With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the “aughts” now over, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. Now, your votes have been tallied, so it’s time for me to reveal the Michigan Team of the Decade. The offense went up yesterday; today, it’s time to reveal the defense.
For position groups with more than one winner, the players are listed in order of total votes received.
Alan Branch (2004-2006): Branch played both DE and DT in his Michigan career, but his best games came as a tackle. At 6-6, 331, he was a more athletic player than Watson, able to make a play in the backfield or chase a runner down past the line of scrimmage. After spending his freshman year as a backup, Branch split time between end and tackle in 2005, totaling 34 tackles (four for loss) with 2.5 sacks and earning the Dick Katcher Award as Michigan’s best defensive lineman. With the departure of Watson, Branch moved full-time to tackle in 2006, and helped anchor one of the greatest defenses in school history, tallying 25 tackles (five for loss), two sacks, an interception (against Ohio State, no less), and one bone-crushing hit on Anthony Morelli. He was a consensus All-Big Ten first-teamer, and was drafted with the first pick of the second round by Arizona in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Gabe Watson (2002-2005): Watson was a space-eating behemoth (listed at 6-4 and anywhere between 331 and 339 pounds during his career) who could move like a much smaller man, often penetrating into the backfield despite facing double-teams. He played sparingly in his first two seasons before breaking out as a junior, tallying 37 tackles (six for loss) and two sacks and earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. In his senior season, Watson put up nearly identical numbers, with 40 tackles (six for loss) and two sacks, and again was named first-team all-conference. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by Arizona.
LaMarr Woodley (2003-2006): Remember, children, guns don’t kill people — LaMarr Woodley kills people. Woodley, a coveted recruit from Saginaw, saw the field as a freshman before breaking out in his sophomore season, recording 70 tackles (16 for loss) and four sacks as an outside linebacker. As a rush linebacker in 2005, he added 12 more TFLs and six more sacks before moving full-time to defensive end in 2006. His senior season was his finest, as he tied the school single-season record with 12 sacks and 36 tackles (15 for loss), four forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. Woodley was named first-team All-America for his performance, and took home both the Ted Hendricks Award (best defensive end in the country) and Lombardi Award (best lineman, offensive or defensive, in the country) for his efforts. Woodley is third in school history in tackles for loss and tied for fourth in career sacks.
Brandon Graham (2006-2009): The heart and soul of the past two Michigan football teams (as well as the reigning two-time team MVP), Graham fought through constant double-teams to put up some of the finest defensive numbers in school history. After playing sparingly as a freshman, Graham burst onto the scene as a sophomore, tallying 9.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. In 2008, Graham took over as the focal point of Michigan’s defense, recording 46 tackles, leading the Big Ten with 20 tackles for loss, and notching ten sacks en route to being named second-team All-Big Ten and SI All-America honorable mention. His senior season was even more impressive, as Graham led the nation (through the end of the regular season) in tackles for loss with an astounding 26 among his 64 total tackles, adding 10.5 sacks and being named the Big Ten co-MVP, a Hendricks Award finalist, first-team All-Big Ten, and first-team All-American by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Graham is second in Michigan history in tackles for loss and career sacks.
David Harris (2003-2006): Harris went from little-used backup in his first two seasons to one of the finest linebackers in the country in his career at Michigan. His career nearly ended when he suffered a knee injury as a true freshman which kept him sidelined for nearly two seasons. After recording ten tackles as a redshirt sophomore, Harris had a breakout year in 2005, leading the team with 88 tackles and earning the Zatkoff Award. In 2006, Harris was the heart of one of the greatest defenses in school history, tallying 96 tackles (16 for loss), three sacks, and an interception, being named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches (the media, well, were idiots), taking home another Zatkoff Award, sharing team MVP with Mike Hart, and earning second-team All-America honors from the AP, Sports Illustrated, and Rivals.com.
Larry Foote (1998-2001): Foote wasn’t able to crack the starting lineup at Michigan until his junior season, but once he did, he became a force for the Wolverines. As a junior, he recorded 84 tackles (10 for loss), broke up seven passes, and recorded two interceptions en route to being named first-team All-Big Ten. He topped those numbers in his senior campaign, tallying 82 tackles, six sacks, seven pass breakups, and tying Mark Messner for the (then-) school record in tackles for loss with 26. Foote was again named first-team all-conference, won the Roger Zatkoff Award as the team’s most outstanding linebacker, and was named first-team All-America by Football News. Foote’s 44 career tackles for loss places him seventh in school history.
Victor Hobson (1999-2002): Hobson started 39 of his 49 career games with the Wolverines, and a consistent all-conference performer at outside linebacker in his final three seasons. After getting spot duty as a freshman, Hobson started ten games as a sophomore, amassing 58 tackles (12 for loss) and three sacks to earn All-Big Ten honorable mention and the Zatkoff Award as Michigan’s most outstanding linebacker. In his junior season, Hobson tallied 80 tackles (11 for loss) and five sacks and was named second-team All-Big Ten. As a senior, Hobson had his finest season, recording 99 tackles (13 for loss) and 5.5 sacks and earning first-team all-conference honors and another Zatkoff Award. Hobson’s 47 career tackles for loss places him fifth on Michigan’s all-time list.
Marlin Jackson (2001-2004): Yup, I’m being lazy again. A little help, Bentley?
A native of Sharon, Pa., Marlin Jackson earned first-team All-America honors from College Football News as a sophomore. Jackson has accumulated 98 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions and one fumble recovery in 24 career games at U-M. His 25 career pass break-ups places him fifth on Michigan’s all-time list. He was named to the Associated Press All-America second team and the Sporting News third team during his sophomore campaign. An All-Big Ten selection in 2002, Jackson set single game (six) and single season (18) pass break-up records and ranked sixth on the team with 51 tackles. Jackson earned Freshman All-America first team honors from the Sporting News after collecting 47 tackles, seven pass break-ups and three interceptions in 2001.
After switching to the safety position for his junior season, Jackson returned to the cornerback spot in 2004 and turned in another all-American performance. He earned first-team honors on the American Football Writers Association squad. A co-captain for the Wolverines, Jackson earned All-Big Ten first team honors from the coaches and media in 2004. Teams threw away from Jackson almost 87 percent of the time during the regular season. He contributed 38 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one interception and four pass breakups this year. Jackson is the team’s active career leader in tackles (186) and pass breakups (34), with his PBU total ranking second all-time on Michigan’s career list.
Jackson’s records for pass breakups in a single-game (six, against Washington in 2002) and season (18, 2002, now tied with Leon Hall’s 2006 season) still stand, and his career total (34) now ranks third all-time at Michigan behind Leon Hall and Todd Howard.
Leon Hall (2003-2006): Hall made an immediate impact upon reaching Ann Arbor, playing in all 13 games as a freshman and finishing the season with 26 tackles and three interceptions, earning first-team freshman All-America honors. As a sophomore, with Jackson sliding over to safety, Hall started nine games at corner, tallying 48 tackles, two interceptions, and breaking up ten passes. Hall took over the No. 1 cornerback spot as a junior, earning All-Big Ten second-team honors with 61 tackles and four interceptions. His finest year came as a senior, when Hall tied Jackson’s school record for pass breakups (18), recorded 45 tackles and three interceptions, was a unanimous choice for first-team All-Big Ten, and was named an AFCA first-team All-American. Hall holds the school record for pass breakups (43), and is tied for fourth with 12 career interceptions.
Ernest Shazor (2002-2004): Shazor, another blue-chip recruit out of Detroit, was a tremendous physical presence at strong safety for Michigan. In his redshirt freshman year, he appeared in 12 games as a reserve, tallying 25 tackles and four pass breakups. He took over as the Wolverines’ strong safety the next season, starting Michigan’s final 11 games and recording 57 tackles (eight for loss), three pass breakups, and two interceptions, and was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches. His best year came as a junior, when Shazor earned first-team All-American honors and was a finalist for the Thorpe Award with 84 tackles (10 for loss), two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and a touchdown. Shazor also delivered one of the most memorable hits in school history, sealing a 16-14 victory over 12th-ranked Purdue by forcing a fumble on the Boilermakers’ final possession. Shazor would declare for the NFL Draft after his junior season, but went undrafted and did not catch on after a tryout with the Arizona Cardinals.
Cato June (1999-2002): June, a highly-coveted recruit who chose Charles Woodson’s No. 2 jersey upon enrolling at Michigan, managed to put together a very solid collegiate career despite being plagued by injuries. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in all 12 games, starting the final four at free safety, and recorded 27 tackles and an interception. In the summer before his redshirt sophomore season, June tore his ACL, which caused him to miss the entirety of the 2000 season. He came back as a junior, starting 11 games between both safety spots and tallying 58 tackles (five for loss), four pass breakups, and two interceptions. As a senior, June started 11 of the team’s 13 games at strong safety, but was forced to miss the greater part of three games after suffering a concussion in a frightening collision against Iowa. He still managed to record 53 tackles (four for loss) and three pass breakups, and was named All-Big Ten honorable mention. June became the first Michigan safety to be drafted since Corwin Brown in 1993 when he was chosen by Indianapolis in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft.
The team of the decade, condensed version (including special teams, which weren’t voted upon):
QB: Chad Henne
RB: Mike Hart
FB: B.J. Askew
WR: Braylon Edwards
WR: Mario Manningham
WR: David Terrell
TE: Bennie Joppru
T: Jake Long
T: Jeff Backus
G: Steve Hutchinson
G: Adam Kraus
C: David Baas
PK: Garrett Rivas
KR: Steve Breaston
DT: Alan Branch
DT: Gabe Watson
DE: LaMarr Woodley
DE: Brandon Graham
LB: David Harris
LB: Larry Foote
LB: Victor Hobson
CB: Marlin Jackson
CB: Leon Hall
S: Ernest Shazor
S: Cato June
P: Zoltan Mesko
PR: Steve Breaston (Yes, he’s also the KR. If you think that’s a cop-out, slide Darryl Stonum to KR and keep Breaston here.)
Thanks again to everyone that voted. I might have a few nitpicks with the team — I would’ve chosen Dudley at fullback, just because you don’t really need another running threat with Mike Hart in the backfield, and having a strong blocking back would complement him, and I was torn between June and Jamar Adams at safety — but for the most part I’m very happy with how it came out. Feel free to post your thoughts/disagreements about the team in the comments.
After a nice, longer-than-expected winter vacation, I’m back to regular posting. I would have some wrap-ups on the hoops games against Indiana and Ohio State, but obligations outside my control made it so I couldn’t actually watch the games. As always, UMHoops and MGoBlogshould have you covered for basketball stuff.
With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the “aughts” now over, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. Now, your votes have been tallied, so it’s time for me to reveal the Michigan Team of the Decade. First up is the offense; I’ll post up the defense tomorrow.
For position groups with more than one winner, the players are listed in order of total votes received.
Chad Henne (2004-2007): The first true freshman to start for Michigan since the legendary Rick Leach, Henne made quick work of the lion’s share of Navarre’s school records. He was named to the freshman All-American team after throwing for 2743 yards and 25 touchdowns in his first collegiate season, leading the team to a conference title and Rose Bowl bid. Although he was criticized as a sophomore after a 3-3 start (it’s not really Henne’s fault that he no longer had Braylon Edwards to throw to), he still put up impressive numbers, throwing for 2526 yards and 23 touchdowns. His finest season came as a junior, when Henne completed 61.9% of his passes, threw for 2508 yards and 22 touchdowns (to only eight interceptions), and posted an efficiency rating of 143.4. Henne struggled with injuries as a senior in 2007, but still finished his career as Michigan’s all-time leader in attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, and 150-yard passing games.
Mike Hart (2004-2007): Despite lacking the size or speed of a prototype collegiate running back, and being criticized for putting up incredible high school numbers against inferior competition, Mike Hart earned his way into the starting lineup as a true freshman and never relinquished his spot, breaking record after record along the way. Besides an injury-plagued sophomore campaign, Hart had a magnificent year every season he played for the Wolverines: 1455 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman, 1562 and 14 as a junior, and 1361 and 14 as a senior. His 5040 career rushing yards surpassed Thomas’ mark as the best in school history, as did his 28 (!) career 100-yard games, which also included 12 150-yard games and five 200-yard games (both school records). His three straight 200-yard performances as a freshman may stand as his most impressive achievement, but it was his running style — a 5′8 bowling ball in cleats, never succumbing to first contact — that endeared him to Michigan fans.
