 2025 for a reason. He's got the ability … now, he needs the experience. "Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, everyone knows about his potential and what he's becoming," Hill said. "He just needs reps, and we've got to get him on the field." The sophomore believes he owes it to the program and his teammates to step up. "It's because of what Michigan can pro- vide for you," he said, adding he had lofty goals. "Being a leader this year with the THEY SAID IT "I like [new position coach Alex Whittingham] a lot. You could definitely tell he's come from the league with what he's teaching. We watch a lot of Chiefs tape because that's where he came from. We watch a lot of tape on Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill. He's been teaching us a lot." — Senior linebacker Troy Bowles Follow Michigan Sports Year-Round With The Wolverine Magazine! The Wolverine Magazine! THEWOLVERINE.COM | APRIL 2026 | $5.95 THEWOLVERINE.COM | APRIL 2026 | $5.95 ON A ON A MISSION MISSION Yaxel Lendeborg, Big Ten Champs Yaxel Lendeborg, Big Ten Champs Enter Postseason Ready To Roll Enter Postseason Ready To Roll THEWOLVERINE.COM | MARCH 2026 | $8.95 THEWOLVERINE.COM | MARCH 2026 | $8.95 CARTER MEADOWS SAVION HITER FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE FIVE-STAR TALENTS FIVE-STAR TALENTS Michigan's 2026 Recruiting Class Stays Largely Intact, Michigan's 2026 Recruiting Class Stays Largely Intact, Led By EDGE Carter Meadows And RB Savion Hiter Led By EDGE Carter Meadows And RB Savion Hiter Makes a terrific gift for your Michigan Fan! TWO EASY WAYS TO ORDER: www.TheWolverineOnDemand.com Order 24 hours a day from our online store! Call: 800-421-7751 10:00-4:00 ET, Mon.-Fri. Or call 919-688-0218 if outside the U.S. The Wolverine magazine is the foremost source for analysis, information and opinions on Michigan football, recruiting and other sports! A one-year subscription includes: n 11 Monthly Editions Of The Wolverine n The Wolverine's 160-Page Football Preview n Online Access at TheWolverineOnDemand.com Subscription plans start at $49.99 for digital-only delivery and $74.99 for print/digital delivery. First-class postage upgrades are available. Sales tax may be added where applicable. LINEBACKERS 30 Max Alford (6-1, 230), Gr. 18 Troy Bowles (6-0, 230), Sr. 33 Kaden Catchings (6-1, 220), Fr. 23 Markel Dabney (6-1, 225), Fr. 43 Zach Ludwig (6-2, 225), Jr. 13 Aisea Moa (6-2, 238), Gr. 12 Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (6-1, 217), So. 52 Christian Pierce (6-0, 235), So. 15 Aden Reeder (6-2, 215), Fr. 44 Nathaniel Staehling (6-2, 238), Gr. 29 Chase Taylor (6-2, 237), So.