The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 55 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY GREG BIGGINS A merican Fork (Utah) tight end Christian Hanshaw committed to Michigan on June 21 and broke down why he chose the Wolverines. After narrowing his list to also in- clude BYU, UCLA and Utah, Hanshaw announced he'll be playing his college ball in Ann Arbor. "I've actually known it was going to be Michigan for a little bit now," Hanshaw said. "I've been there three times, and every time, it felt like home for me. The first time I visited was before they hired the new staff, but you could still tell what an elite place Michigan was. "They have everything you could want to be successful, and it felt like all they were missing was an elite coach- ing staff. They definitely have that now. I've known so many of these coaches for a long time, and now when you add this staff to everything else Michigan has going for it, it made it a slam dunk for me." Hanshaw said it wasn't just a football decision; it was an academic one as well. "Michigan is always rated one of the top public schools in the country," Hanshaw said. "Depending on what ranking you're looking at, it's usually Michigan, UCLA and Cal in terms of the top schools that also play football. "I'm still figuring out my major, but I think something in business or econom- ics makes sense for me. Michigan has incredible connections and networking as well, and checked off all the boxes for me." Wolverine tight ends coach Fred Whittingham played a huge role in the decision. "My dad actually played at BYU with Fred, and I've known him forever," Hanshaw said. "I've known him before I even thought about playing college football. I love that guy so much; he's the kind of coach I can see spending the next five years with. "He's not just a great coach but a great person as well. He developed a ton of tight ends at Utah, and I love the plan he has in place for me. I fit their style of tight end; I can block and catch passes. I'm not just a glorified big receiver; I enjoy block- ing, and being a well-rounded tight end is something I really take pride in." Hanshaw said former Utah tight end Dallen Bentley is a solid player comp for him. "I really like Dallen's style of play, and he's the guy I think is a good model for me," Hanshaw said. "Frame-wise, I think I can hold up to 250-255 pounds, be a dominant blocker, but also spread out and be a real weapon in the passing game. "Like I said, I love the all-around fit for me at Michigan. It's a top program, everyone knows about Michigan, you have the rivalry with Ohio State, and it's a huge stage, and I can't wait to be a part of all that." Hanshaw will technically be part of the 2029 class, as he will take his LDS mission right out of high school. "So I'll be enrolling at Michigan in January of 2029," Hanshaw said. "I leave right out of high school, and I'm ex- cited. It's a two-year commitment, but I'm excited to be able to have this op- portunity to serve." Hanshaw is one of the top tight ends in the region. He's a high three-star with an 88 rating by Rivals.com, and he has been tabbed as the No. 40 tight end in the country and the No. 5 overall player in the state. We really like his all-around game and see him as one of the most complete tight ends in the country. ❑ 'Elite' Program Draws Tight End Christian Hanshaw To Michigan PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Hanshaw is a big-bodied, traditional in-line tight end at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. He moves well at his size in the receiving game, but he's also a willing blocker who realizes that part of the game is super important for the college level. His junior season tape is littered with physical, impressive blocking that should help him carve out a role early. The new U-M pledge can also make grabs away from his body, in traffic and is a threat after the catch. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: We consider Hanshaw a pretty complete tight end prospect who doesn't have many holes in his game. He doesn't have any known athletic testing numbers, so that's the main question mark around his game. Otherwise, his ability to secure more contested catches and make dynamic plays after the catch are the main things we'll monitor this fall. PLAYER COMPARISON: Former Utah tight end Dallen Bentley — Hanshaw gave himself this comp, and we believe it's pretty appropriate for his skill set. Bentley played at 6-4, 253 in college. Hanshaw can reach that weight after some time in a college strength program. They're both big, physical in-line tight ends with strong receiver skill sets. — Ethan McDowell Hanshaw is considered a high three-star prospect by Rivals, which also rated him as the No. 40 tight end in the country and the No. 5 overall player in Utah. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS