Name: Louis Hansen
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 252 lbs.
High school: Needham (MA) St. Sebastian's
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #81
Last year: I ranked Hansen #46 and said he would be a backup tight end (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: 84
Hansen looked to me like a freshman tight end who might actually be physically ready to play in 2021, and he's a cautionary tale for the class of 2022 tight ends like Colston Loveland and Marlin Klein. Despite being over 250 pounds as a freshman, Hansen spent all but one game watching from the sideline as Erick All, Luke Schoonmaker, Joel Honigford, Trente Jones, and Carter Selzer gobbled up almost every snap.
This year every single one of those players returns. The one quasi-exception is Trente Jones, who's moving back to his more natural position of offensive tackle, where he appears to be the favorite to start now that Andrew Stueber is gone. Michigan will probably employ a backup lineman as a "tight end" like they did with Jones, so not even that spot is really up for grabs for Hansen. Snaps are going to be limited, but I do think it's time to work in some younger backups, because All, Schoonmaker, Honigford, and Selzer are all seniors with expiring eligibility (technically, All, Schoonmaker, and Selzer could use the COVID exemption to return in 2023). If the status quo remains, Michigan could very well enter 2023 with practically zero playing experience from its returning tight ends in Hansen, Matt Hibner, Loveland, and Klein, so I think Hansen might elbow his way into some playing time.
Prediction: Backup tight end
There was a poster who was certain Hansen would be a guy, last year
ReplyDeleteFor all the depth mentioned above, I never thought it probable. I don't think he'll even be key this year, but as you state above, preparing guys for 2023 should get Hansen more PT, so long as we can establish a big enough lead ... will we?
Agree with this analysis. Hanson and other young TEs are going to need to get some playing time to prepare for much bigger roles in 2023. It's very unusual to have such a glut of outgoing seniors blocking the way. But great for 2022.
ReplyDeleteIt presents an interesting situation for countdown ranking -- Michigan doesn't NEED any of these young guys individually to win ball games in 2022, not even a little bit. But they'll play anyway.
The 2022 depth across TE and WR is tremendous. In my mind that lowers the countdown rank of all of them because there's a replacement available readily. Other positions are not so lucky, and likely will need to get contributions from true freshman to beat OSU.