Utah tight-end-ish wide receiver J.J. Buchanan has committed to Michigan.
Buchanan was a true freshman in 2025 and still started seven games, making 26 catches for 427 yards and 5 touchdowns. Coming out of Henderson (NV) Coronado in 2025, he was a 247 Composite 3-star, the #27 athlete, and #570 overall. He is in the transfer portal as a 4-star, the #1 tight end, and #19 overall, according to 247 Sports.
The story on Buchanan coming out of high school was that he was an athlete who could play a variety of positions, from receiver to safety to tight end to linebacker. He didn't show elite speed for a receiver, but he did show nice ball skills. He also doesn't have the range of a safety, but his combo of size and athleticism potentially made him intriguing as a linebacker project. Instead, he ended up being a "tight end" at Utah, but he lined up out wide or in the slot for all but five of his snaps in 2025.
Now listed as a wide receiver for Michigan, it will be interesting to see how the Wolverines coaching staff deploys him in the bigger, faster Big Ten. Michigan loses starting tight end Marlin Klein, and the backups (Hogan Hansen, Zack Marshall, etc.) haven't shown much in the way of playing as in-line tight ends. With receiver Andrew Marsh returning and receiver Jaime Ffrench incoming, those two could start on the outside with Buchanan working in the slot. How will Michigan use the remaining offensive skill position spots? Will they treat Buchanan as a receiver or tight end? Will they bulk him up with the eventual goal of making him a 245 lb. tight end, or will they want him playing around 225 lbs. as a big receiver?
Overall, Buchanan is a good addition to a team that is used to using tight end-type bodies. Even if he ends up as more of a receiver, he offers a big body and some versatility through which to run RPOs and the like. He should probably see starter-level snaps in 2026 and be a frequent target for quarterback Bryce Underwood.
Buchanan is one of four Utah players to following Kyle Whittingham from Utah, along with defensive tackle Jonah Lea'ea, cornerback Smith Snowden, and defensive end John Henry Daley.
Question -- is there any reason why a backup offensive lineman couldn't come in and play an inline TE role when called for? If the purpose of the inline TE is mostly for run blocking, why not? I think they may have to wear a different jersey number, but if all the rules can be met, what's the downside? I'm not talking about a permanent move for the guy, but just have them available for that role if needed.
ReplyDeleteThe downside is predictability. If the defense sees the 6OL formation and know that guy isn't going catch a ball they can adjust their defensive strategy. As an offense you're willfully tossing an eligible receiver in the trash.
DeleteIs it common for inline TEs to release from blocking and be the play target for a pass? I realize it can be done, but is it common?
DeleteSo if you play most of your snaps outside or in the slot are you no longer a TE?
ReplyDeleteOr is it about what you are called -- even though one school might call you a TE and another school might call you a WR?
My take -- give him the slash!
Even if Buchanan is a WR and only a WR at Michigan (never lining up with his hand down next to the OT or in the backfield ever again) he takes pressure off the TE room. Michigan has used 2TE formations a lot but typically one of the 2 TE is really just lined up as a WR. In other words if they list Buchanan as a WR that means you are going to see fewer 2TE sets because Buchanan took one of those TE's job.
Regardless of semantics I see Buchanan as next in line behind Loveland and McCulley. Both were both bigger bodies who served as primary downfield threats in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Different players (McCulley never played TE after switching over from QB but was a big body while Loveland is clearly a versatile TE), but similar roles in the offense. Loveland was a TE but functionally he was also WR3 in '23 and WR1 in '24. McCully was WR2 in '25. Buchanan can be that guy that is both a downfield threat on deep balls and a reliable possession guy moving chains on 3rd down. Not going to be the fastest guy on offense like some WRs but neither was Loveland or McCulley and that's alright.
Great pick up! Whitt & Beck emphasized & added some size to our WR room
ReplyDelete