Season Review: 2016 Michigan Football
1/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
• Team Captains: Jake Butt, Chris Wormley
• Record: 10-3, 7-2 Big Ten Conference (3rd place, East Division)
• Final Rankings: 10th in Associated Press, 10th in Amway Coaches Poll
• Postseason: Lost to Florida State, 33-32, in the Capital One Orange Bowl
The 2016 football season was another important step forward for the University of Michigan, which finished 10-3 overall to reach the double-digit win plateau for the 28th time in program history. The final rankings released last week give U-M its first season with top-10 spots in both season-ending polls since 2006.
The Maize and Blue went 7-2 in conference play, and five of the 13 opponents that U-M played against ended the season ranked in the top 25 of the final polls. The 10th-ranked Wolverines capped off J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh's second season at the helm of the program with a 33-32 defeat at the hands of the No. 8-ranked Florida State Seminoles in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
Michigan matched its win total from the 2015 season by tightening up all three phases of the game. Though the team's playoff dreams were cut short after a pair of last-minute losses, U-M finished this year ranked number one in four defensive categories (total defense, pass defense, first downs allowed and third-down conversion percentage allowed) and within the top five nationally in five others. The Wolverines ranked No. 1 in five offensive categories in the Big Ten and 11th nationally for scoring offense. Michigan is also No. 8 nationally for punt return yardage (14.28 avg.).
Team Highlights
• Colorado Comeback: After Colorado jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter, Michigan locked in at home and began the comeback effort. Special teams played a big role -- the 45-28 comeback victory was highlighted by junior Jabrill Peppers' 54-yard punt-return touchdown, his first career return score. For just the second time in program history, the Wolverines scored two touchdowns in one game off punt return opportunities after Michael Jocz blocked the Buffs attempt, and it was run back into the end zone for a Michigan touchdown. That comeback win over Colorado represents the 14th time that U-M has overcome a deficit of 14 points or more, and the first since 2013, and it also wrapped a perfect 3-0 mark during the non-conference schedule.
• Showdown with Wisconsin: In an instant classic, U-M scrapped to the last second with Wisconsin in Ann Arbor, and when the clock hit zeroes, Michigan had its first win over a top-10 opponent since September 2008. Though the Wolverines dominated in total yards (349-159), first downs (21-8) and time of possession (35:41-24:19), the game was tied at seven going into the fourth quarter in what had been a stout defensive battle. Wide receiver Amara Darboh caught a go-ahead 46-yard rainbow down the sideline in front of the student section, and U-M took the lead with less than eight minutes left to play. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis sealed seven-point win with a freakishly athletic, one-handed interception with 2:23 remaining in the game.
• Welcome Home, Paul: With the Paul Bunyan Trophy on the line, the Wolverines were eager for revenge entering East Lansing against in-state rival Michigan State, and Wilton Speight quarterbacked the team to its first win on MSU's campus since 2007. Wide receiver Amara Darboh had a career day, hauling in eight receptions for 165 yards to become Michigan's first 100-yard receiver against MSU since 2007. Meanwhile, running back De'Veon Smith had a pair of rushing touchdowns and junior linebacker Jabrill Peppers boasted seven tackles (one sack) and a fumble recovery on the day, scooping an errant screen pass and taking it 98 yards to the end zone for two points to put the game on ice. With its 32-23 victory, Michigan snapped a three-game losing streak to the Spartans and, for the first time since 2006, was undefeated eight games into the season.
Individual Highlights
• Butt Completes Record-Breaking Career: With a 15-yard pickup in the third quarter against Maryland, senior tight end Jake Butt became the program's all-time leading receiver in yards by a tight end, putting him just ahead of Jim Mandich (1967-69) with 1,521 career yards. Butt had already surpassed the program record for all-time leading receptions by a tight end earlier in the season, finishing his career with 138. He was the 2016 John Mackey Award recipient as the most outstanding tight end in college football and also won the Big Ten Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year award for the second year in a row. Butt finishes his storied career at U-M with 138 career receptions for 1,646 total yards, making him the most prolific receiving tight end in the history of Michigan football.
• Peppers Garners National Accolades, Makes B1G History: Do-it-all junior Jabrill Peppers had a year for the books. As a semifinalist, finalist or winner of eight major national college awards, he wowed fans and analysts across the country. He also became the first in Big Ten history to win three major recognitions in the same year -- the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and the Rodgers-White Return Specialist of the Year. On top of it all, Peppers was a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing fifth at the prestigious awards ceremony in New York City. Peppers was the eighth defensive player to be selected as a Heisman Trophy finalist -- Wolverine great Charles Woodson was the only primary defensive player to ever win it. Peppers finished the season with 72 total tackles, 16.0 tackles-for-loss, 4.0 sacks, one interception, 740 all-purpose yards coming on 50 touches and three total touchdowns.
