The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2021 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY CHRIS BALAS Michigan has had its share of out- standing tight ends over the years, but the position's versatility seemed to peak between the late 1980s and early 2000s. That's when guys such as Derrick Walker, Tony McGee, Jay Riemersma, Jerame Tuman, Mark Campbell and Bennie Joppru — elite players at their positions and most of them eventual long-time pros — dominated as pass catchers and took their blocking responsibilities seriously, too. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has had a few good ones in his five years, including three NFLers in Jake Butt, Zach Gentry and Sean McKeon. Many experts believe incoming fresh- man Louis Hansen has a chance to be better than any of them, and perhaps the best since Joppru in 2002. That bar 's a high one given that Butt won the 2016 John Mackey Award winner as the nation's best at his position and Joppru set a U-M tight end record with 53 receptions for 579 yards in 2002. But Hansen is Rivals.com's No. 5 tight end nation- ally for a reason. "I'm a big fan of Louis," Rivals.com East Coast recruiting analyst Adam Friedman said. "He's a worker. He's always in touch with people wanting to know what he can do to get better, how to up his game in one way or another." The Needham (Mass.) St. Sebastian standout is 6-5, 232 pounds per U- M's official signing day release on MGoBlue.com, but he's spent the offseason adding good weight. He's now a self-reported 245 pounds and getting stronger by the day. "He's added weight but remained athletic, has really good speed for a big tight end and very good hands," Friedman continued. "There's a rea- son he's in the Rivals100 [No. 83 overall nationally]. He's going to be an impact player if a team can fit him into their game plan … there have been times this Michigan offense hasn't been too tight end-friendly." Only part of that is on the U-M staff, though. McKeon, Gentry and Tight End Louis Hansen Has The Potential To Be Elite In 2019, Hansen earned first-team all-league honors in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) after hauling in 39 passes for 548 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM 44 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2021 2021 Projection The door is wide open for playing time at tight end in 2021, with redshirt soph- omore Erick All being the only notable contributor returning with significant ex- perience. Hansen could step onto the field right away, with redshirt sophomore Luke Schoonmaker and redshirt freshman Matt Hibner representing his primary competition for playing time. All will be the clear favorite to earn the starting job, but it would not surprise if Hansen emerges as his backup. LOUIS HANSEN TIGHT END 6-5 • 232 ST. SEBASTIAN'S SCHOOL DOVER, MASS. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 83 5 2 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 28 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 24 6 STATISTICS Year Rec. Yards TD 2020 Canceled 2019 39 548 8 2018 21 375 5 HONORS • Tabbed to the Super 26 All-State Football Team in 2019, and was the only junior to make the list. • An All-ISL (Independent School League) first-teamer and All-NEPSAC (New England Preparatory School Athletic Council) first-team member as a junior. • 2020 Wide Receiver MVP at the Next Up New England Camp in Mas- sachusetts. • Pegged to the Boston Herald All- Scholastic Team in 2018 and the Bos- ton Globe All-Scholastic Team in 2019. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan April 2, 2020. • Cited his relationships with former defensive coordinator Don Brown and co-offensive coordinator and of- fensive line coach Sherrone Moore — then the tight ends coach — as two of the primary reasons for his pledge. • Held offers from the likes of Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and Penn State, among others. DID YOU KNOW? • Helped lead the Arrows to a league title with a 7-2 record in 2018. • Racked up 43 tackles and six inter- ceptions as an outside linebacker in 2019.