The Indiana football program took a big hit to the potential 2023 offense this offseason when tight end AJ Barner announced his transfer to Michigan.
The 6-foot-6 and 250-pounder was one of the lone bright spots in a struggling Indiana offense a season ago. He finished with 28 receptions for 199 yards and three touchdowns.
With Indiana’s lack of explosiveness down the field, Barner was a consistent threat in the short-yardage passing game for the Hoosiers. He had six games with at least three receptions.
Now headed to a much more explosive and talented offense, Barner’s skillset will be utilized on a larger scale — a large reason for his decision to make the move to Michigan.
So far during fall camp, Barner has been ‘outstanding’ and is making a significant push to be the starting tight end.
“He’s been outstanding. First of all, he’s huge. (He is) a giant human being, phenomenal kid, phenomenal person, does everything right,” Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore said last week. “But he’s been outstanding because when you’re on edge, and you’re blocking Jaylen Harrell and Kris Jenkins and all those other guys, whoever’s out there — when you can hold up, it’s pretty impressive.
“And then in the passing game, he’s so big, so fluent, and so agile, he gives you another threat in the passing game that you can’t say, ‘Oh yeah, he’s in the game, you’re gonna run the ball.’ So he’s been extremely valuable. It’s gonna allow multiple things with them, so very excited about that.”
Barner is competing with Colston Loveland and both bring different, yet intriguing skillsets to the Michigan offense.
“Obviously, a new offense for him, so I’ve kind of been helping him there, but he’s hooked on like that and got everything like that,” Loveland said earlier this fall. “Having an older guy like that who played a lot of games, he’s taught me a lot. Especially like fade balls and stuff like that. He’s really good at that aspect. In the run game, he also blocks really well … Great addition to the room.”
Indiana will see Michigan, and Barner, this season in Ann Arbor on Oct. 15.
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