Seattle, WA
Seattle Seahawks Draft Profile: Michigan TE Colston Loveland
During the 2023 season, Colston Loveland and AJ Barner were the top two tight ends on the Michigan Wolverines’ undefeated national championship team.
Could they potentially reunite in the Pacific Northwest?
Insider: Two draft prospects who fit Seattle Seahawks’ identity
Last year, the Seattle Seahawks selected Barner in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. He went on to have a productive rookie campaign, totaling 30 catches for 245 yards and four touchdowns while providing solid run blocking and establishing himself as Seattle’s No. 2 tight end behind Noah Fant.
Loveland, meanwhile, is a surefire first-round pick who could be a legitimate option for the Seahawks in this year’s draft. Some draft experts – including NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah – have projected Seattle to take the 6-foot-5, 248-pound Loveland at No. 18 overall. It would make sense, given how important tight ends are to new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme.
On Tuesday, FOX college football analyst Brock Huard highlighted Loveland as part of his Seahawks draft profile series on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. Huard called Loveland a “unicorn” due to his lengthy frame, speed, fluid athleticism and potential to be a big-time receiving threat at the NFL level.
“He’s a unicorn,” Huard said. “He’s just different. And he was different from day one at the University of Michigan. He played as a true freshman there. … When you’re 6-6, 250, you run 4.7 (seconds in the 40-yard dash), you’ve got 33-inch arms and can jump out of the gym, you give yourself an opportunity, (even) at Michigan, to hit the field right away.”
As a freshman, Loveland had 16 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns on a Michigan team that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Loveland then took over as the Wolverines’ No. 1 tight end in 2023, racking up 45 catches for 649 yards and four touchdowns during Michigan’s 15-0 national championship season – including a key 41-yard catch-and-run in the national title game against the UW Huskies. Barner was the Wolverines’ No. 2 tight end that year, totaling 22 catches for 249 yards and a TD.
This past fall, Loveland played through a shoulder injury that limited him to 10 games. But he still finished with a school-record 56 catches for a team-high 582 yards and five TDs – including seven catches for a season-high 112 yards against Oregon. He finished with more than double the receiving yards of any other player on Michigan’s team, which was hampered by subpar quarterback play following the departure of 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.
“He’s a 6-6, 250 guy that looks like a 6-foot, 200-pound receiver,” Huard said. “He is that big, but he moves that effortlessly with that much fluidity.”
Loveland underwent shoulder surgery on Jan. 29 to repair his AC joint, but is expected to be able to be fully cleared for training camp this summer.
“Frankly, (the shoulder) is a little bit of a concern for me,” Huard said. “I’d have to be very, very, very clear on my medicals.”
Loveland also isn’t regarded as a particularly strong run blocker. But with Barner and the recently signed Eric Saubert, the Seahawks already have two good blocking tight ends. Loveland’s elite field-stretching ability could pair with Fant to give Kubiak another big-time receiving weapon for his bevy of multi-tight-end formations.
Loveland’s immense potential is reflected by Jeremiah ranking him as the No. 7 overall prospect in this year’s draft class – one spot ahead of Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the projected No. 1 overall pick.
“That tells you some of the grade and the evaluation and the unique skill set,” Huard said.
Listen to the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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There were Seattle Seahawks injury updates on Friday regarding three defensive backs coming out of the Hawks’ overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football.
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Here’s a look at the updates, as well as insight from head coach Mike Macdonald and additional information from ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler.
• The biggest concern for the Seahawks coming out of the game is safety Coby Bryant, who has a knee injury. Macdonald said in a press conference Friday that Bryant would “get imaged,” meaning undergo an MRI. Fowler reported on social media that, per sources, Bryant is “expected to miss ‘some time’ based on initial tests.”
• Cornerback Riq Woolen has a knee concern of his own, but Fowler reported that it’s “not considered serious” and that, per a source, Woolen “more so got ‘banged up.’”
• Versatile defensive back Nick Emmanwori was evaluated for a concussion late in Thursday’s game, but Macdonald said he cleared concussion protocol.
The Seahawks improved to 12-3 with their win over the Rams, giving them a one-game lead over Los Angeles for both first place in the NFC West and the No. 1 seed to the postseason out of the NFC. The Seahawks also clinched a playoff spot with the dramatic comeback victory.
The next Seahawks game will be at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28 on the road against the Carolina Panthers (7-7). Radio coverage on Seattle Sports will begin at 7 a.m. that day with the pregame show.
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Seattle Kraken (12-14-6, in the Pacific Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (17-15-3, in the Pacific Division)
San Jose, California; Saturday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Seattle Kraken look to end a four-game losing streak with a victory over the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose is 17-15-3 overall and 4-4-2 against the Pacific Division. The Sharks have conceded 117 goals while scoring 104 for a -13 scoring differential.
Seattle is 12-14-6 overall with a 5-4-0 record in Pacific Division play. The Kraken have a -20 scoring differential, with 79 total goals scored and 99 conceded.
The matchup Saturday is the third time these teams square off this season. The Kraken won 4-1 in the last meeting. Jaden Schwartz led the Kraken with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: William Eklund has eight goals and 14 assists for the Sharks. Tyler Toffoli has five goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
Vince Dunn has five goals and 14 assists for the Kraken. Chandler Stephenson has four goals and three assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sharks: 5-5-0, averaging 3.4 goals, 5.9 assists, 2.9 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.
Kraken: 1-9-0, averaging 2.2 goals, 4.1 assists, 3.9 penalties and 9.6 penalty minutes while giving up 3.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Sharks: None listed.
Kraken: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Seattle Seahawks activated wide receiver Dareke Young from injured reserve and elevated running back Cam Akers and offensive tackle Amari Knight off the practice squad Thursday ahead of their pivotal primetime showdown against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field.
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Young, 26, has missed Seattle’s past eight games with a quadricep injury. The fourth-year pro is a key special teams member for the Seahawks and was on the field for over 50% of the team’s special teams snaps in each of the six games he’s played this season. He has seven tackles and 10 kickoff returns for 322 yards. He also has two receptions for 48 yards.
Akers, 26, would be making his Seahawks debut against his former team if he gets into Thursday’s game. He played in three games for the Minnesota Vikings earlier this season and totaled 19 yards on five carries.
A sixth-year pro, Akers spent three-plus seasons with the Rams after they selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Florida State. Akers’ best season with Los Angeles came in 2022 when he rushed for career highs of 786 yards and seven touchdowns. He has 2,044 yards and 13 TDs on the ground in 56 career NFL games.
Knight, 24, provides the Seahawks with some depth at tackle with starting left tackle Charles Cross ruled out for Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury. Veteran backup Josh Jones is getting the start in place of Cross.
Knight went undrafted out of UCF and made his pro debut in Seattle’s Week 4 win over Arizona.
The Seahawks face the Rams on Thursday night at 5:15 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 2 p.m. with the pregame show on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle sports app.
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