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Team Blue tight end Jalen Hoffman (42) makes a catch against Team Maize linebacker Chase Taylor (29) during the first half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Some people might remember tight end Jalen Hoffman from the 2024 spring game when he burst onto the scene and showed his potential. He hasn’t been able to break through yet, but could this be the year that we see more from him? Let’s check out his path to Ann Arbor and his outlook for the 2026 season.
The story so far
Hoffman attended Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia and was a member of the 2023 recruiting class. He wasn’t on the radar of very many big programs, and he actually was originally committed to Bucknell before receiving a PWO offer from the Wolverines. He ended up committing to Michigan after an impressive senior season that earned him first-team All-District honors.
Outside of the eye-opening spring game performance a couple years ago, Hoffman hasn’t made a ton of noise since. After the big performance in the spring game, he did see the field a lot more in 2024. He appeared in all 13 games for the Wolverines, but he never recorded any stats, mostly coming in on special teams. He had a similar role last season, but he did record his first statistic when he made a tackle on special teams against USC.
Outlook for 2026
Hoffman is a talented player, which is why he was able to turn heads during the 2024 offseason. His spring game performance created some chatter, but showing up in the spring game is a lot different than showing up in the actual season.
One thing that does bode well for Hoffman’s chances at a breakout season is that the tight end position is a bit of a question mark as of now. Zack Marshall is likely the starter, but he doesn’t have a lot of experience, coming into this season with less than 200 receiving yards in his career. If Marshall doesn’t pan out like we expect, the door will be open for other players to prove themselves.
On the other hand, Hoffman will probably be pretty far down the depth chart to begin fall camp, so he will need to show the coaches a lot in August if he wants to be able to earn an opportunity during the regular season. Hogan Hansen and Deakon Tonielli are both also expected to also be ahead of Hoffman on the depth chart.
College football is a funny game, and we have seen a lot of surprise players step up and take on major roles. It’s always a possibility, but it is likely we mostly see Hoffman in a similar role to the past two seasons. He should see a solid amount of action on special teams, and he’ll probably join the offense during some blowouts as well.
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