Bang!
With success on the field comes success off the field. Michigan added its fourth commitment of the 2025 class with a pledge from Alcoa, TN tight end Eli Owens. Owens was originally predicted to the Wolverines in late November after attending Michigan’s victory over Ohio State on an unofficial visit. Now, he has given a pledge to the Wolverines.
Owens stands just under 6-foot-2 and weighs 243 pounds according to 247Sports. He holds a composite score of .8919 and is the 355th highest-rated player in the country. Owens holds offers from Ohio State, Tennessee, Alabama, and a host of other schools.
Though he is the lowest-rated commit in the 2025 class, Michigan usually strikes gold with its tight-end evaluations. Especially ones that they evaluate and take early. Recent examples of this include Eric All (333rd nationally) and Colston Loveland (302nd nationally). Both All and Loveland thrived at Michigan and look like future NFL draft selections, and there’s no reason why Owen can’t follow that path, even if he plays a slightly different role.
Right now, Owens is built similarly to Michigan tight end/fullback Max Bredeson, who stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 240 lbs. Bredeson has been incredibly effective for Michigan as a blocker in the run game and showcased his physicality multiple times against Alabama. It’s possible that Michigan pitched that role to Owens and its success in a bowl game led to his commitment. Of course, Owens is still a junior in high school so there is plenty of time to grow into a more traditional tight-end build.
Michigan’s 2025 class is currently ranked 12th in the country but could see a number of new commitments in the coming weeks with a national title victory. Keep an eye on fellow Tennessee native Ethan Utley as a player who could shut things down in the near future.