Michigan football transfer feeling disrespected, has something to prove

Over the past few seasons, Michigan football transfer tight end AJ Barner was flying under the radar with the Indiana Hoosiers. Last weekend, Barner picked up his first reception as a Wolverine; now, he is looking to make a national-title caliber splash with the Maize and Blue. This evening, Barner explained how he and his tight end room are underrated, leading to feelings of disrespect and a chip on their shoulder.

Michigan football transfer says the tight end room is underrated

The Michigan football tight end room is as good as it gets; yet, it does not get talked about nearly as much as it should. Colston Loveland and new transfer portal addition AJ Barner headline the Wolverines’ TE corps, which plays a major role in Michigan’s offensive scheme.

While AJ Barner and his fellow tight ends are noticed and loved by the coaches, those feelings are not common outside of the program; at least, that is how AJ Barner sees it.

“I think we get plenty of love from the coaches and whatnot, but I think right now, yeah, we are underrated,” Michigan football transfer AJ Barner said of the Wolverines’ tight end group. “I think we have a lot to prove. I think for a guy like myself, I’ve kind of flown under the radar for a long time, and I think I’m ready to make a big impact. And I think the same with Colston (Loveland), same with Max (Bredeson), same with Hibby (Matthew Hibner), same with Marlin (Klein). I think all those guys are ready to make a huge impact. And I think yeah, we have flown under the radar a little bit, but I think as the season continues to go on, we’re gonna make plays when the opportunities come, and we’re gonna continue to block extremely hard. Sometimes that doesn’t show up in the stat book, but when you turn on the tape, you’re gonna see that.”

AJ Barner explains feelings of disrespect

Additionally, AJ Barner says that — for him personally — there are some feelings of disrespect. His solution? Go prove everything on the football field this fall.

“I think (I feel) a little bit disrespected, to be honest,” AJ Barner said. “But I think I’m just gonna continue to do my job, and I know that it’ll all work out. And I think having my teammates here is awesome also because they’re going to push me to be the best person that I can be on and off the field. And I think the rest of the tight ends will do the same, and we’re gonna continue to get better and better as individuals and as a team.”

Barner could get his name on the map with his new team this year

Coming from one of the worst Power 5 programs in the nation — Indiana — the winning culture of Michigan football has definitely made an impact on all of the Wolverines’ new additions. For Barner, it could also help put his name on the map nationally.

“Yeah, I think so a little bit,” Barner said of Michigan being able to get his name out there more. “Obviously, you play the game to win — I don’t really care about individual statistics and whatnot. I want to win at the end of the day. And the past couple of years, that’s what this place has done. And I think this year, that’s the only thing that we’re concerned about is winning every single game on the schedule.”

This weekend, AJ Barner and Michigan football will take the field for the third time this year — the Bowling Green State Falcons will be coming to Ann Arbor for the Wolverines’ first night game of 2023. After that, Michigan begins conference play against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Week 4.

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