2024 Spring Football Preview: Tight End

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12Mar 2024
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2024 Spring Football Preview: Tight End

Colston Loveland

2023 Starters: Colston Loveland, A.J. Barner
Losses: Barner (NFL), Matt Hibner (transfer)
Returning players: Max Bredeson (RS Jr.), Loveland (Jr.), Marlin Klein (RS So.), Zack Marshall (RS Fr.), Deakon Tonielli (RS Fr.)
Newcomer: Brady Prieskorn (Fr.)
Projected starters: Klein, Loveland

The tight end position is the one that has perhaps separated Michigan from so many other teams over the past several years. Not only has Michigan had some quality players in the role, but the number, usage, and motion of the tight ends have become staples of Michigan’s offensive approach.

Probably the best tight end to come along during Jim Harbaugh’s tenure was Colston Loveland (45 catches, 649 yards, 4 touchdowns), a rising junior who has the athleticism of some of the elite tight ends playing in the NFL. He’s good enough that this is probably his last season in Ann Arbor before getting drafted in 2025.

One-time Indiana transfer A.J. Barner (22 catches, 249 yards, 1 touchdown) was an excellent blocker and underrated pass catcher, but he’s headed to the NFL in next month’s draft. It appears the next guy in line to play a bunch of snaps in Barner’s place is Marlin Klein, a 6’6″, 250-pounder who had just 1 catch for 8 yards last fall. He needed to put on some weight early in his career, but he seems to finally be reaching a good playing weight to handle some of the blocking duties.

It’s also important to mention quasi-starting tight end Max Bredeson, who plays more of a fullback position but nonetheless started four games last season. He caught 2 passes for 19 yards altogether, but he’s a bruising blocker. At 6’2″ and 240 lbs., he’s unlikely to move into a true tight end role and will probably carry on as a fullback.

Redshirt freshman Zack Marshall (6’4″, 232) played in two games last year while redshirting, and classmate Deakon Tonielli (6’5″, 251) has some decent size already but did not get any experience. The most likely returning player to step into Klein’s role as the #3 tight end seems to be Marshall, who should be a little bigger this spring (and fall).

One of the most intriguing names, though, is freshman early enrollee Brady Prieskorn (6’6″, 220), who was a 4-star and the #129 overall player in the class of 2024. He’s an all-around tight end somewhat in the mold of Loveland in that he’s a good athlete who’s not afraid of contact. His physical development is going to be key in determining how ready he is to step on the field this fall. But if he’s even borderline ready from a physical standpoint, we could see him begin to emerge this spring as someone who could jump over Marshall and Tonielli to become that #3 tight end.

8Mar 2024
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2024 Spring Football Preview: Wide Receiver

Semaj Morgan (image via MGoBlue)

2023 Starters: Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson
Losses: Darrius Clemons (Oregon State), Johnson (NFL), Wilson (NFL)
Returning players: Eamonn Dennis (RS Sr.), Peyton O’Leary (RS Jr.), Tyler Morris (RS So.), Karmello English (So.), Frederick Moore (So.), Semaj Morgan (So.), Kendrick Bell (RS Fr.)
Newcomer: Channing Goodwin (Fr.)
Projected starters: Morris, Morgan

For some teams who play three and four wide receivers on every down, losing two senior wide receivers might not seem like a huge deal. So in the context of college football, the departures of Cornelius Johnson (47 catches, 604 yards, 1 touchdown) and Roman Wilson (48, 789, 12) might not seem like a huge deal. Johnson was the large-ish possession receiver, and Wilson was the speedy deep and intermediate threat. And then there were usually a couple tight ends roaming all over the place. Altogether, Michigan got just 47 other receptions from receivers not named Johnson or Wilson, and 3 of those came from Clemons, who is now plying his trade for the Beavers.

Based on playing time and targets last season, the two front-runners for starting roles in 2024 should be Morris and Morgan. Morris started four games – so he’s kind of a returning starter, I guess – and made 13 catches for 197 yards and 1 touchdown. But that one touchdown was a huge, key play when he got matched up against a linebacker against Alabama in the Rose Bowl and caught a crossing route for a 38-yard touchdown. Meanwhile, Morgan caught 22 passes for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he also had an 87-yard punt return against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game. He showed some downfield receiving chops in high school, but so far he’s been more of a catch-and-run guy with jitterbug moves – witness his screen catch for a TD against Washington – and adding in 4 carries for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Last year’s spring game star was walk-on Peyton O’Leary (2 catches, 13 yards, 1 touchdown), who could factor in more this season if Michigan needs a big possession guy at 6’4″ and 190 lbs. Frederick Moore (4 catches, 32 yards) and Karmello English (1 catch, 6 yards, 1 touchdown) will also factor in somehow. Some people think Moore could be the fastest player on the team.

