Eli Owens, Wolverine

Alcoa (TN) Alcoa tight end Eli Owens, a 2025 prospect, committed to Michigan on January 4, between the wins over Alabama and Washington. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Tennessee, and several others.

Owens is listed at 6’2″ and 243 lbs. As a sophomore in 2022, he caught 33 passes for 385 yards and 5 touchdowns.

RANKINGS
ESPN: Unranked
On3: 3-star, 88 grade, #24 TE
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #6 TE, #210 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, 88 grade, #19 TE

Hit the jump for more.

Michigan offered Owens in the spring of 2022, and he has taken a few visits to Ann Arbor since then. With dominoes falling at the tight end position in 2025, he felt it was time to pick the Wolverines in the midst of their national championship run.

Owens has decent size for the H-back position, though he’s probably a bit short for the in-line tight end spot. He’s listed anywhere from 225 to 243 lbs., which may depend on what time of year it is, since he’s also a basketball player and probably sheds weight in the off-season. Owens is light on his feet and a willing blocker who can widen his base and get low to take on defenders. He’s able to latch onto second- and third-level players in open space because of his athleticism, and he drives his feet after contact. In the passing game, he’s an athletic receiving target who has some elusiveness after the catch. He catches the ball smoothly away from his body and protects himself and the ball from approaching defenders.

Owens doesn’t have game-changing athleticism, and his height may be somewhat limiting when it comes to his position. Whereas Michigan had two tight ends in 2023 who could line up at the Y or H positions (Colston Loveland and A.J. Barner), Owens is probably limited to H.

Overall, Owens has a chance to be another in a long line of quality tight ends at Michigan. He could end up as a fullback like Max Bredeson, but Owens has more receiving upside. He could also end up lining up as an H, whether split out or aligned tight to the formation. His blocking and receiving skills make him a solid dual-threat player, and he should be able to contribute relatively early, perhaps in his second year once he adds the appropriate weight/strength in a college program.

Michigan currently has three commits in the 2025 class, including Owens, QB Carter Smith, and DT Bobby Kanka. Owens would be the first player from Alcoa to sign with Michigan. The program has developed some pretty strong ties in the Volunteer State over the past few cycles with the likes of LB Mason Curtis, S Kody Jones, CB Myles Pollard, and LB Junior Colson in the past few classes.

Potential 2025 depth chart, though I expect Loveland to be in the NFL in 2025:

• Colston Loveland (Sr.)
• Max Bredeson (RS Sr.)
• Marlin Klein (RS Jr.)
• Zack Marshall (RS So.)
• Deakon Tonielli (RS So.)
• Hogan Hansen (So.)
• Brady Prieskorn (So.)
• Eli Owens (Fr.)

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