B.J. Askew (1999-2002): Askew started his career as a tailback, splitting carries with Chris Perry in his junior season before Perry proved himself capable of being a feature back in 2002. With Perry getting the lion’s share of the carries, Askew moved to fullback, where he became a dangerous option as both a runner and receiver. Askew’s best season statistically was 2001, when he rushed for over 900 yards as a tailback, but as a fullback in 2002 still managed to rush for 568 yards and six touchdowns while adding 36 catches for 280 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Braylon Edwards (2001-2004): There’s very little left to say about this man’s collegiate career that hasn’t already been said: the man now reserves the right to choose which Wolverine receiver (if any) is deserving of the #1 jersey. That should say it all. If not, here are a few moving pictures to jog your memory:
Edwards is first all-time at Michigan in every career receiving category worth mentioning.
Mario Manningham (2005-2007): Manningham earned a place in Wolverine lore early, as his game-winning touchdown reception with no time remaining in the 2005 Penn State game made him a household name (at least in Michigan) as a freshman. He finished with 27 catches for 433 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman; 38, 703, and nine as a sophomore, and capped off his career with 1174 yards and 12 touchdowns on 72 receptions as a junior. He also had one of the finest games in school history against Notre Dame in 2006, tally three scores and 137 yards on only four catches. And, since there appears to be no YouTube video of just his touchdowns in that game (a crime, if you ask me), I’ll have to settle for posting his 2007 game-winning TD against Michigan State, a play that is one of my personal favorites, since I was standing in the Spartan student section (dressed in maize, of course) when it happened:
Manningham is ninth in school history in career receptions, fifth in yards, and fourth in touchdowns.
David Terrell (1998-2000): After a quiet freshman season, Terrell earned the “1″ on his jersey in his sophomore and junior seasons before becoming one of the aforementioned top ten picks in the NFL draft. As a sophomore, Terrell hauled in 71 passes for 1038 yards and seven touchdowns, including a 10-catch, 150-yard, three-touchdown performance in the 2000 Orange Bowl against Alabama. Impressively, there was only one game in 1999 in which Terrell didn’t have a catch of at least 21 yards. The 6-3 big-play machine followed up with 67 catches for 1130 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior before deciding to go pro early. Terrell is sixth all-time at Michigan in career receptions, fourth in receiving yards, fifth in touchdowns, and fourth in 100-yard games.
Bennie Joppru (1999-2002): Joppru broke out as a senior after three years of backup duty at tight end, setting the single-season school record for catches by a tight end in 2002 with 53, going for 579 yards and five touchdowns. The sure-handed option was a first down machine, and earned AP All-America third-team honors for his record-setting performance. Joppru is fourth in career receptions for a tight end at Michigan, and ninth in career receiving yards.
Jake Long (2004-2007): We’ll go chronologically here, since there’s so much to say about Jake Long:
After redshirting in 2003, Long was living in a house shared by several U-M players in the summer of 2004 when the house caught fire at 4 am. He escaped the fire by jumping from a second-story window onto the hood of a car, covered in soot. He initially declined medical attention, but was convinced to check into the hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and released two days later. Thus begins the legend of Jake Long, Badass.
After sitting behind Mike Kolodziej for the first two games of 2004, Long took over as the starting right tackle, starting eight games on the season and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches.
Long suffered an ankle injury in August 2005 that forced him to undergo surgery and have two pins inserted into his left ankle. He returned a week earlier than expected, in the eighth game of the season against Iowa. He relieved Rueben Riley at right tackle in the third possession of the first quarter, and was the lead blocker for Jerome Jackson’s game-winning touchdown run in overtime. Long suffered another leg injury two weeks later, against Indiana, and was thought to be lost for the season when he reappeared wearing a protective boot in the second half. Instead, he started the next week against Ohio State, and also the bowl game against Nebraska.
In 2006, Long moved to left tackle, starting all 13 games at the position. He was also named co-captain of the team. Long was a consensus All-American, Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten, and the Rader Award winner. Instead of leaving for the NFL, where he was a projected first-round draft pick, Long decided to return to Michigan. His decision was the reason Mike Hart decided to stay for his senior year.
As a senior, Long was even more dominant, again being named the Rader Award winner, Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team all-conference, as well as earning the distinction of being the only unanimous 2007 All-American, and was a finalist for the Lombardi and Outland trophies.
In 2008, Long was taken with the first overall pick of the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
So, yeah, not a bad career.
Jeff Backus (1997-2000): Backus, who started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 1997, was named All-Big Ten in all four years he played at Michigan, including consensus first-team honors in 2000. He finished his career with 49 consecutive starts, second all-time at Michigan, and was named a second-team All-American by the College Football News and ABC Sports as a senior. Backus earned the Hugh J. Rader Award as the team’s top offensive lineman in both his junior (sole winner) and senior (sharing with Steve Hutchinson and Maurice Williams) seasons. Backus was selected with the 18th pick of the first round by the Detroit Lions in the 2001 NFL Draft.
Steve Hutchinson (1997-2000): I’ll let the Bentley Historical Library take care of this one:
Steve Hutchinson capped an outstanding career with his selection as a consensus All-American in 2000 after earning first team accolades from CNN/Sports Illustrated during the 1999. Hutchinson, a two-time captain for the Wolverines, was a four-year starter and letterman at left guard. He made 45 career starts and did not allow a sack during his final two seasons. Hutchinson became the fourth player in Big Ten Conference history to be named to the All-Conference first-team all four years, joining Mark Messner as the only other Wolverine to achieve the honor. A native of Coral Springs, FL, Hutchinson was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy Award. He was the 17th player selected in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
Yeah, he’s probably deserving of a spot on this team.
David Baas (2001-2004): Baas was a standout wherever he played on the line, starting 38 straight games to end his career at left guard and center. He earned first-team All-Big Ten in 2002 and 2003 at guard, then shifted over to center five games into the 2004 season. That move went well, as Baas once again was named first-team all-conference, as well as consensus All-American honors and the co-recipient of the Rimington Award, given to the nation’s top center. He is a two-time winner of the Rader Award, sharing it in 2003 and winning it outright as a senior. Baas was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers with the first pick of the second round in the 2005 NFL Draft.
