Michigan fans have a pretty clear read on the tight end room heading toward 2026: Hogan Hansen and Zack Marshall are the names drawing the most confidence, with Hansen finishing first in a recent poll and Marshall right behind him.
The vote was tighter than the last two weeks, and that alone says something about how the position is viewed. Hansen grabbed 48 percent, Marshall checked in at 38 percent, and Deakon Tonielli and Jalen Hoffman picked up a few votes apiece. The gap at the top was small, but the message was pretty loud - those two are the ones fans expect to matter most.
Hansen is the more intriguing upside play. The junior from Washington flashed as a true freshman in 2024, then had an injury-filled sophomore season that slowed everything down. There’s still real optimism that he can take a step in 2026, but he’ll have to do it in a crowded passing game and on a team that has shown it wants to lean on the run.
GideonC put it this way: “If Hogan Hansen can finally stay injury free, he will lead this group. He is the most talented of the bunch. Overall, the TE’s are upperclassmen and should be a reliable, productive asset if Beck can utilize them efficiently & effectively!”
BdGoblue23 had a similar take: “HH if not injured he would have taken a big step forward last year and also coming out of HS his team ran triple option so for him to come in and be far along as he was says alot.”
Marshall, meanwhile, looks like the safer bet on experience. He was used much more in 2025 and returns as a senior with that season under his belt. His numbers weren’t eye-popping - 16 catches, 199 yards and one touchdown - but he made enough meaningful plays to help keep drives alive when Michigan’s offense was struggling.
Tonielli is still in the mix, too. He had eight receptions for 72 yards last season and didn’t score, but he showed enough in spots to leave the door open for a bigger role.
Ryan2288 noted: “Hard to be sure with the inconsistent season from last year but I do look forward to seeing Deakon Tonielli. Not sure he played a lot last year but thought he did pretty well when he did.“
Hoffman has at least one memorable moment on his résumé. In the 2025 spring game, Bryce Underwood hit him on a trick play for the game’s only passing touchdown. But once the real season started, that highlight didn’t translate into production, and he finished without measurable offensive stats.
All of that points to a Michigan offense that may look a little different through the air in 2026. The buzz is going to be on wide receivers Andrew Marsh, JJ Buchanan and Jaime Ffrench, while Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter are expected to headline the ground game. The tight ends should still have a role, but maybe not the kind of featured passing-game presence Michigan fans have gotten used to.
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Michigan Offers Blake Nesbitt As Wolverines Eye Future Defensive Anchor
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For Michigan, the appeal is bigger than just adding another name to the board. The Wolverines see Nesbitt as the kind of player who could grow into a future anchor on defense, which is why this offer matters even this early in the process. The challenge now is that programs closer to home are working to keep him in Missouri, setting up the kind of recruiting fight that often starts quietly before it becomes a real test of staying power. [Read more 🡒]