J.J. McCarthy stresses need for connection with Colston Loveland against Alabama

Michigan faced three top-notch defenses in the final month of the regular season and Big Ten championship game, and now rolls into perhaps the biggest test of all against Alabama in the College Football Playoff. And quarterback J.J. McCarthy knows feeding tight end Colston Loveland in the passing game will be critical.

Loveland has been a main feature in the Wolverines’ relatively low-volume passing attack all season. And while the hope will be to run the ball plenty against the Crimson Tide, McCarthy has no doubts he’ll need his tight end down the field in the passing game from time to time.

“Huge. Colston, every single game we go into I feel like it’s an advantage for us, just because of the type of athlete he is, no matter who he goes against. Just size, strength, speed, ability to catch the ball. And just being able to get him in the right matchups, at the right time, is going to pivotal to this game,” McCarthy said.

At 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, Loveland has the requisite size to overpower defensive backs and possess high-level athleticism and good speed for the position, able to line up wide in the formation and run routes from more than just an inline position. He was a four-star recruit in the 2022 signing class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Loveland has 40 catches for 572 yards and four touchdowns this season. That’s No. 3 on the team in receptions behind a pair of receivers, Cornelius Johnson (42 catches) and Roman Wilson (41 catches). And his 572 receiving yards places him No. 2 on the team, less than 100 yards behind Wilson. It’s a similar story with receiving touchdowns, where Loveland’s four is second behind Wilson (who has 11).

And going against an Alabama defense that features one of the best corner pairings in the country in Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, the matchup problems that Loveland can present could come in clutch for the Wolverines.

Michigan’s offensive line is taking shape after injury

Arguably the biggest task for Michigan heading into the College Football Playoff semifinals against Alabama is sorting out the right side of the offensive line in the absence of right guard Zak Zinter. Zinter broke his leg in the second half of the season finale and is out for the rest of the season.

Michigan likely has a trio of linemen who are vying to fill in for Zinter, including Karsen Barnhart, who started at right tackle most of the season. When asked about the shuffle going on up front recently, Michigan offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore expressed confidence but demurred on providing specifics.

“We’ve done different things but feel good about where we’re at. Not going to speak to who’s doing what, but we’re excited about where we’re at,” Moore said on Monday.

Along with Barnhart, Michigan is likely to use one of Trente Jones or Myles Hinton, both of whom are primarily tackles. Jones has been the Wolverines’ sixth offensive lineman for most of the year, checking in when the Michigan offense goes into jumbo sets. Hinton, who transferred in from Stanford, competed for one of the starting tackle spots in the fall before slotting in as a backup tackle.

Barnhart has the most starting and playing experience and can easily kick inside, while Jones offers arguably the most positional versatility. Hinton, if he does end up in the plans, will likely be a tackle-only option, with one of Barnhart or Jones playing inside him.

In the Big Ten Championship game against Iowa, the lone contest Michigan has had to construct a starting five linemen without Zinter this year, the Wolverines started Barnhart at right guard and Jones at right tackle with Hinton taking on the role of the sixth, extra lineman.