The first episode of the Bears' "Meet the Rookies" video series features tight end Colston Loveland's upbringing in rural Gooding, Idaho. This piece from senior writer Larry Mayer dives into a defining moment in the Michigan's product prep career at Gooding High School.
Tight end Colston Loveland dominated at Gooding High School in Idaho, catching 235 passes for 3,141 yards and 35 touchdowns in four seasons.
The Bears' first-round draft pick was named Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior after catching 62 passes for 968 yards and 14 TDs.
Yet when Loveland's high school coach, Cam Andersen, was asked about his favorite moment of Loveland's career, it wasn't a big catch or game-winning TD.
"My favorite moment of Colston is a growth moment," Andersen said. "His sophomore year, we had a great, big game against a state rival, and we lost on the last play of the game. In that game, Colston had over 200 yards and four touchdowns, but he didn't make the last catch—and I don't know that I've seen him drop a ball since.
"He [said], 'I cost us the game.' [I was] like, 'Listen, dude, if you don't have 200-plus yards and four touchdowns, we're not in the game.' But it did reflect how important a single moment is within the big game and he, from that moment, I didn't see him drop a ball. He was just so focused on every individual moment, so growth moments like that are huge."
Loveland blossomed into a star at Gooding High School, earning a scholarship to Michigan, where he appeared in 39 games over three seasons and caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. Selected by the Bears with the 10th pick in the first round of the draft, Loveland will bring the same team-first attitude to Chicago that he displayed in Gooding.
"One of my favorite memories was he threw a pass to his cousin, who was an offensive lineman," Andersen said. "We were waiting all season to do it. And he was so thrilled for everyone that was involved. He was upset that he tripped at the 5-yard line and didn't get the touchdown. But just he celebrates so much of his teammates. He stayed at Michigan because of his teammates. Some of my best memories are just him and the love that he shows all those around him."