Players with less of a chance to make an impact include fifth year senior Eamonn Dennis (who has yet to make a catch in his career but plays a lot of special teams), Kendrick Bell (who was a high school quarterback until making the position switch last year), and early enrollee freshman Channing Goodwin. Bell’s brother Ronnie is now a wide receiver in the NFL with the 49ers, and Goodwin has some good bloodlines, as his father was a lineman for Michigan and in the NFL. But it’s unlikely that any of them play a huge role in 2024.

5Mar 2024
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All-Time Interception Leaders

Tom Curtis (image via Pinterest)

Not long ago, I posted a list of the players with the most interception returns for touchdowns in Michigan history (LINK). Here I present the all-time interception leaders for the Wolverines.

  1. 25 – Tom Curtis (1967-1969)
  2. 18 – Charles Woodson (1995-1997)
  3. 13 – Wally Teninga (1945-1949)
  4. 12 – Gene Derricotte (1944-1948)
  5. 12 – Leon Hall (2003-2006)
  6. 11 – Brad Cochran (1983-1985)
  7. 11 – Vada Murray (1988-1990)
  8. 11 – DeWayne Patmon (1997-2000)
  9. 10 – Charlie Lentz (1948-1949)
  10. 10 – Keith Bostic (1980-1982)
  11. 10 – Evan Cooper (1981-1983)
  12. 10 – Lance Dottin (1988-1991)
  13. 10 – Marcus Ray (1995-1998)
  14. 9 – David Brown (1972-1974)
  15. 9 – Mike Jolly (1977-1979)
  16. 9 – Marlin Jackson (2001-2004)
  17. 8 – Dwight Hicks (1975-1977)
  18. 8 – Tony Jackson (1980-1981)
  19. 8 – Tripp Welborne (1988-1990)
  20. 8 – Ty Law (1993-1994)
  21. 8 – Todd Howard (2000-2001)
  22. 7 – Thomas Darden (1969-1971)
  23. 7 – Marion Body (1980-1982)
  24. 7 – Shonte Peoples (1991-1993)
  25. 7 – Steve Morrison (1991-1994)
  26. 7 – Markus Curry (2002-2004)
  27. 7 – Morgan Trent (2005-2008)
  28. 7 – Mike Sainristil (2020-2023)
  29. 7 – Will Johnson (2022-2023)
  30. 6 – Brian Healy (1967-1969)
  31. 6 – Tom Drake (1973-1974)
  32. 6 – Jerry Zuyer (1976)
  33. 6 – Jim Pickens (1975-1977)
  34. 6 – Michael Harden (1976-1979)
  35. 6 – Andy Cannavino (1978-1980)
  36. 6 – Brian Carpenter (1980-1981)
  37. 6 – Mike Mallory (1983-1984)
  38. 6 – Ivan Hicks (1984-1986)
  39. 6 – Doug Mallory (1984-1987)
  40. 6 – Clarence Thompson (1993-1995)
  41. 6 – James Whitley (1998-2000)
  42. 6 – Garland Rivers (2004-2006)
  43. 6 – Donovan Warren (2007-2009)
  44. 6 – Thomas Gordon (2011-2013)
  45. 6 – Raymon Taylor (2012-2013)
  46. 6 – Blake Countess (2011-2013)
  47. 6 – Jourdan Lewis (2013-2016)
  48. 6 – Channing Stribling (2013-2016)
  49. 6 – Lavert Hill (2016-2019)
  50. 6 – Rod Moore (2021-2023)

This was originally posted on February 15, 2019.

5Mar 2024
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2024 NFL Combine Results: Michigan

Cornelius Johnson (image via WolverinesWire)

Here’s a summary of how Michigan players measured in and performed at the Combine last week:

TE A.J. Barner
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 251
Arm: 33 3/8″
Hand: 9″

OL Karsen Barnhart
Height: 6’4.5″
Weight: 306
Arm: 33 3/8″
Hand: 9 7/8″
40: 5.21
Vertical: 29.5″
5-10-5: 4.7
3-cone: 7.83
Broad jump: 9’3″

LB Mike Barrett
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 233
Arm: 32 1/8″
Hand: 8 1/2″

LB Junior Colson
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 238
Arm: 32 1/2″
Hand: 9 3/8″

RB Blake Corum
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 205
Arm: 28 7/8″
Hand: 9″
40: 4.53
Vertical: 35.5″
5-10-5: 4.12
Bench: 27
3-cone: 6.82

EDGE Jaylen Harrell
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 250
Arm: 33 1/4″
Hand: 9 3/4″
Vertical: 37″
Broad jump: 9’7″

OL La’Darius Henderson
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 309
Arm: 35″
Hand: 10 5/8″
Bench: 20

