Peppers Tabbed Finalist for Bednarik, Maxwell Awards
11/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 21, 2016
• Jabrill Peppers: Award Candidate 
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday (Nov. 21) that junior all-purpose contributor and starting linebacker Jabrill Peppers of the No. 3-ranked University of Michigan football team was named as a finalist for the Maxwell Player of the Year Award, given to the college player of the year, and for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the college defensive player of the year.
Peppers is the first U-M finalist for the Maxwell Award since 1997 (Charles Woodson) and the fourth Wolverine to reach the finalist stage overall. The program's last semifinalist was Denard Robinson in 2010, and each of Michigan's three finalists has been a Heisman Trophy winner (Tom Harmon; 1940, Desmond Howard; 1991, Woodson). Peppers joins Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield as the three finalists for the award, and he is the first primarily defensive player to be listed for the award since 2012.
Michigan's last finalist for the Bednarik Award before Peppers was LaMarr Woodley in 2006. Peppers is the third U-M player to be named a finalist for the award, and recently his teammate Jourdan Lewis was a semifinalist for the award in 2015.
This pair of recognitions comes in the midst of a standout season for Peppers, who underwent a position change before the start of the season under new defensive coordinator Don Brown. Peppers is the team's second-leading tackler (65 total, 43 solo) and also leads the team in tackles-for-loss (16; 16th FBS).
Peppers has proven his value on the defensive side of the ball, where he has played 641 snaps, but he has also contributed 181 snaps on offense (47) and special teams (134) combined. As part of those two units, he has averaged 12.2 yards per touch on 23 carries, 20 punt returns, nine kick returns and two receptions, ranking third on the team with 687 all-purpose yards. That figure trails only starting running back De'Veon Smith (788) and Biletnikoff Award watch list member Amara Darboh (758).
Peppers has helped the U-M defense to lead the country in six categories: scoring defense, total defense, pass defense, third-down defense, tackles-for-loss and first downs. In total, the unit lists among the country's top 12 programs in all 11 defensive categories and leads the Big Ten in the following categories: scoring defense, total defense, passing defense, sacks by, opponent first downs allowed, opponent third-down conversion percentage and red-zone defense.
Peppers has carried the ball 23 times for 172 yards. His 7.1 yards per carry rank second on the team among those with at least 20 carries, and three of his four touchdowns this season have come on the ground.
Peppers and the Wolverines will travel to Columbus, Ohio, this weekend for the 113th-ever meeting of Michigan and Ohio State. The game will be played at noon and will be broadcast on ESPN to a national audience.
Communications Contact: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard
