position rank
overall rank
Analyst's Report
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Size:
Height: 6056
Weight: 248
Arm: 32 ¾”
Hand: 10”
Accomplishments:
Second Team All-American (2024) • First-Team All-Big Ten (2023) • Big Ten Offensive and Co-Special Teams Rookie of the Year (2022)
“Colston Loveland is a skilled tight end prospect who wins with athleticism, yards-after-catch, and NFL size to be a dominant lead option for an NFL passing offense.”
Strengths:
Acceleration post-catch
Plus-level run blocker
Alignment versatility
Plus route-runner
Catch radius
Concerns:
High-pad level
Defeating press/jam technique
Needs to add muscle/bulk to frame
Film Analysis:
Colston Loveland enters the NFL draft as a true junior prospect who appeared in 39 games in just three years. He had an impactful career and will go down as one of the best tight ends in Michigan football history. Loveland capped his career by being named an All-American in back-to-back years. At Michigan, Loveland showcased his versatility aligning all over the field: in-line (traditional), in the slot, out wide, and even in the backfield in pistol formations. Loveland’s versatile skill set creates mismatches for the defense against both the run and passing attacks. He has a high ceiling due to his combination of NFL size/stature, athleticism, blocking ability, and mismatch capabilities.
In Michigan’s passing offense, Loveland was utilized as a movement piece and showcased that he can become a player utilized to dictate coverages but also design and run an entire offense through. Loveland runs good routes with little wasted movement at the breakpoint. Loveland stems his routes well with his entire body/frame to manipulate the defender into a compromising position. He changes directions well with good hip fluidity to generate ample separation for his QB. He does a good job selling vertical/seam routes to free up space in the middle of the field.
Loveland possesses great acceleration to create big plays after the catch. He flashes the ability to make a defender miss in addition to his physicality with the ball in his hands. Once geared up, Loveland has the stride length and speed to eat up grass quickly. With great height and wingspan, he is a post-player inside the red zone for his offense. Loveland knows how to position his body and use it to box out smaller defenders creating favorable targets for the QB. He uses the combination of height and wingspan to easily pluck the ball out of the air and away from his frame, displaying the ability to uncover from tight coverage.
Loveland is a willing and competitive run blocker. He showcases functional strength to wall off and seal a variety of defenders. When in-line, he is a plus-blocker to create a lane for the ball-carrier, even against base defensive ends. Loveland’s athleticism is an asset as a space blocker when aligned in the slot or out wide. He can climb to those second and third-level defenders quickly to engage. He flashes a nasty, finishing mentality to put defenders in the dirt. His effectiveness as a run blocker opens up delay and leak route concepts off hard play-action.
Despite his outstanding receiving abilities, Loveland has a few concentration drops on tape. Loveland appears to be a natural hands catcher so the drops can be something that is easily corrected. Loveland can improve in his run blocking. Loveland is a willing and effective run locker at times, but in order to improve his effectiveness and consistency, there are minor details of his game that he could clean up.
Overall, due to Loveland's physical traits of size, athleticism, and fluid movements, his ceiling projects him to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL.
Prospect Projection: Day 1 – Pro Bowl Caliber
Exposures: Texas (2024), Washington (2024), Oregon (2024), Rutgers (2023), Washington (2023), Ohio State (2023), Michigan State (2023), Indiana (2023)