The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 11 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan tight end Hogan Hansen wasn't full-go in practice until late into fall camp after suffering an injury in the spring, but he's back now. He made a highlight-reel catch in the win over Central Michigan and appears to be emerging as a weapon in the passing game. The sophomore talks about working his way back, the nonconfer- ence season, and more in this Q&A. The Wolverine: How did you approach your rehab this summer coming back from an upper-body injury that set you back? Hogan Hansen: "It was a long process, but it was something that I knew wouldn't worry me too much and I would be back near the start of the season. So, I was just focusing on the little things — ev- erything I could do to get better, staying up to date with the offense so that when I came back, I was ready to go." The Wolverine: Your first game back was a tough road contest at Oklahoma. How hard was it to get back into the groove against such a physical team on the road? Hansen: "I would say I was pretty healthy for that game, but yeah, it was tough going through spring ball and fall camp not being a full participant. But just getting out there in any way felt pretty good, so I felt good about it. "It helped playing the games I did last year as a freshman. The first few snaps, obviously, it was different. But once you get going, once you hit a person, you're just back in it. It all comes back to you pretty naturally." The Wolverine: How much does it affect chemistry when you can't be out there catching passes in practice from your quarterback [freshman Bryce Underwood], and what did you see from him while you were sidelined? Hansen: "Watching fall camp, it hurt me not being out there. But seeing the steps in maturity [Underwood] took from spring ball to fall camp and how he carried himself … how he's able to command the offense and take the lead [was impressive]. And when practice wasn't going our way, he'd step in and go, 'All right … let's bring it together. Let's keep going. We're all good.'" The Wolverine: You caught a leaping, 26-yard pass on the sideline against Central Michigan (part of a 3-catch, 43-yard day). Talk about that play. Hansen: "I think that's what 19 [Underwood] brings to the offense. Even when I was running the route, I was like, 'Where's he going to throw this ball? Where's he going to put it?' And he put it in a per- fect spot where no one but me could catch it. "He's been doing that all camp, so it's really nothing new for us. I've just got to go and do my job." The Wolverine: You've got one loss this season but are still in the playoff hunt. What's the focus going forward? Hansen: "Big Ten Conference play is really all that matters. I think we've got a good opportunity to send a statement. … We're just focusing on that. "We just need to go prove what team we are when we play our best. We're not worried about the outside factors or anything like that. Just doing our best and everyone playing their 1/11th." — Chris Balas ❱ Sitting Down With Michigan Sophomore Tight End Hogan Hansen Hansen, now recovered from an upper-body injury suffered during the spring, caught 3 passes for 43 yards in the win against Central Michigan. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL The college basketball season is in sight, and there's much anticipation surrounding the Wolverines' star-studded 2025-26 team under second-year head coach Dusty May. The Field of 68 experts Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster released their preseason rankings, slot- ting Michigan at No. 10 in the nation, behind No. 1 Purdue, No. 2 Houston, No. 3 Florida, No. 4 UConn, No. 5 Duke, No. 6 Louisville, No. 7 Kentucky, No. 8 St. John's and No. 9 Texas Tech. Michigan lost many of its key contributors from last year's team but brought in a talented front court and high-level point guard in junior Elliot Cadeau from North Carolina from the transfer portal. "There are a number of teams at the top of the Big Ten that will be in the mix for one of the top four spots, but for my money, the Wolverines are the second-best of that group," Goodman and Dauster wrote. "It starts with the addition of [graduate forward] Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB), one of the most sought-after transfers in the portal who will give Michigan more lineup flexibility than anyone in America — he can play the three as well as the five. "The Wolverines have size and versatility everywhere on their roster. The addition of [sophomore] Morez Johnson [Jr.] (Illinois) in an expanded role is going to surprise some people, while [junior center] Aday Mara (UCLA) has a chance to be a breakout star this year. The X- factor may end up being Cadeau — a pass-first point guard who came from North Carolina. If the Wolverines are one of those teams that de- fends and pounds the glass, having one of the nation's elite transition passers will turn stops into easy buckets." The Wolverines will face two of the other top- 10 teams — Purdue and Duke — and see St. John's in an Oct. 25 exhibition game at Madison Square Garden. Here are the five Big Ten teams that checked in on the Field Of 68's top-25 list: Team Rank 2024-25 Record Purdue 1 24-12 Michigan 10 27-10 UCLA 13 23-11 Illinois 19 22-13 Wisconsin 21 27-10 — Clayton Sayfie U-M BASKETBALL MAKES TOP 10 IN 'FIELD OF 68' RANKINGS