For the next indeterminate amount of time, I will be counting down my top 15 offensive and defensive players from the last 15 years. Today, I unveil my picks at #8 for each side of the ball:

Today, we move into the top half of the Top 15 list. In the spirit of Ed McMahon (R.I.P.): Heeeeeeeere’s … me.

Offense: Steve Hutchinson, G, 1997-2000

Hutchinson ready to lead the way for the A-Train

It takes a lot to be noticed for your interior line play, but it was impossible not to notice Steve Hutchinson dominate opponents during his four yeras as a stalwart starting guard for Michigan. Here is the comprehensive list of Big Ten players to be named first-team all-conference all four years they played:

Dick Barwegan, G, Purdue, 1943-1946
Ray Stackhowitz, P, Michigan State, 1977-1980
Mark Messner, DL, Michigan, 1985-1988
Steve Hutchinson, G, Michigan, 1997-2000

I could probably just end the article right there, especially after also mentioning that Hutch also was named first-team All-American in his final two seasons, during which he didn’t give up a single sack. Beast does not begin to describe Steve Hutchinson. In terms of ability compared to other players at his position, he is one of the best players, period, to ever come through Ann Arbor. I am probably underrating him by those standards, but, you know, he’s an interior offensive lineman, and there’s only so much impact a guard can have on a game. Admittedly, that impact is probably greater than the average football fan thinks it is, but I’d still rather have a historically great quarterback or running back, especially at the college level, than an equivalent guard. That’s just how it is.

Back to Hutchinson. As stated in the Anthony Thomas article, the A-Train should probably be sending the big guy Rolexes by FedEx each month, except for the fact that Hutchinson can probably afford a few Rolexes himself. Here’s a Thomas touchdown run from 1997 against Ohio State. Watch the left guard (Hutchinson). Watch how far back he pushes his man. This is on a two-yard touchdown run.

That was Hutchinson as a redshirt freshman. He only got better. I rest my case.

Defense: Jarrett Irons, LB, 1993-1996

Jarrett Irons was too ferocious to be photographed in full color. This is for your safety.

Sometimes numbers don’t do justice to a player’s impact. That is not the case with Jarrett Irons. First of all, he missed all of one start his last three years. He appeared in all 49 games Michigan played in his four-year career. He had 100+ tackles in his final three seasons. His freshman year? 95 tackles. He tallied 29 career tackles for loss as an inside linebacker. He had 19 career pass breakups, good for ninth on Michigan’s career list. Oh, and his 449 career tackles sits behind only Ron Simpkins in the Wolverine record books.

Irons ushered in an era of tremendous Wolverine linebackers, supplanted by the likes of Gold, Jones, Hall, Hobson, and Foote. However, he was the best of the bunch in that period. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection (and probably deserved a third) as well as a two-time team captain, and he named first-team All-American as a senior. I don’t have much to add to this. All-Americans tend to speak for themselves. Irons lands at #7, and if he keeps staring at me like that, he may just get placed higher.

Agree? Disagree? Want to share your favorite Hutchinson and Irons moments? Be sure to drop a comment, and remember that I’ll be taking submissions for your top 15 offensive and defensive players (and top five special teamers) until I’m done with the list. Post your lists in the comments, or shoot me an email at ace@thewolverineblog.com, and I’ll compile the lists for the final post alongside the lists of members of The Wolverine staff. Make sure to check back every weekday: next I post the #6 players for offense and defense.

Link to all Top 15 of the Last 15 posts

The list so far:

Offense:
15. Marquise Walker
14. Chris Perry
13. Chad Henne
12. Jerame Tuman
11. Brian Griese
10. Anthony Thomas
9. Tom Brady
8. Mario Manningham
7. Steve Hutchinson

Defense:
15. William Carr
14. Leon Hall
13. Ian Gold
12. James Hall
11. Rob Renes
10. Alan Branch
9. Marcus Ray
8. Dhani Jones
7. Jarrett Irons

Special Teams:
5. Zoltan Mesko
4. Marquise Walker
3. Garrett Rivas
2. Steve Breaston
1. Remy Hamilton

Similar Posts:

• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Running Backs
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Interior Linemen
• Michigan’s Team of the Decade: Offense
• Fun With Team Photos: Team MVPs (1926-present)