Chicago is located about 1,600 miles from Loveland’s hometown, Gooding, Idaho, but it may seem more like a million miles. The new Bears tight end described Gooding (population 3,802) as “like the smallest town in Illinois; just a bunch of land, horses, cows, pivots, windmills in the mountains.”

Despite the vast differences between Chicago and Gooding, Loveland does not appear to be concerned about culture shock. After all, he traveled even further at the age of 18 to attend Michigan, which boasts an enrollment of more than 50,000 students and the largest stadium in the United States with a capacity of 107,601.

“I’ve always been pretty personable, and I love meeting new people,” Loveland said. “It was different, for sure. I didn’t know anyone at Michigan when I got there. But being on a team helps a lot. My art class was super close to the dorms, so I made friends pretty easy. Then, like I said, being on a team, you’re around [teammates] every day, so you get to know people. I loved going to Michigan. I love trying new things. I love meeting new people.”

Loveland was unfazed transitioning from small town prep star to playing in front of 100,000-plus fans at the Big House for a national powerhouse.

“At the end of the day, it’s just football,” he said. “You’re going out there and playing the same sport you’ve been playing since you’ve been growing up, and if you overthink it and think too much, it can kind of get in your way. But I just like to think it’s just football. I’ve been doing this for a long time. There might be a little more people in the stands, but just keep the main thing, the main thing.”