Michigan Football: All Time 10 best Tight Ends

The All Time 10 Best Michigan Football Players by position started off with the offensive linemen. The consensus is that the cream of the offensive line crop is; Jake Long, Dan Dierdorf, Steve Hutchinson, and Jon Jansen. The next position that I will rank is Tight End.

#10 – Mark Campbell: Campbell was an outstanding blocking tight end for Michigan from 1995-98. Campbell also caught 32 passes in his Michigan career for 357 yards and 1 touchdown. Campbell has played in the NFL for the last 11 years with the Saints, Bills, and Browns.

#9 – Tony McGee: McGee blossomed in his senior season at Michigan when he caught 38 passes for 467 yards and 6 touchdowns. McGee saved his best game for last. In the 1993 Rose Bowl McGee caught 6 passes for 117 yards and 2 TDs.

#8 – Eric Kattus: Kattus was a captain on the 1982 Michigan team and he earned All Big Ten honors that season. For his career Kattus hauled in 45 passes for 642 yards and 10 touchdowns.

#7 – Derrick Walker: Walker was also an outstanding blocker. He caught 33 passes for 446 yards and 5 touchdowns in his Michigan career. Walker was drafted in the 6th round of the 1990 NFL Draft and enjoyed a nine year career in the league.

#6 – Jay Riemersma: Riemersma came to Michigan as a quarterback but was converted to tight end.

He tallied 74 receptions, 706 yards and 3 touchdowns as a Wolverine. As a senior Riemersma caught 41 passes.

#5 – Bennie Joppru: Joppru had a monster senior season in which he set a Michigan record for receptions by a tight end with 53 for 579 yards and 5 touchdowns. He was selected as an All American that season. Joppru finished his Michigan career with 85 catches for 800 yards and 8 TDs.
Joppru was selected in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.

#4 – Jerame Tuman: Tuman was a prolific receiving tight end at Michigan. He was a three time All Big Ten selection. During Michigan’s 1997 National Championship season Tuman was selected as an All American. In his career Tuman totaled 98 receptions, 1279 yards, and 13 touchdowns.

#3 – Jack Clancy: The debate will rage as to whether Clancy should be counted as a tight end or a wide receiver. If you open up Michigan’s record book you will find under the tight end receiving records that Clancy has the most career receptions by a Michigan tight end with 132. He played for Michigan at a time when the tight end position was still evolving (1963-66). We will count him with the tight ends here. Along with the most receptions by a tight end Clancy has the most career receiving yards by a Michigan tight end with 1,919. He was a 1966 All American selection. He played with the Miami Dolphins and caught 67 passes his rookie year.

#2 – Jim Mandich: Mandich was a great receiving tight end and a great blocking tight end. He was elected team captain in 1969 and was also the team MVP that year, as well as an All American. Mandich caught 119 passes for 1494 yards and 7 touchdowns in his 3 year career at Michigan.
Mandich was selected in the second round of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.

#1 – Ron Kramer: Kramer was a nine time letterman at Michigan (3 each in football, basketball, and track). Kramer was a two-time consensus All American (1955, 56) and his jersey number 87 is one of only 5 retired numbers at Michigan. In his career Kramer caught 53 passes for 880 yards and 8 touchdowns. Kramer played in the NFL for Vince Lomardi and the Green Bay Packers and was the first in a new breed of tight ends.
Sports Illustrated selected Kramer as the TE on Michigan’s All Time Team.

The Best of Michigan Football

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Wide Receivers
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
Linebackers
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Kick/Punt Returners
“What if” team
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