Michigan football tight end standing out in unique way

Throughout the offseason, including spring ball, the spring game, and fall camp, Michigan football tight end Colston Loveland has been turning a lot of heads. In fact, the rising star sophomore may find himself as a focal point of the offense alongside new transfer AJ Barner from Indiana as they seek to lead Michigan back to the Big Ten title game this year. According to one of Loveland’s teammates, he possesses a unique skill set that sets him apart from many other college tight ends.

Michigan football tight end has a unique skill set for his position

According to Michigan football tight end Max Bredeson, a junior who also sees a role as one of the Michigan Wolverines’ fullbacks, Colston Loveland has his own special skill set that makes him stand out on this year’s roster.

There is a lack of proven wide receiver talent in Ann Arbor right now, and after standing out against teams like Ohio State and Purdue (Big Ten title game) in 2022, Loveland is poised for a big year as a blocker and as a pass catcher. This is especially valuable for the Wolverines, seeing as few tight ends are great route-runners, especially at the college level.

“The guy catches anything. You put it near him; he’s gonna come down with it. He can get open — he just kind of sneaks behind defenders. He’s running a route, and then all of a sudden, he’s behind them, like, ‘How did he get there?’ And then, like I said, you put it anywhere around him, and he’s gonna come down with it.”

Colston Loveland is massive, how does he “sneak” around?

He sneaks behind the defense? According to the team’s website, Colston Loveland measures around 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds — how does someone that massive “sneak” around the field?

“I don’t know; it’s crazy,” Bredeson explained. “You see him, 6-foot-6, just randomly get behind the defender. (Colston Loveland is) really good with his hands getting defenders off him, but he’s just a special route runner.”

The best news for Michigan football fans when it comes to tight end Colston Loveland

Last year, players like Luke Schoonmaker stood out in the tight end room for Michigan football, yet this year, the Wolverines have a few new faces coming in, with Schoonmaker and Erick All on their way out.

As a high school prospect, Loveland was a four-star tight end (ranked as the No. 1 player in Idaho), so it’s clear why head coach Jim Harbaugh wanted him, though after proving his talent as a true freshman, there are all kinds of buzz about the sophomore tight end in Ann Arbor right now.

This year, the Michigan Wolverines have to face a few of the best defenses in all of college football — Penn State, Ohio State, and whoever the Wolverines face in the Big Ten Championship Game (if they make it that far), just to name a few. With increased playing time and more emphasis being put on his game, expect Loveland to step up into a major role for the Wolverines’ offense — that said, it may seem like a unique role (for a tight end), given his talents and skill set.

What is the best part about all of this for Michigan football fans? The 2023 season will not be Loveland’s last year in Ann Arbor — at the very least, he will be in the Maize and Blue through the 2024 season, when he can eventually declare for either the 2025 or 2026 NFL Draft.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at [email protected]. 

Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!