Dan Lanning details challenge of defending Colston Loveland

Oregon will head out to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan this weekend and Dan Lanning knows it’s imperative to deal with Colston Loveland.

The Michigan tight end is one of the best overall players on the Wolverines’ roster and could make life difficult for the Ducks’ defense. Not only can he catch and block, he can line up at multiple positions.

So, the Michigan offense starts with Loveland.

“He’s versatile,” Lanning said. “You know, they use him in a lot of different ways. He’s the guy that you have to know where he’s on the field at all times, they move him all over the place. He can split out a wide out and be one of the best wideouts on the field and then line up the backfield or line up the tight end and be the best at that position. 

“So he’s a really talented player that they’re going to find ways to use, right? He’s an important piece of their offense.”

So far this season, Loveland has 42 catches, 411 yards, four touchdowns and 9.8 yards per catch. He’s four catches away from breaking his career best in a season and already equated the number in touchdowns.

Overall, Loveland has 103 catches, 1,295 yards, 10 touchdowns and 12.6 yards per catch in his three-year career at Michigan.

As a member of the Class of 2022, Loveland was a four-star recruit out of Gooding (Idaho) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 13 tight end in the class and the No. 268 overall prospect in the class.

Not only Loveland, but Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards are forces in the backfield. Lanning made sure to give them their flowers too.

“More than anything, they don’t go down on first contact,” Lanning said. “They’re guys that break tackles. They do a great job of winning at the point of attack.

“Their offensive line moves people. This is one of the better offensive lines that we’ve gone against, if not the best. And again, they’re always adding extra hats, whether it’s another tight end, fullback body types at times. They do a great job of getting extra hats at the point of attack.”