Love at First Sight: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

First Round Mock’s William Yanish has found a prospect he likes in the 2025 NFL Draft, Michigan tight end (TE) Colston Loveland.

Oh yeah, here I am, and with another tight end prospect. It’s just my nature. I told you a few years ago that I always had to check the Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan tight ends every year.

This time my findings are special.

Loveland

I saw the name on the back of the jersey a while ago. The anticipation has since been building to evaluate him…and now here we are.

Background

Loveland was a 4-star recruit (247Sports) and the no. 10 TE coming out of High School in Gooding, Idaho. He had several offers from big-name schools but ultimately decided on Michigan.

This prospect added the reason (USA Today) why he ultimately chose Michigan:

“Obviously, academics is great,” Loveland said. “And when I came here my visit, just the culture felt right and all the players that I met, and obviously the staff and coaches, they were all like something special’s here. And ever since I came, it exceeded my expectations. Everyone here is — just the staff and the players are super great. And we’ve got a bond like I really I’ve never seen anywhere else, like all my visits, especially. It’s super, super cool. And I’m glad I came.”

He is now a 6-foot-5, 245-pound juggernaut. While college tight ends don’t tend to have eye-popping stats —you can see that Loveland is no different.

As a true freshman in 2022:

• 16 receptions
• 235 yards (14.7 yard average)
• Two touchdowns

2023:

• 45 receptions
• 649 yards (14.4 yard average)
• Four touchdowns

Loveland additionally achieved first-team All-Big Ten honors with Michigan on their way to the 2023 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship.

Loveland is a scary-good player with an awesome future

The Yanish Report

Big and tall body. Great height and reach. True-Y TE. Crisp, clean feet w/ disciplined body control —blocking and catching. True to form, blocking 101 technique. Great speed w/better hands. 50/50 balls are more like 70/30 (his favor). Understands leverage in blocking and pass-catching scenarios. Still needs to develop a complete route tree —although he is very precise. Outstanding ball-tracking skills. Has got some shake. Cannot be covered one-on-one. Massive wingspan w/ ++ catch radius. Breaks off the line and shoots through the defense with great acceleration ⚡️ Poised. Boxes out defenders with the best of them. Excellent improv when the play breaks down. Like a BIG receiver running routes and like a Mack truck after he gets the ball in his hands. Team leader. The film speaks. Superstar. Dominant.

For the win

It is no secret that Loveland is considered the No.1 NFL TE prospect in college. Pro Football Focus echoes that sentiment.

Loveland is also the best at the position that I have ever graded

The burst, size, and dominance he displays are second to none. Any team in the league could use his help ⎯no matter where or when he’s selected.

He was born to create havoc ⎯he’s the ultimate weapon.

My BIG three questions

1. How will he respond after head coach Jim Harbaugh’s departure?

2. Will he become the focal point of Michigan’s new-look offense?

3. Does he have a quarterback to take his game to the next level?

My 2025 NFL Draft Value: First Round

Would I draft him? Yes

2022 Game film evidence Michigan (Jersey No. 18)

Ohio State

Purdue

TCU

2023 Game film evidence Michigan (Jersey No. 18)

Rutgers

Indiana

Penn State

Alabama

Washington

William Yanish III is a lifelong football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.