7 thoughts on Michigan football’s 7 scholarship TEs entering summer
The Michigan Wolverines are firmly out of the spring ball phase of building and into an evaluation period and summer workouts. Head coach Sherrone Moore got to see what his first team in Ann Arbor could look like, and now a foundation is set ahead of fall camp.
Michigan’s offensive identity is still to be determined, but the tight ends project to remain a massive part of the picture. This especially applies with a new starting quarterback set to take over in 2024. Who that is at the moment is anyone’s guess, but he will be supported by one of the best in college football with some intriguing newer pieces.
With that in mind, here are thoughts on each scholarship wide receiver entering the summer and where they might factor into the short and long-term vision of the program.
Senior Max Bredeson
The tone-setting Swiss Army knife of the room is essentially a fullback, but he will play some tradition tight end and H-back in the new system. Most of what Bredeson brings to the table revolves around things that do not appear in the box score, and he does a lot of the dirty work that allows his teammates to thrive in the run game.
“Whatever Michigan needs me to do to help win,” Bredeson said this spring about his projected role this season. “I love doing the fullback stuff. It’s what I see myself as. It’s really what I picture myself as in a role, using it more and more as we have with the offense, whatever facet we use it in, I’m always there to do it. So whatever they say, I’ll do it.”
There’s no reason to doubt he’ll be anything but what he already has for Michigan, which is a fan-favorite player that helps spring big runs for the Wolverines.
Junior Colston Loveland
So many folks have given themselves migraines over how this Michigan passing game is going to operate next season, but the quarterback’s best friend might wind up being Loveland. Pro Football Focus has him in the mix as one of the Wolverines who could be first-round picks next spring, coming in at No. 16 overall and leading the way among tight ends.
With Brock Bowers out of the collegiate ranks, there is a legitimate reason to think Loveland could be the best tight end in college football next season. He has put a pretty strong two years on film and at this point needs to just sharpen everything in his tool kit just a little bit more. He is going to get a lot more attention from opposing defenses next year as the de-facto go-to guy and safety valve for Michigan’s offense, so a lot of his production could be tied to what the guys do to take pressure off from around him.
Assuming there are no setbacks, there is no reason to think that his best football is not still ahead of him.
Junior Marlin Klein
One of the biggest breakout stars of the offseason should finally emerge into a bigger role this year, sliding into the AJ Barner/Luke Schoonmaker role in the Michigan tight end rotation as the sidekick to Loveland. Position coach Steve Casula referred to him as a player that is considered part of their starting group this spring, which tells you all you need to know about how he is viewed.
“Marlin is the fastest tight end, probably the strongest tight end, biggest tight end, so he’s got it all there,” Loveland said this spring. “He’s done a great job this spring of taking that next step — actually starting, real playing time, and he’s just embraced it and done a damn good job in practice. Obviously AJ Barner was one really good in-line blocking tight end. Not saying Marlin can’t do that at all. He definitely can.”
There is a lot to be excited about here, especially if Loveland declares for the draft after this season. Klein might already be *a* starter in 2024, but he could be *the* starter in 2025 if things go the way some believe.
Sophomores Zack Marshall and Deakon Tonielli
Marshall’s progress behind the scenes has been a positive for Michigan, even if he might take a little longer in the lab. He was in defensive tackle Kris Jenkins’ hip pocket last year and has learned a lot about how to dive into a playbook and what it takes to play college football. The former high school wide receiver is still working on putting on good weight and learning his craft as a blocker.
While it’s possible that he could pop in fall camp and work himself into a consistent role, he still might be a year or so away from cracking the two-deep. We expect him to be in the mix for TE 4/5 consideration.
To say that Tonielli was a surprise performer this spring would be overstating it a bit, but he certainly showed that he belonged. In the spring game, he hauled in a 35-yard reception and showed a bit more speed than some thought he had. His main competition this spring could come in the form of Marshall in that TE 4/5 role.
Freshmenn Hogan Hansen and Brady Prieskorn
Hansen and Prieskorn were early enrollees, which allowed them to get their feet wet and soak in the college experience a bit earlier than their peers. Look for them to push for roles in 2025 as they physically develop and work themselves into college-ready tight ends.
The post 7 thoughts on Michigan football’s 7 scholarship TEs entering summer appeared first on On3.
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