Adam Kraus (2004-2007): Entering Michigan in 2003 as a tight end, Kraus took a redshirt year and bulked up to become a solid interior lineman. He started eight games at center as a redshirt sophomore, 13 games at left guard as a junior, and started all 13 games in 2007 (eight at LG, five at center). Kraus was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, earning the honor in 2006 and 2007.
The Offense, Condensed Version (including special teams, which weren’t voted upon):
QB: Chad Henne
RB: Mike Hart
FB: B.J. Askew
WR: Braylon Edwards
WR: Mario Manningham
WR: David Terrell
TE: Bennie Joppru
T: Jake Long
T: Jeff Backus
G: Steve Hutchinson
G: Adam Kraus
C: David Baas
PK: Garrett Rivas
KR: Steve Breaston
The defense will be posted tomorrow. Thanks to everyone that voted.
Ernest Shazor gave Michigan a physical presence at strong safety.
With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the decade coming to a close, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. So, I’ve come up with a list of nominees for every position, and I’ll be posting two position groups every day for the next week, leaving it up to you to vote for who should make the team. At the end of the month, I’ll tally up the votes and reveal the team of the decade. Next up are the safeties:
This is going to be the last team of the decade post that I open up to a vote (I’m just going to pick the special teams, since I think the choices are rather obvious — Rivas, Mesko, Breaston), and also my last post before I take a break for the holidays. The voting will stay open until some undetermined time after New Year’s, and I’ll have a big summary post that includes all the polls to make voting a little easier. Without further ado, here are the safety nominees:
Cato June (1999-2002): June, a highly-coveted recruit who chose Charles Woodson’s No. 2 jersey upon enrolling at Michigan, managed to put together a very solid collegiate career despite being plagued by injuries. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in all 12 games, starting the final four at free safety, and recorded 27 tackles and an interception. In the summer before his redshirt sophomore season, June tore his ACL, which caused him to miss the entirety of the 2000 season. He came back as a junior, starting 11 games between both safety spots and tallying 58 tackles (five for loss), four pass breakups, and two interceptions. As a senior, June started 11 of the team’s 13 games at strong safety, but was forced to miss the greater part of three games after suffering a concussion in a frightening collision against Iowa. He still managed to record 53 tackles (four for loss) and three pass breakups, and was named All-Big Ten honorable mention. June became the first Michigan safety to be drafted since Corwin Brown in 1993 when he was chosen by Indianapolis in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft.
Ernest Shazor (2002-2004): Shazor, another blue-chip recruit out of Detroit, was a tremendous physical presence at strong safety for Michigan. In his redshirt freshman year, he appeared in 12 games as a reserve, tallying 25 tackles and four pass breakups. He took over as the Wolverines’ strong safety the next season, starting Michigan’s final 11 games and recording 57 tackles (eight for loss), three pass breakups, and two interceptions, and was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches. His best year came as a junior, when Shazor earned first-team All-American honors and was a finalist for the Thorpe Award with 84 tackles (10 for loss), two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and a touchdown. Shazor also delivered one of the most memorable hits in school history, sealing a 16-14 victory over 12th-ranked Purdue by forcing a fumble on the Boilermakers’ final possession:
Shazor would declare for the NFL Draft after his junior season, but went undrafted and did not catch on after a tryout with the Arizona Cardinals.
Brandent Englemon (2004-2007): Unlike June and Shazor, Englemon was a relative unknown as a high school recruit, coming into Michigan as just a two-star prospect. After spending his freshman season as a reserve, Englemon took over Shazor’s vacated strong safety spot in 2005, making 42 tackles. Englemon shifted over to free safety as a junior, recording 29 tackles while splitting time with Ryan Mundy. He earned the permanent starting role at free safety in 2007, and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention with an 86-tackle, three-interception performance in his senior season.
Jamar Adams (2004-2007): After spending most of his freshman year on special teams, Adams started eight games between the two safety positions as as sophomore, making 27 tackles. As a junior, Adams started 12 games at strong safety, recording 47 tackles (three for loss), six pass breakups, and an interception en route to being named second team All-Big Ten. In his senior season, Adams started all 13 games at strong safety, tallying 92 tackles (2.5 for loss), 10 pass breakups, and three interceptions, again earning second-team all-conference honors. Against Penn State, Adams tied the second-best single-game mark in school history with five pass breakups. He currently sits 12th on the career list with 22 pass breakups.
Solo
Assists
Total Tackles
TFL
Sacks
Pass Breakups
Interceptions
Touchdowns
Cato June
102
36
138
10.0
6.0
8
3
0
Ernest Shazor
125
41
166
19.0
3.0
8
4
1
Brandent Englemon
110
60
170
6.0
3.0
10
3
0
Jamar Adams
105
67
172
6.5
2.0
18
4
0
Who are your safeties of the decade (pick two)?
Jamar Adams (33%, 70 Votes)
Brandent Englemon (7%, 16 Votes)
Ernest Shazor (79%, 170 Votes)
Cato June (-19%, 108 Votes)
Total Voters: 214
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I hope everyone has a safe and happy holidays. May 2010 be a much better year for Michigan sports than 2009 was.
Leon Hall is Michigan's all-time leader in pass breakups.
With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the decade coming to a close, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. So, I’ve come up with a list of nominees for every position, and I’ll be posting two position groups every day for the next week, leaving it up to you to vote for who should make the team. At the end of the month, I’ll tally up the votes and reveal the team of the decade. Next up are the cornerbacks:
Michigan has had a long-standing tradition of having at least one outstanding cornerback on the roster, and the 2000s have been no different. There’s not many nominees at the position, but it’s tough to question the quality of the guys listed below.
Marlin Jackson (2001-2004): Yup, I’m being lazy again. A little help, Bentley?
