Tight End Butt Re-Writes Record Book
11/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 5, 2016
By Katie Conklin
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Nearing the end of the third quarter, the Wolverines held a substantial lead against the Terrapins, 38-0. With little pressure, junior quarterback Wilton Speight took his time in the pocket, searching for his next target. He found it in senior tight end Jake Butt for a pickup of 15 yards on the play.
It wasn't a glitzy play. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't too prominent of a play. But it was clean, it moved the chains, and it made Michigan history.
With five receptions for 76 yards on the day, Butt became Michigan's all-time leading receiver in yards by a tight end and got the game ball to boot. His final reception of the game -- the one for 15 yards -- put him on top, just ahead of Jim Mandich, who had 1,508 yards from 1967-69. After today, Butt has 1,521 yards.
"As far as the record goes, it's hard to even take in, at such a historical program like this, to be up there as number one guy," Butt said. "I just want to give credit to my teammates more than anything, honestly. It's a collective effort. It's not a one-man record. The o-line, the receivers, the running backs, the coaches, the defense, special teams -- it's not a one-man job. Credit to those guys."
Emerging from the train formation on the first drive of the game, Butt ran a short route up the center of the field, peering back to see if Speight would throw it to him. He did. Butt pivoted up the field, and rather than settling for the simple reception, forced himself through a defender for a few extra yards.
The trend continued as the game progressed. Late in the second quarter, Butt fought some more to come within three yards of Mandich's record. Speight, on the Michigan 45-yard line, found Butt heading up the left-center of the field. Powering through three defenders, Butt was a man amongst boys, gaining 16 yards and crossing into Terrapin territory. Michigan eventually scored on the drive from a 33-yard bomb from Speight to fifth-year senior wide receiver Jehu Chesson.
Butt is already the program's record holder for career receptions from a tight end (126). The guy he passed? Mandich. And with 11 receiving touchdowns on his career, Butt is four away from tying Jerame Tuman (15, 1995-98).
"You talk about Kramer and Mandich, Kattus -- some tremendous tight ends that have come through here," Harbaugh said. "You know I'm leaving some out, but most catches, most yards in the history of Michigan football for a tight end, it's a great accomplishment."
Butt is making the case to be one of the best tight ends in the history of Michigan football. And with at least four games left in his college career, his record can only be extended.
Traveling to Iowa next week (Saturday, Nov. 12), though, Butt and the rest of the Wolverines look to extend the most important record of all -- their 9-0 winning streak.
