Michigan Football legend on Colston Loveland: ‘I see a superstar’

Former Michigan football player Jake Butt was certainly one of the Wolverines’ best tight ends ever and he had high praise for Colston Loveland recently. 

Ever since the end of last season, I’ve been saying that Michigan football tight end Colston Loveland is going to be an early NFL draft pick, like first-round early.

In terms of a tight end, he’s the total package. Now, tight ends aren’t drafted in the first round that often — a lot of the good ones fall to the second and I could see that happening with Loveland.

However, he’s 6-foot-5, 237 pounds, and this season, he could easily be the top weapon in the passing game for Michigan football and starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

Last season, he hauled in just 16 passes for 235 yards and two touchdown receptions. The first touchdown was a 45-yard reception against Ohio State. The next was a touchdown reception in the Big Ten championship against Purdue — on a play that few tight ends can make.

In four of the last five games, Loveland had at least one reception of 20 yards or more. He’s a mismatch for opposing defenses and an explosive play waiting to happen.

Personally, I think McCarthy is going to feed him the ball, especially in the red zone. He’s a really good blocker too, so he’s the total package.

‘I see a superstar’

Jake Butt, who knows a thing or two about playing tight end for Michigan football. He had 138 career receptions (most in Michigan football history for a tight end) so it makes sense to listen to what he has to say, especially since he’s an analyst for the Big Ten Network (a really good one too).

Butt joined Jon Jansen for his weekly “In the Trenches Podcast” and here’s what he said, in part, about Loveland:

"“I see a superstar,” Butt told Jansen. “Some of the plays he made, particularly late in the season — he did it against Ohio State, in the Big Ten championship. He had a number of targets even in the playoff against TCU.”"

Butt said he actually believes Colston could be the greatest tight end in Michigan football history. Since Jake might own that title now, that’s high praise, to say the least. Here’s more of what Butt had to say: 

"“I’ve shared this with him — I don’t see why he can’t be one of, if not the best tight end [from Michigan] when it’s all said and done here. He’s got the system in place, got the relationship with J.J. McCarthy. He’s proven himself on the field. The only reason he might not do that is he might leave after his junior year. He’s that talented. I’m excited to see him take a huge leap forward this fall.”"

I agree that Loveland is going to be one of the best Michigan football tight ends ever. He’s also going to take a leap this fall and I can’t wait to see how much more dominant he’s become during this 2023 season.