The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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T I G H T E N D S 68 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW hammer when the nails pop up. Michigan also has Mason Bonner, a 6-7, 225-pound tight end coming in from Denver (Colo.) Mullen High. Fresh Start For Many Hansen sees this year as somewhat of a redo. Given his injuries last season and a new staff in place, he's among the many Wolverines — either new to the program or somewhat on the shelf last year — look- ing forward to what lies ahead. "I'm just excited to be healthy and go play healthy, without any limitations," he assured. "I'm excited to get back to it, and build off my freshman year. Last year wasn't the greatest year with how it played out for me. Just scratch all that — new offense, new staff, go out and get it this year." The Wolverines have embraced the new staff. The expectations are clear, and the response is quick when they're not met. "They expect things to be a certain way," Hansen observed. "When they're not, they're going to get on our butts about it. Other than that, they're going to bring us up and try to have good energy at all times. We never have any lulls in practice. We are always high-fiving each other, keeping the energy up. It's definitely increased the quality of our practices. "We've been able to get more done in the weight room. You'll never see slop- piness out there, when we're practicing. It's a high level, and it's been out there all spring ball." The Wolverines intend to keep that high level going, right into the season. As for the tight ends room, they're ready to do their part — or several parts, as the case may be. ❑ Senior Zack Marshall played in all 13 games for the Wolverines a year ago, with 16 catches for 199 yards and 1 touchdown. He was named as Michigan's Most Improved Player on Offense. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL A Position Rich In Tradition Michigan has featured some outstanding tight ends over the years, and they haven't all racked up head-turning reception numbers. Some have, for certain, garnering the All-America status that often goes with that aspect of the game. Here is a look back at Michigan's best tight end each season, over the past decade (excluding the COVID campaign of 2020). 2025 — Max Bredeson only caught 2 passes for 11 yards for the Wolverines in his last season wearing the uniform. But he remained the heart and soul of the tough-guy fighters on the squad, ready at any mo- ment to level a defender looking to harm one of the players who grab all the headlines. He led in a host of ways and left a lasting impact on both the opposition and Michigan's history at the position. 2024 — Colston Loveland's last season in a Michigan uniform before he went on to star in the NFL was a huge one. Loveland led the Wolver- ines in receiving yards — by a mile. He made 56 catches for 582 yards and 5 touchdowns, with the next nearest receiver under 250. The 56 catches set a Michigan receiving record for a tight end, helping Loveland earn All-America honors and become Michigan's Offensive Skill Player of the Year. 2023 — Loveland found himself just three catches off the pace for leading the national champion Wolverines in receiving. He recorded 45 catches for 649 yards and 4 touchdowns. A first-team All-Big Ten selec- tion by conference coaches, Loveland earned Co-Offensive Skill Player of the Year honors for the Wolverines. Most importantly, he became one of the last men standing, when time came to hand out the national championship trophy. 2022 — Luke Schoonmaker enjoyed his last season in a Michigan uniform prior to moving on to the NFL. He finished second among all U-M receivers with 35 catches, turning them into 418 yards and 3 touchdowns. 2021 — Erick All led the way for the Wolverines in his next-to-last year as a Michigan tight end. He finished just one catch off the pace for U-M's leading receiver, making 38 grabs for 437 yards and 2 touchdowns. He'll always be remembered for his winning touchdown catch at Penn State, rambling for a 47-yard TD and piling up 4 catches and 64 yards on the day. 2019 — Michigan found itself weighted toward its wideouts in this season, but Nick Eubanks still managed a respectable effort at tight end. He made 25 catches for 243 yards and 4 touchdowns, leading the U-M tight ends. Sean McKeon proved the bigger-play guy that year, averaging 18.1 yards per catch on his 13 receptions. 2018 — Not only did Zach Gentry lead the tight ends in receiving in 2018, he came within 100 yards of pacing the entire squad. He made 32 catches for 514 yards (a healthy 16.1 yards-per-catch average) and scored a pair of touchdowns. 2017 — McKeon led all Michigan receivers in Jim Harbaugh's third season at the helm, securing a team-high 31 catches for 301 yards and 3 touchdowns. 2016 — Jake Butt's 46 catches ranked No. 2 on Michigan's list in 2016. He gained 546 yards with 4 touchdowns. Butt earned the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end and was a consensus All-American. He was also the Big Ten Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year. 2015 — Butt made an impression in Jim Harbaugh's first-ever game as head coach of the Wolverines, versus Kyle Whittingham's Utah Utes. Whittingham's crew got the better of the two that night in Salt Lake City, despite Butt's career highs in catches (8) and yards (93). The Michigan tight end went on to record 51 catches for 654 yards and 3 touchdowns on the season. — John Borton