DL Kris Jenkins
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 299
Arm: 34″
Hand: 9 3/8″
40: 4.91
Vertical: 30″
5-10-5: 4.78
Bench: 29
Broad jump: 9’7″

WR Cornelius Johnson
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 212
Arm: 31 7/8″
Hand: 8 5/8″
40: 4.44
Vertical: 37.5″
Broad jump: 10’7″

OL Trente Jones
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 305
Arm: 33″
Hand: 10 1/8″
40: 5.17
Vertical: 27″
5-10-5: 4.87
3-cone: 7.78
Broad jump: 9’1″

OG Trevor Keegan
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 310
Arm: 32 3/8″
Hand: 10″
40: 5.24
Vertical: 30.5″
Broad jump: 8’11”

QB J.J. McCarthy
Height: 6’2.5″
Weight: 219
Hand: 9″
Arm: 31 5/8″
3-cone drill: 6.82
5-10-5: 4.23

EDGE Braiden McGregor
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 257
Arm: 33 1/8″
Hand: 10″

C Drake Nugent
Height: 6’1.5″
Weight: 298
Arm: 33″
Hand: 9″
40: 5.23
Vertical: 29.5″
5-10-5: 4.5
Bench: 25
3-cone: 7.33
Broad jump: 8.5″

CB Mike Sainristil
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 182
Arm: 30 7/8″
Hand: 8 1/2″
40: 4.47
Vertical: 40″
5-10-5: 4.01
Bench: 14
3-cone: 6.99
Broad jump: 10’11”

CB Josh Wallace
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 185
Arm: 31 3/8″
Hand: 8 7/8″
Vertical: 34.5″
5-10-5: 4.35
Bench: 13
Broad jump: 10′

WR Roman Wilson
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 185
Arm: 30 3/8″
Hand: 9 3/8″
40: 4.39
Bench: 12

OG Zak Zinter
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 309
Arm: 33 1/2″
Hand: 9 3/8″

3Mar 2024
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2024 Spring Football Preview: Running Back

Donovan Edwards

2023 Starter: Blake Corum
Losses: Corum, Leon Franklin, C.J. Stokes
Returning players: Kalel Mullings (RS Sr.), Donovan Edwards (Sr.), Tavierre Dunlap (RS Jr.), Cole Cabana (RS Fr.), Benjamin Hall (RS Fr.)
Newcomers: N/A
Projected starter: Edwards

For having lost such a large part of Michigan’s program over the past three years in running back Blake Corum, Michigan’s running game will look pretty familiar in 2024. Corum ran 675 times for 3,737 yards and 58 touchdowns in his career, becoming Michigan’s top career touchdown scorer. But his primary backup, Donovan Edwards, had some huge games at opportune times.

Edwards ran 119 times for 497 yards (4.2 yards/carry) and 5 touchdowns in 2023, and he caught 30 passes for 249 yards (8.3 yards/catch). His entire season was pretty ho-hum . . . except for a 22-yard touchdown in a tight game against Penn State . . . and then two 40+ yard scores against Washington in the national championship game. He goes into the spring as the odds-on favorite to start, but he’s somewhat of a proven commodity. Michigan showed last year that they don’t really want to subject running backs to extra wear and tear, and we even learned that Corum and Edwards basically weren’t tackled all the way through fall camp. We’ll see if the transition to Sherrone Moore as head coach changes that equation at all.

The other intriguing option at running back is former linebacker Kalel Mullings, who has been playing offense since the 2022 postseason. He ran 36 times for 222 yards (6.2 yards/carry) and 1 touchdown, and he even caught 2 passes for 32 yards, including a key 19-yard reception against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. There were times in 2023 when he looked like the more instinctive back, and he’s certainly more adept at breaking tackles.

Second-year player Benjamin Hall was the breakout star of the 2023 spring game, and his one solid showing during the season was a 9-carry, 58-yard performance against Indiana. He’s a bowling ball at 5’11” and 234 pounds, but he’s unlikely to break into the top two at the position. Fellow second-year back Cole Cabana had just 2 carries for 6 yards in 2023 and had some injuries that limited him to one game; at 6’0″ and 198 pounds, he’s a speedster who still has to get his body ready for the college game.

The Wolverines lost C.J. Stokes (transfer to Charlotte) and walk-on Leon Franklin (transfer to Tennessee Tech), so along with Cabana and Hall, expect to see a good-sized dose of guys like walk-ons Henry Donohue (career: 3 carries for 9 yards) and Bryson Kudzal (career: 0 carries) toting the ball to keep Edwards and Mullings fresh for the fall. Kudzal’s high school profile touts a 4.41 forty and a 40″ vertical, but he’s an in-state, small-school product who was a little bit stiff and upright as a runner in high school.