A native of Sharon, Pa., Marlin Jackson earned first-team All-America honors from College Football News as a sophomore. Jackson has accumulated 98 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions and one fumble recovery in 24 career games at U-M. His 25 career pass break-ups places him fifth on Michigan’s all-time list. He was named to the Associated Press All-America second team and the Sporting News third team during his sophomore campaign. An All-Big Ten selection in 2002, Jackson set single game (six) and single season (18) pass break-up records and ranked sixth on the team with 51 tackles. Jackson earned Freshman All-America first team honors from the Sporting News after collecting 47 tackles, seven pass break-ups and three interceptions in 2001.
After switching to the safety position for his junior season, Jackson returned to the cornerback spot in 2004 and turned in another all-American performance. He earned first-team honors on the American Football Writers Association squad. A co-captain for the Wolverines, Jackson earned All-Big Ten first team honors from the coaches and media in 2004. Teams threw away from Jackson almost 87 percent of the time during the regular season. He contributed 38 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one interception and four pass breakups this year. Jackson is the team’s active career leader in tackles (186) and pass breakups (34), with his PBU total ranking second all-time on Michigan’s career list.
Jackson’s records for pass breakups in a single-game (six, against Washington in 2002) and season (18, 2002, now tied with Leon Hall’s 2006 season) still stand, and his career total (34) now ranks third all-time at Michigan behind Leon Hall and Todd Howard.
Leon Hall (2003-2006): Hall made an immediate impact upon reaching Ann Arbor, playing in all 13 games as a freshman and finishing the season with 26 tackles and three interceptions, earning first-team freshman All-America honors. As a sophomore, with Jackson sliding over to safety, Hall started nine games at corner, tallying 48 tackles, two interceptions, and breaking up ten passes. Hall took over the No. 1 cornerback spot as a junior, earning All-Big Ten second-team honors with 61 tackles and four interceptions. His finest year came as a senior, when Hall tied Jackson’s school record for pass breakups (18), recorded 45 tackles and three interceptions, was a unanimous choice for first-team All-Big Ten, and was named an AFCA first-team All-American. Hall holds the school record for pass breakups (43), and is tied for fourth with 12 career interceptions.
Donovan Warren (2007-2009): Donovan Warren came to Michigan as a five-star recruit, and was heralded as the next great Michigan corner after Ty Law, Charles Woodson, Jackson, and Hall. Although a combination of injuries, poor overall defenses, and unfair hype led to him not living up to the very lofty expectations, Warren still had a very solid career at Michigan. Warren started 11 games as a true freshman, recording 52 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception, and was named Big Ten Defensive Freshman of the Year by the Sporting News. As a sophomore, Warren battled through injuries, but still managed to record 52 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception as he took over No. 1 corner duties. In his junior (and final) season, Warren put it all together, recording 66 tackles, seven pass breakups, and four interceptions, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and second-team all-conference from the coaches before announcing his intention to enter the NFL Draft. Warren’s 17 career pass breakups leaves him 17th on Michigan’s all-time list.
Shawn Crable always found a way into opponents' backfields in 2007, setting the single-season school record for tackles for loss.
With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the decade coming to a close, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. So, I’ve come up with a list of nominees for every position, and I’ll be posting two position groups every day for the next week, leaving it up to you to vote for who should make the team. At the end of the month, I’ll tally up the votes and reveal the team of the decade. Next up are the linebackers:
[A quick note: Michigan's defensive statistics, as kept in their database, are a bit wacky and not always consistent with their player bios or the actual team record book. The career stats are based off of the database, while I'll do my best to double-check the season stats against the record book and player bios. Just keep that in mind if the numbers don't add up or if you've seen a different figure.]
Due to blogger laziness and an attempt to keep this whole thing moving, I’m lumping in all the linebackers together. Lame, I know. Michigan has seen several quality linebackers come through Ann Arbor in the last decade, especially on the standout 2006 squad. Let’s take a look at the nominees:
Larry Foote (1998-2001): Foote wasn’t able to crack the starting lineup at Michigan until his junior season, but once he did, he became a force for the Wolverines. As a junior, he recorded 84 tackles (10 for loss), broke up seven passes, and recorded two interceptions en route to being named first-team All-Big Ten. He topped those numbers in his senior campaign, tallying 82 tackles, six sacks, seven pass breakups, and tying Mark Messner for the (then-) school record in tackles for loss with 26. Foote was again named first-team all-conference, won the Roger Zatkoff Award as the team’s most outstanding linebacker, and was named first-team All-America by Football News. Foote’s 44 career tackles for loss places him seventh in school history.
Victor Hobson (1999-2002): Hobson started 39 of his 49 career games with the Wolverines, and a consistent all-conference performer at outside linebacker in his final three seasons. After getting spot duty as a freshman, Hobson started ten games as a sophomore, amassing 58 tackles (12 for loss) and three sacks to earn All-Big Ten honorable mention and the Zatkoff Award as Michigan’s most outstanding linebacker. In his junior season, Hobson tallied 80 tackles (11 for loss) and five sacks and was named second-team All-Big Ten. As a senior, Hobson had his finest season, recording 99 tackles (13 for loss) and 5.5 sacks and earning first-team all-conference honors and another Zatkoff Award. Hobson’s 47 career tackles for loss places him fifth on Michigan’s all-time list.
Lawrence Reid (2002-2004): Although a nerve problem cut his career short after his junior season, Lawrence Reid made quite an impact while he was able to play for Michigan. After playing sparingly as a freshman, Reid recorded 82 tackles (five for loss) as in 2003, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention and the Zatkoff Award as the team’s best linebacker. Then, despite playing through pain through much of the season, Reid recorded 70 tackles (12 for loss), three sacks, and an interception in his junior season before his playing career came to an end.
David Harris (2003-2006): Harris went from little-used backup in his first two seasons to one of the finest linebackers in the country in his career at Michigan. His career nearly ended when he suffered a knee injury as a true freshman which kept him sidelined for nearly two seasons. After recording ten tackles as a redshirt sophomore, Harris had a breakout year in 2005, leading the team with 88 tackles and earning the Zatkoff Award. In 2006, Harris was the heart of one of the greatest defenses in school history, tallying 96 tackles (16 for loss), three sacks, and an interception, being named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches (the media, well, were idiots), taking home another Zatkoff Award, sharing team MVP with Mike Hart, and earning second-team All-America honors from the AP, Sports Illustrated, and Rivals.com.
