While the Michigan fanbase has the attention focused on the kind of leaps second-year tight end Colston Loveland makes in his game this season, you can't forget about the addition of Indiana transfer AJ Barner and what he can bring to the program, too.
The Wolverines added experienced depth and a culture fit as the former Hoosier captain is looking to be another option J.J. McCarthy has at his disposal.
For someone coming in with experience, tight ends coach Grant Newsome has not seen any kind of entitlement coming from Barner.
In fact, quite the opposite, as he gushed about what Barner has brought to the program during his recent appearance on the In the Trenches podcast.
"He's just worked. Which maybe is the best compliment you can give someone," Newsome said. "Especially a guy who was a two-year captain there, two or three-year starter, played a ton of football in the Big Ten. Shoot, caught an impressive touchdown against Ohio State. A guy who has kind of been there and done that. For him to come in, there was never any arrogance or cockiness or, hey, it's my room now.
"He just put his head down and worked and learned. Just a guy who is always asking what more he can do. How he can improve. He's meshed extremely well with the team and the room."
Like Loveland, U-M will be asking Barner to do more than just running routes, it will also ask for its tight ends to put their hands in the dirt and block the run and the pass.
Despite being in a pass-heavy offense in Indiana, Newsome feels comfortable with Barner's blocking ability and views it as a natural progression for him to make.
"We're very fortunate that he has all the physical tools to do it," Newsome said. "He's got the strength and, beyond that, he's got the experience. Even though they didn't do a ton of it in Indiana, he knows what it's like cutting off a backside defensive end in this conference. It's a lot easier said than done. We joke as coaches, it's one of those things that looks really easy if you're drawing it up on the board.
"If you actually have to do it, it's a lot harder. We're fortunate he's got that experience and there's plenty of stuff that he needs to improve on and he works at that. We're very fortunate to have him."
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