Michigan lands Indiana tight end AJ Barner from the portal
Michigan has had incredible success from the transfer portal, and it continued Monday with the addition Indiana tight end AJ Barner.
Barner visited Michigan about a week ago and has had U-M on his short list since. UCLA, N.C. State, and others were in the mix for the 6-6, 250-pounder, and he visited the Bruins and Wolfpack. Illinois and Pitt were also on his list.
He announced his decision via social media.
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Barner was an Indiana captain in 2022, when he hauled in 28 receptions for 199 yards and 3 touchdowns in 10 games. He had multiple catches in eight games for the Hoosiers, who finished with 4-8 overall and 2-7 in the Big Ten. He played 663 offensive snaps, the fifth-most on his team, and was targeted 50 times (third on the team). He played in 12 games with one start in 2021, hauling in 14 catches for 162 yards and 1 score, catching 3 or more passes in each of the last three games.
Barner was a three-star recruit and the No. 1,169 overall player in the 2020 class, according to the On3 Consensus. The Aurora (Ohio) High product had offers from Akron, Ball State and Eastern Kentucky, in addition to Indiana.
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Michigan needs tight ends after losing a few to the portal this season, along with Luke Schoonmaker‘s imminent graduation. Captain Erick All has left the team and will join Cade McNamara at Iowa, while sophomore Louis Hansen entered the portal earlier this year.
Freshman Colston Loveland has been outstanding this year and figures to take the majority of the snaps next year as the No. 1. Matt Hibner could return, and walk-on Max Bredeson turned a great spring into lots of playing time in 2022.
Watch for more on this development in the hours and days to come …
