The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543845
APRIL 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 27 BY ANTHONY BROOME RETURNING STARTER Senior Zack Marshall Marshall was another bright spot in a season where we had to sift through to find them on offense. He appeared in all 13 games with three starts at tight end for the Wolverines, catching 16 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. His playing time typically depended on the availability of fellow tight ends Marlin Klein or Hogan Hansen, but when he was on the field he was a pass catcher whom quarterback Bryce Underwood trusted, the two apparently sharing a good rapport. OTHER RETURNEES Junior Hogan Hansen Last year was incredibly frustrat- ing for Hansen, who was banged up throughout the offseason and was lim- ited to four games, maintaining a po- tential redshirt. During his 2024 fresh- man campaign, he carved out a small role early, appearing in 10 games with 7 catches for 78 yards in a room that featured Colston Loveland and Klein. There is a lot of optimism that a healthy offseason can position him to earn a starting role. Being healthy through- out and having a full cycle to work with Underwood could help unlock the po- tential we still think is there. He has all the tools to be a reliable, consis- tent chain-moving presence in the Michigan passing game. Senior Jalen Hoffman W h i l e m o r e o f a fullback/H-back hybrid akin to a Max Bredeson type, Hoffman should still have a role in an offense that seems like it is go- ing more power spread- based under new coor- dinator Jason Beck. The system is a positionless and adaptable type of scheme, so when the situation calls for a lead blocker, Hoffman could be the guy whom they go to on the field. He showed last spring that he has the ability to catch the ball and be a weapon in the passing game, so it will be interesting to see how he is deployed under the new staff. Sophomore Eli Owens Owens is similar to Hoffman when it comes to archetype, and he was re- cruited a little more directly to be a Bredeson-like player down the road. Coming out of high school, the old staff told him that they see him as a mix be- tween Loveland and Bredeson in terms of what he can do on the field, pointing to his positional versatility. If there is something Owens can do to help the of- fense, Beck is going to find a way to get him on the field and in the mix. Senior Deakon Tonielli It took a few seasons to happen, but we finally saw Tonielli crack the field as a junior, and he was productive when given the opportunity. He finished the year with 8 catches for 72 yards and could push for a prominent role in the tight end pecking order. We have seen plenty of late bloomers at tight end in Ann Arbor over the years, whether it be Zach Gentry, Luke Schoonmaker or Klein, to name a few. He is one of a few candidates here to make that sort of leap late in his career. NEWCOMER Freshman Mason Bonner The three-star signee has an intrigu- ing athletic profile at 6-7, 225 pounds coming into the program. Brought in by the previous coaching staff, Bonner plays like a basketball forward, which is no surprise given that he played the sport in high school. His scouting report boasts a guy who has good movement skills with the ability to make plays on the football, though like many play- ers his age at the position, the physical strides that he makes will determine whether he sees the field early or not. TIGHT ENDS Junior Hogan Hansen was limited to four games because of injury a year ago, but has tremendous upside as a pass-catcher for the Wolverines. PHOTO BY TY KORNBLUE ANALYSIS The top three here seem relatively set with Marshall, Hansen and Tonielli, and Utah trans- fer wide receiver JJ Buchanan could do some things on the field that mimic the tight end position as well. It remains to be seen how Hoffman and Owens will be used until we have a better idea of what the offense will look like, but Beck and company have proven over the years that they will craft the offense around their personnel. There should be opportunities for pretty much everyone to make some sort of impact here, even if it comes on special teams or as a depth piece.