Despite the Wolverines’ leading receiver Colston Loveland heading to the NFL, Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey offers promise for Michigan’s next great playmakers on offense:
As the Michigan Wolverines work their way through spring practices, one of the biggest questions surrounding the offense is how the passing game will evolve without star tight end Colston Loveland.
The team’s most reliable target in 2024, Loveland led Michigan in receptions (56) and receiving yards (582) despite missing three games. Now, new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey faces the challenge of reshaping the Wolverines’ aerial attack without one of the best tight ends in the nation.
The most experienced guys in the tight end room — Marlin Klein, Max Bredeson, Hogan Hansen — are expected to take on bigger roles this fall. While Michigan’s offense will still lean on its power-running identity, Lindsey’s track record suggests the position will continue to be a focal point in the passing game.
“We’re still going to run the ball, and that’s kind of what we take pride in,” Klein recently said . “It’s not a completely new offense, but he has a little bit of his spice to it.”
Lindsey’s past offenses, particularly at North Carolina, have consistently utilized tight ends as key playmakers. That philosophy is unlikely to change in Ann Arbor, even without Loveland on the roster.
“I think just with coach Lindsey being here and the offense kind of spreading out a little bit, doing what I came here to do, but still getting better in the run game and being more consistent,” Klein said. “I’m just excited.”
Michigan’s tight ends won’t be the only ones benefiting from Lindsey’s new system. 2026 three-star wide receiver commit Jaylen Pile — who was on campus this past weekend for a recruiting visit — recently shared his observations on how the offense is evolving under Lindsey’s leadership.
“We’re going five wide, and let’s see who can get open,” Pile recently told The Michigan Insider . “Who can create separation. Who can be that type of route runner that we see and that is going to be on TV on Saturdays. And the way he calls those plays is very receiver-friendly. Very receiver-friendly.”
That’s a stark contrast from last season’s offense, which provided Michigan’s pass-catchers few opportunities to make plays.
We will get our first look at Michigan’s revamped offense on April 19 during the spring game, and the tight ends and the wide receivers will be looking to make their mark as Michigan transitions to a new era in the passing game.