The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536962
T I G H T E N D S 66 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CHRIS BALAS L ast year, and for the first time since Sim Nelson did it in 1984, a Michigan tight end led the team in receiving, and nobody should have been surprised. Many pre- dicted Colston Loveland would emerge as the Wolverines' top pass catcher given his unbelievable skill — one source close to the program said they figured he'd be a top-10 NFL Draft pick in his first week on campus — and his 582 yards on a Michigan single-season record 56 receptions did just that in 2024. Sure enough, Loveland went No. 10 overall in the April NFL Draft, and he's a Chicago Bear. Tight ends coach Steve Casula's not-so-enviable job is to replace one of the best U-M has ever had, but there are veterans and youngsters alike who are hungry for the chance. There's a variety of skill sets, too, that bring plenty to the offense. "I feel good about that room," Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said after spring ball. "Start with Max Bredeson. He's not the pass catcher, even though he's got good hands. … We saw him catch a couple. He's the neighborhood head thumper, and he takes pride in that. He's the captain of the team. He's just been outstanding … him and Marlin Klein. Mar- lin's really taken the next step in his development as a tight end. I feel good about him, as well as [sophomore] Hogan Hansen. "The guy that really took the next step was [junior] Jalen Hoffman. He's a guy we've seen flashes. We knew he had the talent, and then to watch him in the spring game. … He's done that all spring. I feel like we're in a really good place with that room with all the other guys, as well." With Hansen sidelined [upper body injury] and Klein and Bredeson limited, that created opportunity for some of the lesser-known Wolverines to shine. Enter Hoffman, who came out of nowhere to catch 7 passes for 148 yards in the spring game, including an 88-yard touchdown on a trick play on the final snap. This year's room presents two big question marks — is the top-end talent good enough with Loveland's departure, and how is the depth? Former Michigan All-America line- man and current Wolverines' radio color com- mentator Jon Jansen watched them closely all spring, and he was encouraged. "Everyone's going to be involved," Jansen said. "I like this group of tight ends, starting HIGH HOPES Spring Standouts Add Excitement To A Revamped Tight End Room [FYI] ❱ Almost a third of U-M's passing game production last season came via Colston Loveland's performance, racking up 56 catches for 582 yards and 5 touchdowns. He led the team in receiving in every game he played and finished with 29 more receptions than the next clos- est player (WR Semaj Morgan, 27) despite only playing in 10 games. ❱ Only three other tight ends recorded receptions during the 2024 season, headlined by Marlin Klein's 13 for 108 yards. Hogan Hansen had 7 catches for 78 yards, while fullback/ tight end hybrid Max Bredeson had 3 for 24 yards on the year. Klein and Hansen are pro- jected to be the top two pass catchers on the tight end depth chart in their senior and sophomore seasons, respectively. ❱ The tight end room was the only position group on the roster to not receive any additional help from the transfer portal, nor did any of its eligible players depart the program after the 2024 season. U-M's last transfer tight end was AJ Barner, who came over from Indiana in 2023 and was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. TIGHT ENDS 17 Marlin Klein (6-6, 247), Sr. 42 Jalen Hoffman (6-3, 235), Jr. 43 Deakon Tonielli (6-5, 238), Jr. 44 Max Bredeson (6-2, 240), Gr. 45 Eli Owens (6-1, 223), Fr. 80 Hogan Hansen (6-5, 236), So. 83 Zack Marshall (6-4, 235), Jr. 86 Brady Prieskorn (6-6, 245), So. Senior Marlin Klein earned six starts last season and finished with 13 catches for 108 yards. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL