There isn’t a better mentor to have than Michigan Wolverines team captain Max Bredeson and tight end Jalen Hoffman has been his understudy in recent years — adjusting to the fullback position and learning how to play with more physicality.
Head coach Sherrone Moore discussed how Bredeson has become the perfect role model for Hoffman.
“Max is everything that you want as a football player, a leader, a teammate and a person,” Moore said on Monday. “Jalen is taking all the steps to try to replicate what
he’s doing, and it’s been fun to be around. Jalen just continues to get better and better.”
Bredeson’s leadership on and off the field has earned him a reputation as a role model for younger players, and his influence on Hoffman is already evident. Despite playing limited snaps, Hoffman has benefitted from Bredeson’s presence.
“He’s been great ever since I got here,” Hoffman told the media on Tuesday. “Max has always been there, like over my shoulder, especially when I started playing fullback. He would always give me bits and pieces to hang on to and try to go get better.”
Bredeson is regarded as one of the hardest workers and toughest players in the program, and he’s developed into arguably the best lead blocker in the country. If Hoffman can continue to learn from Bredeson, he could follow in his footsteps next season once Bredeson graduates.
“I would just watch how he played, especially when I first got here, and try to emulate him to the best of my ability,” Hoffman said. “Playing fullback is just a mentality. You have to be violent and really want to do it. You have to be willing.”
Physicality, toughness and violence is at the forefront of playing fullback, which makes it a difficult position to learn, but Hoffman appears to be getting accustomed to the position change; Bredeson’s tutelage is a biggest reason why.
Bredeson’s unique physicality and toughness, combined with his leadership makes him an ideal mentor.
“Max is unbelievable,” Moore said. “He’s as violent of a player as I’ve ever been around. When he runs at you, you know it’s going to be a collision. He plays as winning football as winning football gets. He’s everything you want in a player.”
Clearly, Hoffman is soaking up all the information he can from Bredeson, and that’s starting to show up on the field. Hoffman made a major impact in the 31-20 win at Michigan State, earning the fifth-highest grade (71.4) on the offense per Pro Football Focus, just slightly behind Bredeson’s impressive 74.3 grade, despite playing in just 13 snaps.
In the first quarter, Hoffman went into motion and became the lead blocker with Bredeson trailing him as they forged a pathway for quarterback Bryce Underwood’s touchdown run that gave the Wolverines a 10-0 lead. Later, the Wolverines ran a similar set, but Hoffman and Bredeson were used as a misdirection to throw the defense off and allow running back Justice Haynes to have a wide-open lane into the end zone.
Bredeson has seen what it takes to perform at the highest level; with Hoffman soaking up every lesson, expect his playing time to continue increasing. With Bredeson’s guidance, Hoffman is well on his way to becoming a force at fullback.
