Michigan head coach football coach Kyle Whittingham has an unexpected vacancy on his staff after defensive line coach Lou Esposito accepted a position with the Baltimore Ravens last week.

On the latest episode of “Wolverine Confidential” podcast, MLive’s Ryan Zuke and Aaron McMann discuss what Esposito’s departure means for Michigan.

“I mean, it’s going to be a loss,” McMann said. “More than anything, the timing isn’t ideal. We’re in early February here. Michigan’s set to start spring practice here in about five weeks. Kyle Whittingham is going to have to make a decision quickly and try and find someone else.”

With Esposito off to the NFL, Michigan’s recruiting efforts, particularly within the state, could take a step back. Esposito was one of the few remaining coaches with deep Michigan connections having previous coaching stops at Western Michigan, Ferris State and Davenport. His son, Saline three-star offensive lineman Louis Esposito, also is committed to Michigan in the 2027 class.

“Losing Esposito is going to have a hit on the recruiting trail,” McMann said. “We already talked about the lack of connections, the lack of experience from this current staff recruiting the state of Michigan and recruiting the Midwest. That was one of the reasons why Kyle Whittingham decided to keep Esposito on staff.”

Not only is spring practice imminent, but Esposito had proven to be one of the program’s most effective recruiters. His recent classes featured several blue-chip defensive line prospects, including five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows and top-100 defensive lineman Titan Davis this cycle, plus top-50 recruit Nate Marshall in the 2025 class.

McMann and Zuke discuss potential replacements during the podcast, along with a dive into Michigan men’s basketball’s hot streak.

Meanwhile, hockey’s highly anticipated series against Michigan State lived up to its billing in a battle between the top two teams in the country.

Plus, women’s basketball faced another test against a top-five opponent.

Listen to the entire episode via the YouTube embed above, on Spotify or anywhere you find podcasts.