2025 Spring Football Preview: Tight End

Tag: Eli Owens


1Mar 2025
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2025 Spring Football Preview: Tight End

Marlin Klein (image via 247 Sports)

RETURNING PLAYERS: Max Bredeson (RS Sr.), Marlin Klein (RS Jr.), Jalen Hoffman (RS So.), Zack Marshall (RS So.), Deakon Tonielli (RS So.), Hogan Hansen (So.), Brady Prieskorn (RS Fr.)
NEWCOMERS: Eli Owens (Fr.)
DEPARTURES: Colston Loveland (NFL draft)

OUTLOOK: Michigan had one of the best tight ends in college football in 2024 in the form of Colston Loveland, who should be a first round draft pick in April. Loveland was by far Michigan’s leading receiver (56 catches, 582 yards, 5 touchdowns) despite playing in a subpar passing game, and his numbers were significantly hurt by the fact that the quarterbacks couldn’t get him the ball when he was open downfield.

Marlin Klein caught the fifth most passes on the team in 2024 and filled in for Loveland. Klein isn’t nearly the fluid athlete that Loveland was and doesn’t have as natural of receiving abilities, but he’s a 6’6″, 247 lb. player with good straight-line speed and decent blocking ability. He caught 13 passes for 108 yards and 0 touchdowns a season ago.

The other huge returning contributor is 6’2″, 240 lb. Max Bredeson, who plays a fullback/H-back role. Bredeson caught just 3 passes for 24 yards, but he’s a devastating blocker who sets the physical tone on offense. New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey may have to adjust some of his schemes to incorporate a heavy dose of Bredeson. I think Lindsey is pretty flexible as a coach, but he seems less inclined to use multiple tight ends as frequently as Jim Harbaugh-type offenses did.

Rising sophomore Hogan Hansen came out of nowhere to catch 7 passes for 78 yards and 1 touchdown in 2024 while playing in ten games. It’s not clear exactly what type of role he’ll play since his body (6’5″, 236) and skills haven’t really developed yet, but what is clear is that the coaching staff likes him and he will probably see a heavier role in 2025.

Walk-on Hoffman is Bredeson’s backup, and both Marshall and Tonielli are going into their third years without playing much. Prieskorn was hurt toward the end of the season, and my guess is he will not participate fully in spring ball. The lone freshman in the class is Eli Owens, who was listed at 6’1″ and 243 lbs. coming out of high school before enrolling early. He has mentioned how much he wants to fill the role of Bredeson down the road, so he may end up battling Hoffman for playing time this spring after enrolling early.

Overall, Michigan has a solid group of tight ends, but no real stars in the receiving game. Bredeson may prove to be the best of the bunch because of his blocking ability, but there’s still some intriguing potential with Klein’s athleticism, Hansen’s early flashes, etc. One to watch may be Tonielli, who got some buzz last spring but never got an opportunity on Saturdays. It should be a good overall unit, but the crew overall is a bit of an unknown.

27Nov 2024
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2025 Offensive Recruiting Update: November 27, 2024

Denton (TX) Ryan OT Ty Haywood (image via On3)

With National Signing Day looming in early December – and lots of recruiting movement – I wanted to catch up on some of the most recent happenings as Michigan tries to fill out its 2025 recruiting class.

QUARTERBACK

COMMIT: Belleville (MI) Belleville quarterback Bryce Underwood committed to Michigan (LINK). It seems as if Fort Myers (FL) Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith at least suspected that was going to happen, and he decommitted beforehand; Smith recently committed to Wisconsin and will be a Badger instead, perhaps with eyes on getting a bit of revenge against the Wolverines down the road.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Michigan will also be looking to add a quarterback through the transfer portal, and USC transfer Miller Moss has been rumored to be a possible candidate.

Hit the jump for more.

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18Sep 2024
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Visitors: Michigan vs. USC

Detroit (MI) Cass Tech ATH C.J. Sadler (image via 247 Sports)

2025

Avery Gach – OT – Birmingham (MI) Groves: Gach is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Donovan Johnson – RB – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Johnson is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Bobby Kanka – DT – Howell (MI) Howell: Kanka is committed to Michigan.

Hit the jump for more.

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4Sep 2024
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Visitors: Michigan vs. Texas

Julius Holly

1992

Derek Jeter – SS – Kalamazoo (MI) Central: Jeter was committed to Michigan as a baseball player in the class of 1992 but chose to sign with the New York Yankees instead. The Hall of Famer will serve as an honorary captain for the game against Texas.

2025

Avery Gach – OG – Franklin (MI) Groves: Gach is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Julius Holly – DE – Alpharetta (GA) Alpharetta: Holly is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Bobby Kanka – DT – Howell (MI) Howell: Kanka is committed to Michigan.

Andrew Marsh – WR – Fulshear (TX) Katy Jordan: Marsh is committed to Michigan.

Eli Owens – TE – Alcoa (TN) Alcoa: Owens is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Ivan Taylor – S – Winter Garden (FL) West Orange: Taylor is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Hit the jump for more.

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21Jul 2024
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Visitors: 2024 BBQ at the Big House

Draper (UT) Corner Canyon WR Jerome Myles (image via 247 Sports)

2025

Julius Holly – DE – Alpharetta (GA) Alpharetta: Holly is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Bobby Kanka – DT – Howell (MI) Howell: Kanka is committed to Michigan.

Nathaniel Marshall – DE – Oak Park (IL) Fenwick: Marshall is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jerome Myles – WR – Draper (UT) Corner Canyon: Myles is a 6’2″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, USC, and Utah, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #11 wide receiver, and #76 overall. This is an official visit to Ann Arbor. He was previously committed to Ole Miss.

Andrew Olesh – TE – Lehigh (PA) Center Valley: Olesh is committed to Michigan.

Eli Owens – TE – Alcoa (TN) Alcoa: Owens is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jasper Parker – RB – Marrero (LA) Archbishop Shaw: Parker is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jayden Sanders – CB – Kilgore (TX) Kilgore: Sanders is a 6’2″, 172-pounder with offers from Baylor, Michigan, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, and Vanderbilt, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #31 cornerback, and #317 overall.

Carter Smith – QB – Fort Myers (FL) Bishop Verot: Smith is committed to Michigan (LINK). UPDATE: Smith was unable to make it to campus due to having practice starting on Monday.

Chase Taylor – LB – Stockbridge (GA) Stockbridge: Taylor is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Kainoa Winston – S – Washington (DC) Gonzaga: Winston is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Phillip Wright III – WR – Destrehan (LA) Destrehan: Wright is committed to Michigan.

Hit the jump for some 2026, 2027, and 2028 prospects who also plan to visit.

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