Michigan standout AJ Barner: 'I think I’m the best blocking tight end in the country'

Michigan Wolverines football head coach Jim Harbaugh recently praised senior AJ Barner and labeled him the best blocking tight end in the country. Barner — a 6-6, 251-pound Indiana transfer in his first season with the Maize and Blue — has that type of confidence in himself, too.

“It’s a great honor for Coach to say that, but I believe that’s true. I think I’m the best blocking tight end in the country, and whoever is lined up across from me, I have tremendous faith in myself,” Barner said.

“I think, too, the other tight ends also have that same type of energy. Breddy [junior Max Bredeson], [sophomore] Colston [Loveland], we all take pride in that. The backs that we have, too — [junior] Dono[van Edwards] and [senior] Blake [Corum] and [senior] Kalel [Mullings] or whoever’s back there — they do a tremendous job of making us right.”

Pro Football Focus considers Barner the top run-blocking tight end in the country this season, too, with an 81.9 rating in that area. That mark stands atop the list of tight ends with 150 or more run-blocking snaps. Bredeson ranks first at 86.5 when taking into account tight ends with 60 or more run-blocking snaps, and Barner is second among that group.

Barner was seen as a blocking tight end earlier in the season, which was ironic to him since he hasn’t always been viewed that way.

“It’s funny that you said that, because at my previous school, I was always thought of more of a passing target, and some people would question me about my blocking,” Barner said in response to a reporter’s question about his role changing in recent weeks with more pass-catching production. “So, it’s cool that the script is kind of flipped a little bit, and I’m able to show that I can do both.”

Barner said he’s been making the most of his opportunity as a receiver. Over the last five contests, he’s posted 16 catches for 180 yards and 1 touchdown, after hauling in only 1 grab in the first three outings. He broke out for 8 catches, 99 yards and a score in a 49-0 win over Michigan State last game. The tight ends as a whole out-gained MSU, 186 yards to 182.

Loveland had 4 catches for 79 yards and 2 scores in the victory over the Spartans. He and Barner have complemented each other well all season.

“Whatever opportunities present themselves, just capitalizing on them and feeding off of each other,” Barner explained. “When one of us makes a big play, it’s kind of like, ‘alright, let me go get mine too.’ It’s just that relationship that we have, is really great for us. Whenever they try to cover one of us, the other one’s going to be open.”

One of Barner’s goals in joining the Michigan program was to become one of the many Wolverine tight ends to go on to the next level. That should become a reality come the NFL Draft next spring, but that’s not his main focus at the current juncture.

“I try not to focus on that, but that was definitely one of my goals,” Barner said. “As long as I take care of my business here, that stuff will come. We always stress it all the time — individual success comes with team success. I think that’s the biggest thing for me moving forward, and that stuff will take care of itself when we take care of all the goals we have.”

His quarterback is the same way, not looking too far down the road. Michigan junior J.J. McCarthy is the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and could be a first-round draft choice next spring, but he’s remained focused on the task at hand.

“Anything that comes his way, he deserves,” Barner said of McCarthy. “I know him, that’s probably the last thing he’s focused on. But I don’t think there’s anybody else in the country that’s playing at his level, and as long as he continues to do what he does, that’s an award that definitely should and could come his way. But the main thing is to win the national championship and Big Ten championship, beat Ohio State and Penn State and Purdue and Maryland.”