Colston Loveland: From Gooding High to NFL Draft Pick
Colston Loveland, born on April 9, 2004, is an American football tight end. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning a national championship in 2023, earning All-American honors in 2024. In the 2025 NFL draft, Loveland was picked 10th overall by the Chicago Bears.
High School Career
The rest of the country now knows what the "Gem State" has known for years. Loveland went to Gooding High School. As a senior, he played tight end and linebacker, catching 62 passes for 968 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading the Gooding Senators (9-1) to the Class 3A semifinals. Gooding High School's Colston Loveland was redefining the game.
Recruitment
Loveland was rated as a four-star recruit, a top 250 ranked player in the country. In July 2021, Loveland committed to play college football at the University of Michigan and enrolled early in January 2022.
College Career at Michigan
Loveland played in 39 games (24 starts) over three seasons for Michigan. He finished his career at the University of Michigan with a 35-6 team record, two Big Ten championships, one national championship, All-American honors, All-Big Ten honors twice, and as the school’s single-season record holder for receptions by a tight end.
2022 Season
He appeared in his first game for Michigan versus Colorado State on September 3, 2022, and had two receptions for 18 yards. In the 2022 season, Loveland had 16 receptions for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Against Ohio State, he caught a 45-yard pass thrown by J. J.
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2023 Season
Michigan Claims Third-Straight Big Ten Football Championship. Idaho's Colston Loveland was making of a national college football champion at Michigan. They also became just the fifth NCAA Division I team to finish a season 15-0. Loveland became the first Idaho product to win a national title since Nampa's Jorrell Bostrom did with Auburn in 2011.
2024 Season
In 2024, he set a Michigan record for most catches in a single season (56). On November 26, Loveland was named one of three finalists for the 2024 John Mackey Award, given to the best tight end in college football, joining Harold Fannin Jr. of Bowling Green and the winner Tyler Warren of Penn State. He was the second-ever Wolverine to be a finalist for the award, joining 2016 winner Jake Butt. Loveland missed the last game of the season against Ohio State with an injury.
Declaration for the NFL Draft
On December 13, 2024, Loveland declared for the 2025 NFL draft, foregoing the ReliaQuest Bowl and his senior year. He caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 TDs in his career.
College Stats: Game by Game
Here's a breakdown of Colston Loveland's performance during the 2024 season, game by game:
Game 1 vs. East Carolina
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- Stats: Four catches, 57 yards
- Biggest play: 24-yard catch
Game 2 vs. UNLV
- Stats: Two catches, 6 yards
- Biggest play: 9-yard catch
Game 3 vs. Bowling Green
- Stats: Three catches, 30 yards.
- Biggest play: 22-yard catch
Game 4 vs. Rutgers
- Stats: Five catches, 75 yards
- Biggest play: Season-long 35-yard catch (at the time)
- Quote: “We planned that (play) all week,” Michigan senior running back Blake Corum said of the Loveland reception. “We practiced that, we repped it and then we were able to punch it in. So that second drive was a huge part of the game and a very good part of the game.”
Game 5 vs. Nebraska
- Stats: One catch, 13 yards
- Biggest play: 13-yard catch
Game 6 vs. Minnesota
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- Stats: One catch, 24 yards
- Biggest play: Hauls in first touchdown catch of the season on a 24-yard pass in the third quarter.
Game 7 vs. Indiana
- Stats: Three catches, 80 yards
- Biggest play: 54-yard touchdown catch to begin the first drive of the third quarter
- Quote: "I was able to escape the pocket, then it was two-on-one with that defender and me and Colston," McCarthy told the Detroit News.
Game 8 vs. Michigan State
- Stats: Four catches, 79 yards
- Biggest play: 22-yard touchdown catch late in the second quarter for first career multi-score game.
- Quote: “(That’s) some of the best tight end play, I think, anybody’s ever seen in college football.” Harbaugh said.
Game 9 vs. Purdue
- Stats: Four catches, 55 yards
- Biggest play: 17-yard reception
Game 10 vs. Penn State
- Stats: Two catches, 7 yards
- Biggest play: 7-yard catch
Game 11 vs. Maryland
- Stats: Three catches, 36 yards
- Biggest play: 13-yard catch
Game 12 vs. Ohio State
- Stats: Five catches, 88 yards
- Biggest play: 34-yard catch on a halfback pass
Game 13 vs. Iowa
- Stats: Three catches, 22 yards
- Biggest play: 10-yard reception
Game 14 vs. Alabama (national semifinals)
- Stats: Two catches, 13 yards
- Biggest play: 11-yard catch
Game 15 vs Washington (national championship game)
- Stats: Three catches, 64 yards
- Biggest play: 41-yard catch with under 10 minutes remaining that set up Corum’s 12-yard touchdown run to seal the game
- Quote: “We needed a play,” Loveland told the Big Ten Network. “Obviously, there were a lot of three-and-outs. They called that play, and it was kind of one of those plays all week where I was like, ‘All right, I know I’m getting the ball. I gotta go make a play.’“J.J. (McCarthy) put it where it needed to be, and I came down with the catch. It was a huge play.
NFL Draft and Professional Career
Loveland was selected with the tenth overall pick by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Draft Profile and Scouting Report
Colston Loveland draft profile, scouting report: Loveland's mix of size (6-foot-6, 248 pounds) and athleticism fit better in the NFL than in college. He's an experienced route runner who can create mismatches against defenses. He likely won't be a plus blocker in the run game, though. - Ayrton Ostly.
Loveland was anchored by the worst quarterback situation in America last season, yet still put up 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns, which was more than the entire wide receiver corps combined. He's an elite athlete, fantastic route runner, has reliable hands and should become a truly elite weapon at the NFL level in short time. - Tony Garcia.
Physical Attributes
Colston Loveland height, weight: Loveland is 6-foot-6, 248 pounds.
Personal Information
Where is Colston Loveland from? Loveland is from Gooding, Idaho.
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