Colston Loveland, Michigan: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Loveland was a four-star recruit from Gooding High School in Gooding, Idaho in the class of 2022

Colston Loveland is the top tight end prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft class. The Michigan star runs routes and finds space at levels that are unmatched by all other players at his position in the college ranks. He could slide to the second round because of his limited alignment versatility, but there’s a good chance he finishes as a top 32 pick.

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Colston Loveland, TE Michigan: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior tight end from Gooding, Idaho

Background: Loveland was a four-star recruit from Gooding High School in Gooding, Idaho in the class of 2022. He was the No. 302 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 268 for On3.com. Loveland was an unranked four-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 79 grade out of 100. During his four seasons as a varsity player, Loveland set Gooding’s school records for receptions in a season (91) and a game (19). He finished his career with 235 receptions for 3,141 yards and 35 touchdowns as part of his 3,493 all-purpose yards and 39 total touchdowns. Gooding went 33-8 during his career. Loveland made 62 receptions for 968 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior and carried the ball 33 times for 352 yards and four scores. He added 66 tackles, 18 for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two interceptions on defense. Loveland amassed 69 receptions for 816 yards with six touchdowns as a junior and 91 receptions for 1,147 yards with 14 touchdowns as a sophomore. He produced 13 receptions for 210 yards with one touchdown as a freshman. Loveland was the SCIC 2021 Co-Offensive MVP, a three-time First Team All-Conference selection, and a three-time First Team All-State selection. He was the 2021-22 Gatorade Idaho Football Player of the Year. Loveland also lettered on the basketball team. He was a First Team All-State selection and the 2021 SCIC Co-Player of the Year following a season in which he averaged 12.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. Loveland was born on April 9, 2004. His brother, Cayden, also set several receiving records at Gooding and went on to play wider receiver at Carroll College.

Injuries & Off-Field: Went to locker room with an injury vs. Purdue (2022)

Awards: 2023 First Team All-Big Ten (Coaches), 2023 Second Team All-Big Ten (Media)'

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units, experience lining up in-line, the slot, and out wide, had a 79-inch wingspan in high school, age, good arm length, frame has room to add mass, quick release, active hands to punch and knock back press corners, quickly clears the second level of zone defenses, stretches defenses up the seam, separates from linebackers on crossing routes, most LBs can’t stick with him, sharp cuts generate separation and surprise defenders, stems route outside before breaking inside across the slot defender’s face, solid whip route for a TE showcasing agility and COD, plays the defender’s leverage well, master of finding space, finds and sits in holes vs. zone, rolls with his QB when the play breaks down, quarterback’s best friend when the play breaks down, appears to be a natural hands catcher, boxes out DBs at the catch point, good adjustments on back shoulder throws, speed to help with YAC, block with a wide base, competitive blocker who displaces slot DBs, generates some horizontal displacement on down blocks

Cons: Lean build, high-hipped, limited play strength, limited options other than pure physicality to beat press coverage, speed doesn’t test corners, limited hip sink at the top of the stem, some rounded routes, can rise to meet the ball above the rim more often, doesn’t break many tackle attempts, not a twitchy or agile player after the catch, never going to be an impressive in-line blocker, lunges into and whiffs on blocks, wide hand placement blocking, poor job sustaining blocks, easily ripped to the ground when trying to block Chop Robinson (2023), doesn’t re-anchor after being put on skates, easily overpowered and displaced by Dani Dennis-Sutton (2023), Adisa Isaac easily stacked and then rip moved around his block (2023)

Overview: Loveland enters the 2024 season with nearly 200 special teams snaps split across the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units. He lines up in-line, in the slot, and out wide for Michigan. Loveland already had a 79-inch wingspan in high school, and his above-average arm length is a constant factor in college. The Idaho native is still a very young prospect with the build to add mass to his frame. Currently, his lean build and high hips limit his play strength. Loveland quickly releases from the line of scrimmage and clears the second level defenders in zone coverage before finding and sitting in the zone’s soft spot. He uses his active hands to punch and knock back press corners but doesn’t have many options outside of pure physicality to beat press coverage. Loveland has the speed to stretch defenses up the seam and separate from or overtake most linebackers. He doesn’t sink his hips much at the top of the route, but the former four-star recruit still makes sharp cuts that generate natural separation. He rounds routes occasionally, but that should be easily correctable. Loveland’s route running is a cut above all other tight ends in the 2025 class. He runs an effective whip route that showcases his agility and ability to quicky change direction. The junior understands and plays leverage well. He stems routes outside before breaking inside and working across the defender’s face into space. Not many wide receivers, let alone tight ends, find space with the same mastery as Loveland. The future All-American candidate is a quarterback-friendly prospect who works back to the passer when plays break down. He is a natural hands catcher who boxes out defenders at the catch point. Loveland makes nice adjustments for back shoulder throws and has the speed to generate yards after the catch. He’s a competitive blocker who uses a wide base, but his current blocking isn’t very effective. He displaces slot defenders and generates some horizontal push on down blocks, but Loveland isn’t even an average in-line blocker. He lunges into and whiffs on blocks, places his hands wide, and struggles to sustain blocks. Defenders easily pull him forward and off balance. Penn State’s key edge rushers in 2023 completely overwhelmed Loveland, playing through or around him with little difficulty. The All-Big Ten selection doesn’t have enough speed to test corners with his routes. He doesn’t dominate above the rim at the catch point the way a tight end with his build should. Loveland doesn’t break many tackle attempts and lacks the twitch to generate yards after the catch consistently.

Overall, Loveland is a lean, athletic tight end who lacks impressive play strength, but his ability to naturally separate with his route running and understanding of leverage sets his apart from other tight ends in the 2025 class. Loveland needs to add weight and become a viable in-line blocker if he wants to crack the elite group of prospects.

Role & Scheme Fit: Starting slot/F tight end

Round Grade: Late First to Early Second Round

Size: 6'5", 245 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 07-11-24