Just In: Five-Star Linebacker Recruit Targets Visit to Michigan For Massive Showdown On Saturday

The Michigan Wolverines’ season hasn’t unfolded as planned under new head coach Sherrone Moore, but they managed to regroup and defeat their arch-rival Michigan State last weekend to secure the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Having kept ‘Paul’ at home, their next challenge is to host the top-ranked Oregon Ducks at the Big House this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. This season, the Wolverines’ defense, led by Wink Martindale, has used fewer linebackers compared to previous seasons, with Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham being the primary players in that role. Additionally, based on a tweet released on Wednesday, Michigan is expected to welcome five-star linebacker recruit Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng to the Big House for Saturday’s game.

“Michigan this weekend!” Boateng posted on his X account. A Class of 2025 outside linebacker from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Boateng is a five-star recruit according to Rivals. He is currently ranked as the 18th player nationally, the top linebacker in the country, and the fourth-best player in Florida. He has received offers from top programs including Colorado, Georgia, Notre Dame, Stanford, Oregon, USC, and Texas. Michigan’s defense has been solid at times this season, with Barham and Hausmann stepping up after the departure of linebacker Junior Colson, who was a third-round pick for the Los Angeles Chargers. However, they faced challenges against Michigan State last week, where running back Nathan Carter had a strong performance on the ground, and they will need to improve ahead of this weekend’s matchup.