The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503142
[ T I G H T E N D S ] THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 69 BIOS POSITION COACH Grant Newsome is in his sec- ond season as a full-time assis- tant coach and fourth overall after coaching the tight ends last season. Prior to his move to the full- time staff in 2022, Newsome worked with Sherrone Moore in 2018-19 as a grad assistant to the tight ends and then with the of- fensive line in 2020-21. Newsome is a former offensive tackle for the Wolverines, where he lettered twice and appeared in 10 games with six starts in 2015-16 before in- juring his knee. After missing his junior year, he announced his medical retirement from football as a senior and joined the staff as a student coach in 2018. He is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree who also earned the Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Schol- arship Award as the program's top student-athlete in 2016 and the Robert P. Ufer Bequest, which is given out to the player who shows the best at- titude and enthusiasm for Michigan. Newsome has two degrees from Michigan: a bachelor's in American culture (2018) and a mas- ter's in public policy (2020). A native of Trenton, N.J., he was a four-star pros- pect, and the No. 204 overall player and No. 15 of- fensive tackle in the country in the 2015 recruiting class per the On3 Industry Ranking. RETURNING PLAYERS MAX BREDESON • TE Jr. • Hartland, Wis. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 232 • Former walk-on is a two-year letter winner. • Appeared in all 14 games at tight end and special teams with one start as a sophomore in 2022. • Had 5 catches for 78 yards, including a 56-yard reception from Davis Warren versus Hawai'i. • Played quarterback at Arrowhead High. • His brother Ben was a four-year starter on Michigan's offensive line and brother Jack was a pitcher for U-M's baseball team. Year GP/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 2022 14/1 5 78 15.6 0 MATT HIBNER • TE Sr. • Burke, Va. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 245 • Made 13 appearances in 2022, catching 2 passes for 15 yards and adding 3 tack- les and a fumble recovery on special teams. • Appeared in eight contests in 2021, but did not record a stat. • Did not see game action as a freshman in 2020. • Played for the U.S. National Team in the 2020 International Bowl and scored 2 TDs. • Rated a three-star prospect, the No. 14 player in Virginia and the No. 21 tight end nationally by the On3 Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 2021 8/0 0 0 0 0 2022 13/0 2 15 7.5 0 Total 21/0 2 15 7.5 0 MARLIN KLEIN • TE So. • Cologne, Germany Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 245 • Appeared in two games at tight end and did not record a statistic in 2022. • Grabbed 22 catches for 303 yards and 3 touchdowns as a senior at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (Ga.). • Had 17 receptions for 298 yards and 5 touch- downs during his junior season. • Transferred to high school in Georgia prior to his junior season after starting his football ca- reer with the Cologne Crocodiles in Germany. • On3 ranked him as a four-star prospect, the No. 22 tight end in the nation and the No. 36 player in Georgia. Year GP/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 2022 2/0 0 0 0 0 COLSTON LOVELAND • TE So. • Gooding, Idaho Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 237 • Appeared in all 14 games last season with five starts, catch- ing 16 passes for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns. • Added 4 tackles on special teams. • Named Michigan's Offensive and co-Special Teams Rookie of the Year. • Closed out high school career with 235 recep- tions for 3,141 yards (13.4-yard average) and 35 TDs. Totaled 3,493 all-purpose yards and 39 TDs. • Caught 62 passes for 968 yards and 14 TDs as a senior and added 33 carries for 352 yards and 4 touchdowns. On defense, made 66 total tackles (18 for loss), 5.5 sacks and 2 interceptions. • Named Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year as a senior and was a three-time all-state tight end. • Also a first-team all-state basketball player, averaging 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds as a senior. • The On3 Industry Ranking rated him as a four- star prospect, the No. 13 tight end in the nation and the top player in Idaho. Year GP/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 2022 14/5 16 235 14.7 2 NEWCOMERS A.J. BARNER • TE Sr. • Aurora, Ohio Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 250 • Transferred from Indiana and participated in spring ball. • Appeared in 30 games with nine starts in his Hoosier ca- reer, totaling 42 receptions for 361 yards and 4 touchdowns. • Had 28 catches for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2022. • Voted an Indiana team captain. • Played in 12 contests with one start at tight end in 2021, catching 14 passes for 162 yards and his first-career touchdown. • Made an impact on special teams in 2020. • Attended Aurora High School. • On3 Industry Ranking rated him as the 48th- best player in Ohio in 2020 class. Year GP/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 2020* 8/0 0 0 0 0 2021* 12/1 14 162 11.6 1 2022* 10/8 28 199 7.1 3 Total 30/9 42 361 8.6 4 * at Indiana ZACK MARSHALL • TE Fr. • Solana Beach, Calif. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 220 • Winter 2023 enrollee. • Played senior season at Carls- bad HS after playing wide re- ceiver at Santa Fe Christian as sophomore and junior. • Tight end MVP during the 2022 Elite 11 Camp. • Recorded 23 catches for 284 yards and 5 touch- downs after sitting out first four games due to transfer rule. • Caught 44 passes for 1,012 yards and 9 touch- downs during junior season. • Had 13 catches for 262 yards during sophomore season. • Rated a three-star recruit, the No. 26 tight end in the country and the No. 45 player in Califor- nia in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking. DEAKON TONIELLI • TE Fr. • Oswego, Ill. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 230 • Atte n d e d O s w e g o H i g h , catching 42 passes for 550 yards and 5 touchdowns dur- ing his senior season. • Caught 32 passes for 385 yards with 2 touch- downs during his junior campaign. • Special Mention All-State by the Champaign News-Gazette as a senior. • Four-star prospect ranked as the 23rd-best tight end in the 2023 cycle per the On3 Industry Ranking.