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Sherrone Moore and the Michigan Wolverines land developmental project with outstanding ceiling to develop into a mismatch weapon
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Michigan Wolverines have been quietly on a nice roll in terms of developing the tight end position. The most obvious example is former All-American Colston Loveland who was the No. 10 overall selection by the Chicago Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft. That momentum should continue with the talent on the roster, and even more that is on its way. 

In the 2026 recruiting class, head coach Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines just landed an impressive tight end with Montana star Matt Ludwig. The program added another impressive talent on Thursday when Denver (Colorado) Mullen tight end Mason Bonner chose the Wolverines over Minnesota, Texas Tech, and Miami. While Bonner isn’t as advanced as Ludwig right now, you could argue that he has more raw upside. 

Bonner is considered to be a three-star recruit by every major recruiting platform. As of today, he currently sits as the No. 680 overall player, No. 35 tight end, and No. 7 player in the state of Colorado for the 2026 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite ranking. Bonner is also rated as the No. 694 overall player on the On3 Industry ranking. 

The Colorado native has seen his demand increase exponentially this offseason. Some of the top offers Bonner holds outside of Michigan include Tennessee, Florida, Penn State, Miami, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas State, UCLA, Washington, Syracuse, Minnesota, Arizona, Washington State, Kansas, Duke, Texas Tech, Cal, and Oregon State among others. 

The 6-6, 210-pound tight end is much more of a wide receiver right now, but has a frame to develop. In 11 games as a junior, Bonner has hauled in 33 receptions for 617 yards and eight touchdowns. That is an average of 18.7 yards per reception, showcasing his upside as an athletic chess piece. 

When you project to the next level, Bonner isn’t a player who looks like someone that will make an impact early on. He is, instead, a developmental player with massive upside. Is Bonner is able to add good weight while maintaining his overall athleticism, there is a huge projection as a mismatch weapon. All the tools are there. 

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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