Prescott Burgess (2003-2006): Burgess, a blue-chip safety recruit coming out of high school, grew into the outside linebacker position and earned a starting role by his junior season. As a junior, Burgess had his best season statistically, recording 81 tackles (four for loss), two interceptions, and breaking up five passes, and he was named all-conference honorable mention. Burgess teamed with David Harris and Shawn Crable to form Michigan’s fearsome linebacker corps in 2006, tallying 48 tackles (six for loss), three sacks, and two huge interceptions in Michigan’s 47-21 shellacking of then-No. 2 Notre Dame, returning one for a touchdown. He was again named All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Shawn Crable (2004-2007): Crable played sparingly in his first two seasons before earning a starting role on the 2006 defense, recording 11 tackles for loss and six sacks among 37 total tackles and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches. However, it was Crable’s senior season that earned him a spot on this list. In 2007, he tallied 90 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles while setting a single-season school record with 28.5 tackles for loss. Crable was again named second-team all-conference, and also earned Walter Camp second-team All-America honors while inexplicably losing the Zatkoff Award to Chris Graham. Crable’s 43 career tackles for loss places him eighth in school history.
Career Stats:
Solo
Assists
Tackles
TFL
Sacks
FF
FR
Int
Def TDs
Larry Foote
145
67
212
39.0
11.0
2
2
2
0
Victor Hobson
205
72
277
41.0
14.5
4
2
2
0
Lawrence Reid
116
49
165
18.0
5.0
1
3
1
0
David Harris
136
60
196
19.0
3.5
3
4
1
0
Prescott Burgess
102
69
171
10.0
4.0
2
2
4
1
Shawn Crable
103
44
147
43.5
17.5
7
2
0
0
Who are your linebackers of the decade (pick two)?
Brandon Graham is second in school history with 29.5 career sacks.
With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the decade coming to a close, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. So, I’ve come up with a list of nominees for every position, and I’ll be posting two position groups every day for the next week, leaving it up to you to vote for who should make the team. At the end of the month, I’ll tally up the votes and reveal the team of the decade. Next up are the defensive ends:
Normally, I’m all for the democratic process. There are, however, extenuating circumstances that can lead to me changing my mind. This is one of those times. Allow me to introduce you to your two defensive ends on the Team of the Decade. You won’t be mad, I promise.
LaMarr Woodley (2003-2006): Remember, children, guns don’t kill people — LaMarr Woodley kills people. Woodley, a coveted recruit from Saginaw, saw the field as a freshman before breaking out in his sophomore season, recording 70 tackles (16 for loss) and four sacks as an outside linebacker. As a rush linebacker in 2005, he added 12 more TFLs and six more sacks before moving full-time to defensive end in 2006. His senior season was his finest, as he tied the school single-season record with 12 sacks and 36 tackles (15 for loss), four forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. Woodley was named first-team All-America for his performance, and took home both the Ted Hendricks Award (best defensive end in the country) and Lombardi Award (best lineman, offensive or defensive, in the country) for his efforts. Woodley is third in school history in tackles for loss and tied for fourth in career sacks.
Brandon Graham (2006-2009): The heart and soul of the past two Michigan football teams (as well as the reigning two-time team MVP), Graham fought through constant double-teams to put up some of the finest defensive numbers in school history. After playing sparingly as a freshman, Graham burst onto the scene as a sophomore, tallying 9.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. In 2008, Graham took over as the focal point of Michigan’s defense, recording 46 tackles, leading the Big Ten with 20 tackles for loss, and notching ten sacks en route to being named second-team All-Big Ten and SI All-America honorable mention. His senior season was even more impressive, as Graham led the nation (through the end of the regular season) in tackles for loss with an astounding 26 among his 64 total tackles, adding 10.5 sacks and being named the Big Ten co-MVP, a Hendricks Award finalist, first-team All-Big Ten, and first-team All-American by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Graham is second in Michigan history in tackles for loss and career sacks.
With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the decade coming to a close, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. So, I’ve come up with a list of nominees for every position, and I’ll be posting two position groups every day for the next week, leaving it up to you to vote for who should make the team. At the end of the month, I’ll tally up the votes and reveal the team of the decade. Next up are the defensive tackles:
Michigan spent much of the decade switching between a 4-3 and a 3-4 look, and in the early part of the 2000s had a hard time finding a quality successor to All-American nose tackle Rob Renes. They would find worthy DTs in the latter part of the decade — let’s take a look at the nominees:
Gabe Watson (2002-2005): Watson was a space-eating behemoth (listed at 6-4 and anywhere between 331 and 339 pounds during his career) who could move like a much smaller man, often penetrating into the backfield despite facing double-teams. He played sparingly in his first two seasons before breaking out as a junior, tallying 37 tackles (six for loss) and two sacks and earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. In his senior season, Watson put up nearly identical numbers, with 40 tackles (six for loss) and two sacks, and again was named first-team all-conference. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by Arizona.
Alan Branch (2004-2006): Branch played both DE and DT in his Michigan career, but his best games came as a tackle. At 6-6, 331, he was a more athletic player than Watson, able to make a play in the backfield or chase a runner down past the line of scrimmage. After spending his freshman year as a backup, Branch split time between end and tackle in 2005, totaling 34 tackles (four for loss) with 2.5 sacks and earning the Dick Katcher Award as Michigan’s best defensive lineman. With the departure of Watson, Branch moved full-time to tackle in 2006, and helped anchor one of the greatest defenses in school history, tallying 25 tackles (five for loss), two sacks, an interception (against Ohio State, no less), and one bone-crushing hit on Anthony Morelli. He was a consensus All-Big Ten first-teamer, and was drafted with the first pick of the second round by Arizona in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Terrance Taylor (2005-2008): After appearing in ten games (but only recording one tackle) as a freshman, Taylor earned a spot in the starting lineup alongside Branch in 2006, making 23 tackles (five for loss) and one sack. As a junior, he had his best season statistically, tallying 55 tackles (8.5 for loss) and 3.5 sacks, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. Taylor’s senior year was a bit of a disappointment (as was the 2008 season as a whole), as he finished with 35 tackles (four for loss) and just 1.5 sacks. He was picked in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by Indianapolis.
