Wolverine Digest

Michigan loses veteran LB to the transfer portal

The Wolverines won't have a solid depth piece in 2026.
Trent Knoop|
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Michigan Wolverines

Michigan is set to lose another linebacker ahead of the 2026 season. The Wolverines were already going to lose Ernest Hausmann -- who announced he was medically retiring from football -- and more than likely Jimmy Rolder to the NFL. The Wolverines lost prized LB Cole Sullivan, who transferred to Oklahoma.

And now Michigan will lose another depth piece. Veteran Jaydon Hood will enter the transfer portal with a year of eligibility remaining.

RELATED: Michigan transfer portal tracker: Every player coming in and out of the program in 2026

The former four-star linebacker has had a hard time seeing the field in Ann Arbor since coming into the fold with the 2021 class. Hood, a Florida native, was the No. 259 ranked player in the '21 cycle. But between Michigan's success at LB and injuries -- Hood has been buried in the depth chart.

Hood's career at Michigan

Michigan LB Jaydon Hood
Junfu Han via Imagn Content Services, LLC

In his first two seasons with the team, Hood appeared in three games on the Wolverines' defense. But in 2023, in a rotational role, Hood appeared in 12 games for Michigan. Then in 2024, he played in 11 games before not seeing the field this past year.

Hood finishes his Michigan career appearing in 27 games and recording 26 tackles and one TFL.

Michigan's LB outlook in 2026

With the loss of Sullivan, Michigan will likely make a pitch to Jimmy Rolder to use his final year of eligibility, but NFL scouts love Rolder and he has been linked to the draft. If Rolder doesn't come back, the two linebackers to see the most time, on the current roster, is Troy Bowles and Nate Owusu-Boateng, along with Chase Taylor.

Michigan will have to go find itself more linebackers in the portal, for depth if nothing else. The Wolverines love the projection of Owusu-Boateng and Taylor has shown flashes during his freshman year. Bowles will be the veteran of the group after playing one season at Michigan, coming from Georgia.

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Trent Knoop
TRENT KNOOP

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

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