The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
T I G H T E N D S THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 67 a duty and responsibility — you have to do it every day and he's about it. I can't say enough good things about Col. He's been great and he's been fun to coach." Casula expanded on that. Not every star performer stands as open to coaching as the third-year Wolverine. "Above and beyond his talent, anyone that has ever met him or dealt with him, he's about one of the nicest and humblest guys you could ever encounter," Casula insisted. "I think the biggest challenge for Colston and any player that has had the track record he's had is, he's done some exceptional, ex- ceptional things in the biggest moments possible. That has become his new stan- dard, and he's working to hold that each and every day." As noted, Loveland in no way rep- resents The Lone Ranger when it comes to Michigan's tight end roster. Casula enthusiastically takes on the topic of what he has up his sleeve be- yond the headliner. "In addition to Col, Max Brede- son is as important a player as we have," he offered. "He may not show up each and every week on the stat sheet, but when you want to talk about someone who allows us to establish our identity in terms of running the football, Max is vital to that. In addition to him, a guy that's made a big move this spring is Marlin Klein. Obviously, everyone has been aware of Mar for a long time, but I think Mar will be a guy who gets a lot of great opportunities, and he's worked hard and he's worked to earn and deserve that, so we're really excited about where he's at, too." Bredeson's numbers won't blow anyone away (2 catches for 19 yards in 2023), but his blocks do on a regular basis. Whether as a typical tight end or an H-back, he's a big difference-maker, one generally regarded as Michigan's best blocking tight end. "He's really talented and is a great kid, has a great heart, cares deeply about this place," Casula assessed. "You guys know who Max Bredeson is — he's the third Michigan ath- lete amongst his brothers and that means a lot to him. To see where he came from — when he got here I think he was 215 pounds and he wore number 82 and he had this knee brace on. He was swimming in his practice jersey, but you knew pretty quickly that he was going to play here. Then, to follow from afar the player that he's become, it's a credit to Coach [Grant] Newsome, Coach [Sher- rone] Moore, himself, too, and what he's taken advantage of resource-wise and in the weight room. I can't say enough great things about Max." Klein showed flashes in the spring game of what he's produced all spring. He can move, and Casula insists the Wolverines are going to tap into that gift. "There's nothing on a football field that Marlin probably can't do," Casula said. "If Marlin Klein had to go play every play in the game, we'd be good with that. We view Marlin very much like he's in a starting role. Whether that means on the first play of our season he will be on the field, I don't know that. Don't know what the play will be. Marlin has had an outstanding, excep- tional, spring. I'm really proud of him for just kind of hanging in there and stacking day after day after day. Not that every day has been perfect, but Marlin is incredibly gifted, he's serious about football, he trains hard. He goes about his business the right way each and every day, and I'm so excited and fortunate to be his coach." Klein caught 1 pass for 8 yards in the national championship season. It sounds like he's ready to significantly add to those numbers this season, with Michigan able to call on multiple tight ends. When it comes to the future — whether near or far — Michigan consistently builds at tight end. The Wolverines feature sig- nificant size in 6-6, 245-pound freshman Brady Prieskorn, 6-5, 230-pound freshman Hogan Hansen and 6-5, 251-pound soph- omore Deakon Tonielli, along with depth from 6-4, 242-pound senior Noah Howes, 6-3, 231-pound junior Brandon Mann, and 6-4, 232-pound sophomore Zack Marshall. They'll all be working out this summer, readying for a fall camp sure to be filled with the sort of physicality that gets Michigan's tight ends ready for battle. Casula embraces the way the Wolverines go about things, and assured the play- ers see the benefit. "These practices are physical," he said. "I think that's part of, maybe not the secret, but part of the rec- ipe for success here, in my opinion. It really starts in the weight room, training room and nutrition. [Train- ing staffers] Justin Tress, Sean Lockwood, Abigail O'Connor, Phil Johnson and his staff, they do such a great job of having our team prepared to practice. If they do get in- jured, getting them back, preventing injury and all that kind of stuff. It starts very much with the other portions of our program and is obviously headlined by our head football coach. You get what you emphasized, and what has been emphasized here over the past handful of years has been fast, physical and intense football practices. I think that's what you've seen on Saturdays. It's great to be part of that." ❑ ❱ ❱ X-FACTOR X-FACTOR Junior MARLIN KLEIN is the fastest, strongest and biggest U-M tight end, per classmate Colston Loveland, and that's saying something considering the latter is a preseason All- American. Loveland headlines the position group, but the Wolverines need others to step up, with AJ Barner actually having led the tight ends with 620 offensive snaps a year ago. At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Klein may be able to be a big-time contributor as a blocker and pass catcher. U-M's Tight End Production Season Receptions Yards % Of Rec. Yards TDs 2023 70 925 28.9% 5 2022 62 790 25.7% 5 2021 57 618 19.3% 5 2020* 22 199 13.2% 1 2019 41 542 16.6% 7 2018 54 793 28.3% 4 2017 54 697 31.3% 5 2016 59 667 24.2% 6 2015 72 926 30.0% 3 2014 31 313 15.3% 3 *Only played six games due to the COVID-19 pandemic Junior Marlin Klein (6-6, 250) is the team's fastest, biggest and strongest tight end, according to Colston Loveland, and he ap- pears ready to contribute this fall. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN