Michigan football TE Colston Loveland responds to spring hype: 'Crazy to hear'
Michigan football is bringing back a boatload of talent and depth for 2023, but one group is in the middle of a transformative offseason. The tight end room was once filled by the likes of Luke Schoonmaker, Erick All, Joel Honingford and Carter Selzer.
For differing reasons, none return in 2023. That leaves a void, but one that is going to be filled by sophomore Colston Loveland and others this season. Loveland had 16 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns during his true freshman season.
Now he is *the man* in Ann Arbor, projected to fill the top spot on the depth chart. Improvement in all facets has been an emphasis for Loveland heading into the 2023 campaign. Spring football has been a godsend in that regard.
“Obviously individually getting better and just keep working on my craft,” he said. “But as a team, just keeping the culture tight and just keeping the bonds tight and rolling into next season for our main goal, which is winning the natty.”
Honigford raved about Loveland’s future at Michigan during pro day last week, going as far as to say he could be the best tight end to put on a Wolverine uniform.
“[His potential] is higher than anybody I’ve seen here before in my days of being at Michigan, watching it prior, too,” Honigford said. “I think he has the potential to be one of the greatest that’s gone through here just as far as whether it’s his skill on the field, his mentality — a multitude of things. He is that guy when it comes down to it. And it didn’t take us long to figure that out. And I don’t think it took the public that long to figure it out too once he started playing in games. But he’s an exceptional player and an even better person.
“He is a hard-nosed kid who doesn’t get too emotionally involved in things. So say he does make no mistake, he’s gonna bounce right back. It’s not gonna affect his gameplay. That was probably the most impressive thing that I noticed this year for a freshman to have that kind of a mentality — is it gives you a step ahead for sure.”
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Loveland was humbled to hear the six-year veteran speak so highly of him.
“He was telling me about it,” Loveland said. “I love that guy. He’s been so great to me since day one. It’s crazy to hear. I’m just blessed to be where I am today and have the opportunities that I have and just keep moving forward.”
Loveland knows Michigan’s tight end room will look much different, but the best continuity it has going for it is the culture. The older guys have passed the baton to the next generation.
“We lost all those guys that were captains and really important parts of this team,” Loveland said. “That’s just how it goes though. They trained us to do what they do, so when they leave we just keep climbing the ladder.
That comes with the culture. Everyone’s so close. So it’s never really worried about who’s gonna step up next. Because I think they trained us to know how to do that and just step up and be a leader.”