Will Johnson (2005-2008): Johnson spent his first two seasons as a backup before breaking into the starting lineup alongside Taylor in 2007. His junior season was his best, as he recorded 40 tackles (2.5 for loss) and 0.5 sacks and earned the Katcher Award as the team’s best defensive lineman. Johnson followed up that performance with 29 tackles (three for loss) and two sacks as a senior in 2008.
Career Stats:
Solo
Assists
Total Tackles
TFL
Yards
Sacks
Yards
FF
FR
Gabe Watson
59
33
92
13.0
41
4.0
22
1
1
Alan Branch
37
24
61
11.0
59
6.5
38
3
3
Terrance Taylor
59
55
114
17.5
68
6.0
48
0
4
Will Johnson
39
42
81
7.5
34
4.0
27
0
1
Who are your defensive tackles of the decade (pick two)?
Center/guard David Baas won two Hugh J. Rader Awards as Michigan's best offensive linemen.
With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the decade coming to a close, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. So, I’ve come up with a list of nominees for every position, and I’ll be posting two position groups every day for the next week, leaving it up to you to vote for who should make the team. At the end of the month, I’ll tally up the votes and reveal the team of the decade. Next up are the interior linemen:
The list of Michigan’s tackles over the past decade was impressive, to say the least, but the interior linemen from the 2000s are just as remarkable. Let’s take a look at the nominees at center and guard:
Steve Hutchinson (1997-2000): I’ll let the Bentley Historical Library take care of this one:
Steve Hutchinson capped an outstanding career with his selection as a consensus All-American in 2000 after earning first team accolades from CNN/Sports Illustrated during the 1999. Hutchinson, a two-time captain for the Wolverines, was a four-year starter and letterman at left guard. He made 45 career starts and did not allow a sack during his final two seasons. Hutchinson became the fourth player in Big Ten Conference history to be named to the All-Conference first-team all four years, joining Mark Messner as the only other Wolverine to achieve the honor. A native of Coral Springs, FL, Hutchinson was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy Award. He was the 17th player selected in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
Yeah, he’s probably deserving of a spot on this team.
Jonathan Goodwin (1999-2001): Goodwin began his collegiate career at Ohio University before transferring to Michigan in 1998. After playing as a reserve in 1999, Goodwin took over as the starting right guard in 2000 before shifting over to Hutchinson’s vacated left guard spot as a senior. A versatile lineman — Goodwin made appearances at center, left guard, right guard, and even started at right tackle for a game in 2001 — he was named first-team All-Big Ten as a senior in 2001. Goodwin was selected in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
Kurt Anderson (1998-2001): The brother of former Wolverine All-American linebacker Erick Anderson, Kurt began his Michigan career on the defensive side of the ball as well before moving to the offensive line as a redshirt junior. After a season backing up David Brandt, Anderson started all 12 games in 2001 at center, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention and the Hugh J. Rader Award as Michigan’s best offensive lineman.
Dave Pearson (2000-2003): Another defensive lineman-turned-center, Pearson started every game of his final two seasons for the Wolverines. He helped pave the way for Chris Perry’s 2003 Doak Walker Award-winning season, earning second-team All-Big Ten and sharing the Rader Award with Tony Pape and David Baas that season.
David Baas (2001-2004): Baas was a standout wherever he played on the line, starting 38 straight games to end his career at left guard and center. He earned first-team All-Big Ten in 2002 and 2003 at guard, then shifted over to center five games into the 2004 season. That move went well, as Baas once again was named first-team all-conference, as well as consensus All-American honors and the co-recipient of the Rimington Award, given to the nation’s top center. He is a two-time winner of the Rader Award, sharing it in 2003 and winning it outright as a senior. Baas was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers with the first pick of the second round in the 2005 NFL Draft.
Matt Lentz (2002-2005): A huge (6-5, 320 lbs.) guard, Lentz was a road-grater who helped pave the way for Chris Perry and Mike Hart during his Michigan career.In his final three seasons, he started 36 of a possible 37 games at right guard. Although overshadowed by fellow starters Tony Pape, David Baas, and Jake Long during his Wolverine career, Lentz made the All-Big Ten first-team in his junior and senior seasons.
Adam Kraus (2004-2007): Entering Michigan in 2003 as a tight end, Kraus took a redshirt year and bulked up to become a solid interior lineman. He started eight games at center as a redshirt sophomore, 13 games at left guard as a junior, and started all 13 games in 2007 (eight at LG, five at center). Kraus was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, earning the honor in 2006 and 2007.
Who are your interior linemen of the decade (pick two)?
Jake Long's tremendous collegiate career made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.
With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the decade coming to a close, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. So, I’ve come up with a list of nominees for every position, and I’ll be posting two position groups every day for the next week, leaving it up to you to vote for who should make the team. At the end of the month, I’ll tally up the votes and reveal the team of the decade. Next up are the offensive tackles:
Michigan has a long tradition of great offensive line play, and the 2000’s did nothing to break that tradition, as the Wolverines produced a No. 1 overall draft pick, three All-Americans, and eight players that made at least one All-Big Ten first team. Let’s take a look at the nominees at tackle:
Jeff Backus (1997-2000): Backus, who started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman in 1997, was named All-Big Ten in all four years he played at Michigan, including consensus first-team honors in 2000. He finished his career with 49 consecutive starts, second all-time at Michigan, and was named a second-team All-American by the College Football News and ABC Sports as a senior. Backus earned the Hugh J. Rader Award as the team’s top offensive lineman in both his junior (sole winner) and senior (sharing with Steve Hutchinson and Maurice Williams) seasons. Backus was selected with the 18th pick of the first round by the Detroit Lions in the 2001 NFL Draft.
Maurice Williams (1997-2000): After spending most of his first three seasons as a back, Williams started all 12 games in the 2000 season, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention and sharing the Rader Award with Jeff Backus and Steve Hutchinson. On the strength of his senior year performance, Williams was selected by Jacksonville with the 43rd pick of the 2001 NFL Draft.
