The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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[ T I G H T E N D S ] 68 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW to mix it up, and is a physical player with plenty of talent and great hands. Head coach Jim Harbaugh sang his praises last spring, predicting the former walk-on could contribute in 2022. Bredeson played in all 14 games at tight end and caught 5 passes for 78 yards, including a 56-yarder from quarterback Davis Warren against Hawai'i. "Bredeson is our 'steady Eddie,' and that's going to continue to help us," offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore said this spring. "We've got great depth in that room, and I feel like we're in a great position." That depth includes sophomore Marlin Klein, a physically imposing specimen at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds. "He's still learning the game, but he's a freak athlete. He's probably the freakiest athlete of all those guys," Moore said. "I'm excited to see him, too." Those guys, along with freshman additions Deakon Tonielli and Zack Marshall, provide plenty of options for what appears to be a deep and tal- ented room. "I'm super excited about that group," Moore said. "That group is special." They'll have an opportunity to show just how good they are this fall. ❑ Freshman Zack Marshall 'Lights Up The Room' Michigan freshman tight end Zack Marshall's introduction to college life was a bit rocky, to say the least. The On3.com three-star tight end out of Carlsbad (Calif.) High lost more than 10 pounds, down to 208, after a winter illness, a tough start for an early enrollee who hoped to make a great first impression. But nobody in the football building at Michigan was down on him — on the contrary, in fact. Head coach Jim Harbaugh raved about him in the offseason, noting he "just lights up the room with person- ality," and predicted he'd not only get up to speed quickly, but surpass many his age when he got his strength back. Marshall is well on his way. He got his weight back and added 10 more, also growing half an inch to a self-reported 6-foot-4½, 230 pounds in early May. He hopes to be 240 by fall after working out in the summer in an attempt to live up to his coach's praise. "Coach Harbaugh's words mean a lot to me," Marshall said during the team's spring trip, which ended in Cleveland and Canton. "To hear that from a guy who was a first-round pick and sent many first-round picks to the NFL means a lot." Everything's "been great" at Michigan so far, Marshall said. He's fit in extremely well with his team- mates, noting, "the sense of community in the tight end room has been amazing." But he also knows he has a long way to go before he can make an impact. Always an outstanding pass catcher — he was a former wide receiver before he continued to grow and started being recruited as a tight end — Marshall had to change his mentality after sliding over and playing with a hand on the ground rather than just worrying about hauling in passes. That's a process that can take time. He made huge strides as a high school senior, though, and is ready to take it a step further. "It wasn't a matter of strength," Marshall said. "It wasn't a matter of coachability. I just needed to fix my mindset into saying, 'I'm a tight end.' "Learning how to run through contact is a priority, and then also trusting the technique. When you're in high school, you can bear-hug dudes, and when you're bigger than them, it usually ends up as a pancake. "Here, I'm blocking guys like [senior defensive tackle] Kris Jenkins that are 300 pounds playing maybe 40 inches off the ground. "You have to trust your first step, trust that you're going to get power and know where the block's sup- posed to be. You have to get in front of him and understand the play, and then you adjust your technique." It's all part of the learning he'll need to do before he gets his opportunity. He's got a lot of work ahead of him, but he appears to have the attitude and ability to be one of the next Michigan greats, with time. "You get to run your own agenda. I'm loving the educational side and the football side," Marshall said. "I'm learning a lot. A college playbook is way different than a high school playbook, and I've learned so much. "I'm so grateful to be here. The coaches at all levels are incredible." — Chris Balas ❱ ❱ X-FACTOR X-FACTOR The Wolverines lost five tight ends from last year's room, which opens the door for some fresh faces that have been biding their time. Senior tight end MATTHEW HIBNER, who has primarily been a spe- cial teamer in his career, should finally have a shot to crack the rotation this year. Colston Loveland and A.J. Barner feel locked in at the top of the depth chart, but Hibner could be in for a breakout season as an option in the passing game. He showed burst and yards-after-the-catch ability in the spring game with 2 receptions for 62 yards and might be more of an athlete than previ- ously thought. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN