The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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T I G H T E N D S 66 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY JOHN BORTON M ost savvy college football fans know the Wolverines feature arguably the top tight end in the country, in junior Colston Loveland. What they might not know involves a whole lot of talent supple- menting the spotlighted pass catcher. From 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior Max Bredeson — a wrecking ball of a blocker — to junior Marlin Klein, whose 6-6, 250-pound frame belies his excellent speed, to oth- ers bringing size and talent to the position, the Wolverines are loaded. It shouldn't be a surprise, noted Michigan tight ends coach Steve Casula in a spring football interview session. "The tight end position has always been extremely important and valuable here," Casula assured. "That's a tradition that we don't take lightly. You look at huge mo- ments in the 2023 season, whether it would be a long touchdown run against Penn State, a long touchdown run in over- time by Blake [Corum] against Ala- bama. Somehow, someway there was always a tight end involved." There's another tradi- tion around Michi- gan, Casula noted. It involves winning, and the Wolverines presently find themselves on a streak that nobody wants to surrender. They're practicing like they mean it, the tight ends coach said. "The offensive and defensive systems have been taught at such a high level, it allows so many people to functionally practice," Casula said. "We play so much football here and it's physical, it's intense. You look over the course of the last three seasons, we're 40-3 doing it that way. It's physical and it's intense." Loveland obviously enters the 2024 sea- son as a fan favorite, and for good reason. The first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2023 by conference coaches made 45 catches for 649 yards and 4 touchdown grabs, winding up second on the team in receiving yards and TDs. He led the Wolverines in receiving in the national title game against Washing- ton, hauling in 3 receptions for 64 yards. He also paced U-M in the win over Ohio State, pulling in 5 catches for 88 yards. When asked what's next for the 6-5, 245-pound veteran Wolverine, Casula kept it simple — keep doing what you're doing, more and more. "It's just being able to make those game- changing plays over and over and over again," Casula said. "Then, really, have no bad plays. He really doesn't. Col, I think, as a sophomore this past year, was the best tight end in college football. I feel that way now. Just continue growing. "He is a lead-by-example style of guy, but I think when he talks, the players really listen. In my opinion, Colston, on any given snap, is the best player on the field. That's a major compliment to him, but I think there becomes TOP OF THE LINE Tight Ends Feature An Elite Performer, And Much More Junior Colston Loveland was rated as the No. 1 returning tight end in the country by Pro Football Focus, which also projects him to be a first-round NFL Draft pick in 2025. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL QUICK FACTS Position Coach: Steve Casula (1st year) Returning Starter: Colston Loveland (17 career starts) Departing Starter: AJ Barner (9 at U-M, 9 at Indiana) Projected New Starter: Max Bredeson (4) Top Reserves: Marlin Klein, Deakon Tonielli, Zack Marshall Wait Until 2025: Hogan Hansen, Brady Prieskorn Newcomers: Hansen, Prieskorn Rookie Impact: Prieskorn Most Improved Player: Klein Best Pro Prospect: Loveland [FYI] ❱ Michigan attempted 43 passes in the red zone last season, with wide receiver Roman Wilson (a third- round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers) being targeted a team-high 13 times. Junior tight end Colston Loveland had the second-most targets with 7, reeling in 3 catches for 14 yards and a score. Tight end AJ Barner (a fourth-round selection to the Seattle Seahawks) was thrown to 5 times, notching 3 grabs for 22 yards and a touchdown. ❱ Loveland racked up 4 touchdowns and 649 receiving yards last season — the most yards by a Michigan tight end since two-time All-American Jake Butt recorded 654 in 2015. Loveland's 14.4 yards per catch were the 12th-most among tight ends with 35 or more receptions last season. ❱ Michigan had more than one tight end on the field for 58.1 percent of its offensive snaps last season, according to Sports Info Solutions. The Wolverines used multiple players at the position on 49.3 per- cent of passes and 63.8 percent of rushes. ❱ Loveland was used all over the field in 2023, taking 283 of his 568 offensive snaps as an in-line tight end, 203 in the slot and 76 at wide receiver.