Tony Pape (2000-2003): Pape was a three-year starter who was equally adept at both tackle positions, starting 37 of his 45 career games for the Wolverines, including 31 consecutive starts. He was a two-time Rader Award winner, as well as a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. Pape was selected in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Gets bonus points for the Fat Elvis look.
Adam Stenavich (2002-2005): Stenavich was Michigan’s full-time starter at left tackle from 2003-2005, starting every game in that span except the 2005 Rose Bowl, which he was suspended for due to an arrest at a hometown bar. He was named first-team All-Big Ten as a junior, and was the Rader Award winner and a second-team all-conference performer in his senior season.
Jake Long (2004-2007): We’ll go chronologically here, since there’s so much to say about Jake Long:
After redshirting in 2003, Long was living in a house shared by several U-M players in the summer of 2004 when the house caught fire at 4 am. He escaped the fire by jumping from a second-story window onto the hood of a car, covered in soot. He initially declined medical attention, but was convinced to check into the hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and released two days later. Thus begins the legend of Jake Long, Badass.
After sitting behind Mike Kolodziej for the first two games of 2004, Long took over as the starting right tackle, starting eight games on the season and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches.
Long suffered an ankle injury in August 2005 that forced him to undergo surgery and have two pins inserted into his left ankle. He returned a week earlier than expected, in the eighth game of the season against Iowa. He relieved Rueben Riley at right tackle in the third possession of the first quarter, and was the lead blocker for Jerome Jackson’s game-winning touchdown run in overtime. Long suffered another leg injury two weeks later, against Indiana, and was thought to be lost for the season when he reappeared wearing a protective boot in the second half. Instead, he started the next week against Ohio State, and also the bowl game against Nebraska.
In 2006, Long moved to left tackle, starting all 13 games at the position. He was also named co-captain of the team. Long was a consensus All-American, Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten, and the Rader Award winner. Instead of leaving for the NFL, where he was a projected first-round draft pick, Long decided to return to Michigan. His decision was the reason Mike Hart decided to stay for his senior year.
As a senior, Long was even more dominant, again being named the Rader Award winner, Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team all-conference, as well as earning the distinction of being the only unanimous 2007 All-American, and was a finalist for the Lombardi and Outland trophies.
In 2008, Long was taken with the first overall pick of the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
Bennie Joppru set the single-season school record for receptions by a tight end in 2002.
With Michigan’s 2009 season wrapped up, and the decade coming to a close, I thought I would steal an idea from Dr. Saturday and have my readers vote on a Team of the Decade. So, I’ve come up with a list of nominees for every position, and I’ll be posting two position groups every day for the next week, leaving it up to you to vote for who should make the team. At the end of the month, I’ll tally up the votes and reveal the team of the decade. Next up are the tight ends and fullbacks:
Okay, I’m cheating a little and lumping in the tight end post with the fullback post — both came up a little short in excitement and number of nominees to warrant their own post. First, the tight end nominees:
Bennie Joppru (1999-2002): Joppru broke out as a senior after three years of backup duty at tight end, setting the single-season school record for catches by a tight end in 2002 with 53, going for 579 yards and five touchdowns. The sure-handed option was a first down machine, and earned AP All-America third-team honors for his record-setting performance. Joppru is fourth in career receptions for a tight end at Michigan, and ninth in career receiving yards.
Tyler Ecker (2003-2006): Ecker never had a season that compared with Joppru’s senior campaign, but over the last three years of his career he was a consistent threat — when healthy — going over the middle for Michigan. His finest season came as a junior, when he registered 21 catches for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Ecker sits ninth all-time for career tight end receptions at Michigan.
Tim Massaquoi (2002-2005): The talented Massaquoi started games at tight end in each of his final three seasons at Michigan, but was never quite able to consistently contribute, and split time with the more sure-handed Ecker and Andy Mignery during that time. His best season came in 2003, when he recorded 15 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Kevin Koger (2008-present): The four-star talent has showed flashes of brilliance and a penchant for the big play in his first two years at Michigan. Koger snagged six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown as a freshman and finished 2009 with 16 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Although he struggled some with drops as his sophomore season wore on, Koger also exhibited a flair for the spectacular with a Sportscenter-quality grab in the opener against Western Michigan:
Receptions
Yards
Yards/Reception
Touchdowns
Bennie Joppru
85
800
9.4
8
Tyler Ecker
57
695
12.2
6
Tim Massaquoi
46
489
10.6
2
Kevin Koger
22
313
14.2
3
Who's your tight end of the decade?
Kevin Koger (7%, 15 Votes)
Tim Massaquoi (9%, 18 Votes)
Tyler Ecker (10%, 21 Votes)
Bennie Joppru (74%, 156 Votes)
Total Voters: 210
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Now, the fullback nominees — I don’t think you could come up with two more different players at the same position.
B.J. Askew (1999-2002): Askew started his career as a tailback, splitting carries with Chris Perry in his junior season before Perry proved himself capable of being a feature back in 2002. With Perry getting the lion’s share of the carries, Askew moved to fullback, where he became a dangerous option as both a runner and receiver. Askew’s best season statistically was 2001, when he rushed for over 900 yards as a tailback, but as a fullback in 2002 still managed to rush for 568 yards and six touchdowns while adding 36 catches for 280 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Kevin Dudley (2001-2004): Dudley — unlike the converted tailback Askew — was a classic fullback, standing 6-1 and weighing 237 pounds. Dudley put his frame to good use, starting 19 games in his junior and senior seasons and acting as a punishing lead blocker. Stats can’t show Dudley’s contribution — he only had three career rushes and eight catches — but he paved the way for Chris Perry’s Doak Walker-winning season in 2003 and Mike Hart’s tremendous freshman campaign in 2004. Dudley, who seemed to thrive from contact, was always good for a spine-crushing block or two per game, and for me you can’t ask for much more out of the fullback position.
"When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing."
- Bo Schembechler
“I ask no man to make a sacrifice. On the contrary! We ask
him to do the opposite. To live clean, come clean, think clean.
That he stop doing all the things that destroy him physically,
mentally and morally, and begin doing all the things that make him keener, finer and more competent" - Fielding Yost
“People come up to me and say, ‘I’m sorry.’ I’m not sorry because I received the greatest thing from the University of Michigan anyone can receive: a degree.” - Zia Combs
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