Michigan Wolverines tight end Hogan Hansen (80) celebrates a touchdown during Michigan vs Arkansas State Football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Michigan won 28-18.

ANN ARBOR – Tight ends were always a staple of Michigan’s offense under Jim Harbaugh, and that continued with Sherrone Moore at the helm in 2024.

Tight end isn’t a glamorous position on the recruiting trail, with usually only a handful of prospects at the position being ranked among the top 100 nationally on a yearly basis.

With that said, the Wolverines have had varying degrees of success recruiting tight ends over the past decade. They’ve had a player drafted at the position each of the past three years, but only one was a homegrown blue-chip prospect out of high school. AJ Barner was a graduate transfer who only spent the 2023 season in Ann Arbor, while Luke Schoonmaker was ranked outside the 750 nationally coming out of high school before developing into a second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2023. The other was Colston Loveland, one of the best tight ends in program history.

Michigan junior tight end Erick All runs upfield after making a reception during the second half on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 in East Lansing. Michigan State defeated Michigan 37-33.

Among Michigan’s top-10 highest-rated tight end recruits of the past 10 cycles, two are currently committed for the 2026 class. Here’s a look at the full top-10 list of the past decade, ranked by the prospects’ 247Sports Composite rating:

Michigan Wolverines tight end Colston Loveland (18) celebrates a touchdown as Michigan football hosts Michigan State at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 26 2024.

10. Mason Bonner (Class of 2026)

Rating: 0.8978

Overall ranking: No. 472

Bonner’s recruitment has picked up since a breakout junior season. The three-star recruit primarily plays receiver for Mullen High in Denver but projects as a tight end at the next level with a 6-foot-6 frame. The Wolverines secured his verbal pledge in May, beating out other programs such as Penn State, Washington, Tennessee, Florida and Missouri.

9. Matthew Hibner (Class of 2020)

Rating: 0.8918

Overall ranking: No. 397

Hibner committed in June 2019 less than two weeks after receiving an offer from the Wolverines. Michigan beat out more than 20 other programs, including a top contender in Virginia Tech.

During his four-year Wolverines career, Hibner primarily played on special teams but also appeared in 16 games at tight end, catching two passes. The four-star recruit out from Virginia transferred to SMU prior to the 2024 season and had 24 receptions for 368 yards.

8. Deakon Tonielli (Class of 2023)

Rating: 0.8928

Overall ranking: No. 414

The four-star prospect out of Oswego in Illinois is still looking to carve out a role heading into his third year at Michigan. The 6-foot-5, 238-pounder has yet to appear in a game.

As a recruit, Tonielli chose Michigan over 12 other reported offers, including fellow finalists Purdue and Illinois.

7. Erick All (Class of 2019)

Rating: 0.9273

Overall ranking: No. 168

Even though All never received an offer for the Buckeyes, the Ohio native’s commitment was still viewed as a significant win for the Wolverines on the recruiting trail. The 12th-ranked tight end in his class overcame issues with drops early in his career and was a vital contributor during the team’s 2021 Big Ten championship season. He was second on the team with 38 catches for 437 yards but was limited to three games in 2022 because of injury. All concluded his career at Iowa and was a fourth-round pick of the Bengals in 2024.

6. Colston Loveland (Class of 2022)

Rating: 0.9011

Overall ranking: No. 302

The 6-foot-5 tight end from Gooding, Idaho had a major impact in Michigan’s offense all three years. Then-tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh identified Loveland early in the recruiting process, well before he skyrocketed in the national rankings. Loveland went on to become a two-time all-Big Ten selection and an All-American in 2024 before getting selected by the Bears 10th overall in April.

5. Hogan Hansen (Class of 2024)

Rating: 0.9012

Overall ranking: No. 348

The four-star prospect out of Bellevue High in Washington was a rare tight end prospect that actually was utilized frequently as a blocker at the prep level. Perhaps that helped him see the field early as a true freshman, appearing in 10 games in 2024. He also showcased his ability as a pass-catcher, recording seven receptions for 78 yards and a score.

Hansen committed late in the 2024 cycle, with the Wolverines beating out West Coast contenders such as Washington, Oregon and Standford to land him.

4. Louis Hansen (Class of 2021)

Rating: 0.9273

Overall ranking: No. 168

Hansen had an offers list that included Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Florida and Michigan State before committing to Michigan in April 2020. But with the Wolverines featuring deep tight end rooms in 2021 and 2022, Hansen didn’t receive many opportunities and transferred after two years in Ann Arbor. The four-star prospect from St. Sebastian’s in Massachusetts, the same school current Michigan offensive lineman commit Marky Walbridge attends, had a breakout year for UConn last season with 24 receptions for 236 yards.

3. Matt Ludwig (Class of 2026)

Rating: 0.9273

Overall ranking: No. 196

It’s not common for Michigan to go into Big Sky country and land an elite prospect, but they’ve now landed two in the past four cycles with Ludwig and Loveland. Ludwig began his high school career in Idaho before moving to Billings, Montana before his sophomore year. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder, who is nicknamed “Moose,” is ranked as the No. 10 tight end in the 2026 class and is utilized in a multitude of ways on offense for his high school team. He committed in May, with Michigan beating out other finalists Tennessee, Georgia and Texas Tech.

2. Mustapha Muhammad (Class of 2018)

Rating: 0.9318

Overall ranking: No. 168

A four-star prospect out of Ridge Point High in Missouri City, Texas, Muhammad was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. He received offers from many of the nation’s top programs, including Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon and Texas.

However, he appeared in just two games and did not record a catch in his two years at Michigan before entering the transfer portal. He never played in another college game.

1. Brady Prieskorn (Class of 2024)

Rating: 0.9407

Overall ranking: No. 130

The former Rochester Adams standout was ranked No. 56 nationally in the country when he committed to the Wolverines in April 2023. Although he dropped outside of the top 100 in the final rankings, he still was a headliner in the Wolverines’ 2024 class. The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder chose Michigan over other notable offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon and Penn State and was the No. 2 recruit in the state that cycle.

Prieskorn was carted off the field after suffering a leg injury during warmups prior to last season’s game at Ohio State. He did not appear in a game as a true freshman in 2024.