Meet A.J. Barner, Michigan football's newest 'enforcer'
Michigan football was active in the transfer portal this offseason, adding 7 players to the mix for the 2023 season. Among them was tight end A.J. Barner, who has plenty of experience competing in the Big Ten East.
Barner, an Ohio native, comes over from Indiana after spending three years with the Hoosiers and recording 42 receptions for 362 yards and 4 touchdowns. Making the jump to Michigan is not one that is tough for him given their identity.
“First it’s the style of football that they play,” Barner told the media on Thursday. “You know, running the ball, being physical up front, the opportunity to be a tight end here and the way that they use their tight ends.
“And just the tradition here, as you walk around here, we’re getting close to a thousand wins. Football means a whole bunch to this place. And that’s something that I care a lot about. That opportunity was just something that I couldn’t pass up.”
The way Michigan has historically gotten its tight ends involved was also a selling point to Barner, who should combine with sophomore Colston Loveland to form one of the better tight end duos in the country. Barner also has ties to running backs coach Mike Hart, who was with Indiana when Barner arrived in 2020.
“Having Coach Hart here and the other relationships that I was able to build with [tight ends coach Grant] Newsome during the recruiting process was just appealing to me,” Barner said. “I feel like all these factors and then all around it was just the best fit. And the [offensive line].”
Barner, who stands at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, looks to bring experience and a physical presence to Michigan’s group of tight ends. The room cleared out a bit with graduations and transfers over the last few months. Barner thinks he fits the bill for what U-M is looking for.
“I think being an enforcer on the line,” he said. “Physical up front and then helping out in the past game, making big plays. I think I have really good ball skills. I’ll just be a great addition and I think extremely helpful.”
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Barner was not the only Hoosier to make the trip north to Ann Arbor, though. Graduate quarterback Jack Tuttle also joined Michigan this offseason and is competing for the backup quarterback job to J.J. McCarthy with Davis Warren. He says it has been positive to have a familiar face around.
“He’s extremely helpful to the playbook and all the routes and stuff,” Barner said. “And then also just having like a good friend here with me also jto chill with and go get food and just hang out with. So it’s been awesome and, and a smooth transition.”
The Ohio native knows what Michigan’s program goals are. It wants to win another Big Ten Championship and break though to win a national title. To do that, Michigan must go again through ohio State.
Barner grew up an OSU fan, but is completely converted now. And anyone in his circle that is not he hopes to sway soon enough.
“I was a fan for sure,” he said. “My cousin played at Ohio State, but I was never really a huge, diehard Ohio State fan. I would say I was more of a Big Ten fan. Being from Ohio, I feel like there’s a lot of Ohio State fans there but I’m cool with all my people back home having to root for Michigan.
“The real ones will. I guess we’ll see who doesn’t.”
