Michigan is trying to return to its status of a national contender, something we haven’t seen since the 2023 national championship season. Climbing that ladder during a new coach’s first season will be a challenge, and the progress the offense makes will be key. One player hoping to have a big role in the development of this offense is junior tight end Hogan Hansen.
The story so far
Hansen was a four-star recruit, attending Bellevue High School in Bellevue, Washington. He was one of the best players in the state,
and he announced his commitment to the Michigan football team in Dec. 2022.
He has been in the program for two years, but he hasn’t had a big role just yet. Hansen did see action during his freshman season, appearing in 10 games and hauling in seven receptions for 78 yards and his first career touchdown, scoring against Arkansas State. The majority of his production came at Illinois, finishing with four receptions for 50 yards.
Hansen showed some promise as a freshman, but injuries hindered him as a sophomore in 2025. He was sidelined for a good chunk of the season, only appearing in four games. However, when he did play, he was solid. He had three receptions for 43 yards against Central Michigan, and three receptions for 31 yards against Texas in the bowl game.
Outlook for 2026
The biggest question mark surrounding Hansen is his health. He was out for much of the spring due to injury, and even missed the annual spring game. If he can get healthy prior to the fall, he could be a candidate to have a breakout season.
Another big detail here is the play of quarterback Bryce Underwood and the overall flow of the offense in general. There is good talent on that side of the ball, but we saw how that talent was held back last year. The Wolverines obviously have a new coaching staff that led one of the best offenses in college football a year ago, but still, I have to see it to believe it.
As far as the depth chart goes, Hansen should enter the season only behind Zack Marshall, who stepped up and played well last season when Marlin Klein was out with injuries. Still, even if Hansen isn’t TE1, he should still get plenty of opportunities to make an impact.
