Michigan has ‘rich people problems’ at tight end, too
Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore has said it repeatedly — the Wolverines have an embarrassment of riches on offense, to the point that they have “rich people problems” in finding enough touches for all of them.
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It’s better than the alternative, Michigan tight ends coach Grant Newsome said recently on the In the Trenches podcast with Jon Jansen. His group is among those with several capable ball catchers. Sophomore Colston Loveland is the bell cow in the group and expected to be elite, but the others behind him are also ready to step up.
That starts with former Indiana standout and captain A.J. Barner. He comes to Michigan with great experience.
“He’s just worked, which is maybe the best compliment you can give someone,” Newsome said. “He was a two-year captain there, two-year starter, played two or three years in the Big Ten … never any arrogance, cockiness like, ‘hey — it’s my room now.’ He just put his head down and worked and learned, a guy asking what more he can do, how he can improve.
“He’s meshed extremely well with the team and the room.”
He also proved to be a better blocker than expected, Newsome continued.
“We’re very fortunate he has all the physical tools to do it,” the Michigan assistant said. “He’s got the strength; beyond that he’s got the experience. Even though they didn’t do a ton of it at Indiana, he knows what it’s like cutting off a backside defensive end in this conference. It’s a lot easier said than done. It looks really easy drawing it up on the board, but when you have to do it, it’s a lot harder.
“Fortunately, he’s got that experience. Obviously, he’s still got a lot of stuff to improve on and he works at that, but we’re very fortunate to have him.”
Behind them, he noted, are a bunch of hungry guys ready and willing to contribute for Michigan, as well.
“It’s how can we get all these guys the ball, and Coach Moore does a heck of a job doing just that,” Newsome said. “But again, we’re very fortunate to have those kinds of problems. I’m fortunate … selfishly as a tight ends coach, I’ve got five guys I can trot out who are high level tight ends.
“The world kind of saw Matt Hibner really take that next step in spring game … that was exciting, too, because that had been showing up in practice since last year. Now the challenge will be for him to take that into games, because he’s got all the ability in the world. We have Max Bredeson who played a bunch last year. Marlin Klein had a heck of a spring. He’s a guy who is immensely talented, as well. He’s going to have to play some football this year, as well.”
But he’s got guys he can win with, and there are no egos in the room, he insists. That’s a credit to the players, coaches Moore and Jay Harbaugh, and the culture they instilled in the room.
“There’s none of that — no selfishness,” Newsome said. “I think that’s something that will be huge asset for us. I, as a first-time position coach, did not do well enough last year distributing the load. I think that kind of caught up to Schoonie [Luke Schoonmaker] late last year.”
He’ll rectify that this year, he said, having the talent to do it. Like many around the program, he’s anxious to see what the 2023 Michigan group can do.