• Lewis Sets Career PBU Record: After setting the program's single-season record for pass breakups in 2015 (22), cornerback Jourdan Lewis pushed his career number to the top of Michigan's all-time list as well. With one breakup against Indiana, he moved past Leon Hall's record of 43 career pass breakups to take the number one spot. Lewis tallied three pass breakups in both the Maryland and Indiana games, only bested by his six and four-PBU performances in 2015 against UNLV and Michigan State, respectively. He was also named the 2016 Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. Lewis finishes his record-breaking career with 45 total pass breakups.
• Speight's Lights-Out Performance Against Maryland: Junior quarterback Wilton Speight earned co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after his career game against Maryland. Speight threw for 362 yards and three touchdowns, including the first rushing touchdown of his career. From the first drive of the game, Speight was in control. He took the offense down in 10 plays and finished with a 34-yard touchdown pass for the first score of the game. Speight was efficient, completing 19-of-24 attempts, and threw for 292 yards in the first half alone -- a Michigan football record -- to finish the game with 362 after three quarters. He led U-M to more than 600 yards of total offense and a season-high 31 first downs.
• Evans' Debut as a Wolverine: Freshman running back Chris Evans led Michigan in rushing in his collegiate debut against Hawaii, with eight carries for 112 yards and two touchdowns. He became the third true freshman running back in program history to eclipse 100 rushing yards in his collegiate debut, joining Chris Perry (2000) and Walter Cross (1998). Evans continued a productive freshman season even after his debut, finishing the season with 88 attempts, 614 yards and four touchdowns, including a memorable 30-yard touchdown run in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
Honors and Awards
All-Americans
Associated Press: Jourdan Lewis (1st Team), Jabrill Peppers (1st Team), Jake Butt (2nd Team)
The Sporting News: Jordan Lewis (1st Team), Jabrill Peppers (1st Team), Jake Butt (2nd Team), Chris Wormley (2nd Team)
Football Writers Association of America: Jabrill Peppers (1st Team), Jourdan Lewis (2nd Team)
Walter Camp: Jake Butt (1st Team), Jourdan Lewis (1st Team), Jabrill Peppers (1st Team)
American Football Coaches Association: Jake Butt (1st Team), Jourdan Lewis (1st Team), Jabrill Peppers (1st Team), Kyle Kalis (2nd Team)
Consensus: Jake Butt, Jourdan Lewis, Jabrill Peppers
All-Big Ten Conference (Coaches)
First Team: Jake Butt (TE), Taco Charlton (DE), Jourdan Lewis (CB), Erik Magnuson (OL), Jabrill Peppers (LB and RS) and Chris Wormley (DE)
Second Team: Kenny Allen (P), Ben Braden (OL), Mason Cole (OL), Amara Darboh (WR), Ryan Glasgow (DT), Delano Hill (S), Kyle Kalis (OL) and Channing Stribling (CB)
Third Team: Ben Gedeon (LB) and Wilton Speight (QB)
Honorable Mention: Kenny Allen (PK), Ben Bredeson (OL), Matthew Godin (DT), Mike McCray (LB), De'Veon Smith (RB) and Dymonte Thomas (S)
All-Big Ten Conference (Media)
First Team: Jake Butt (TE), Taco Charlton (DE), Jourdan Lewis (CB), Erik Magnuson (OL) and Jabrill Peppers (LB and RS)
Second Team: Kenny Allen (P), Mason Cole (OL), Amara Darboh (WR), Ryan Glasgow (DT), Ben Gedeon (LB), Channing Stribling (CB) and Chris Wormley (DE)
Third Team: Wilton Speight (QB)
Honorable Mention: Kenny Allen (PK), Ben Bredeson (OL), Jehu Chesson (WR), Delano Hill (S), Mike McCray (LB), De'Veon Smith (RB) and Dymonte Thomas (S)
Other Big Ten Conference Awards
Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year: Jake Butt
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award: Jake Butt
Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year: Jourdan Lewis
Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year: Jabrill Peppers
Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year: Jabrill Peppers
Rodgers-White Return Specialist of the Year: Jabrill Peppers
Michigan Team Awards
Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player Award: Jabrill Peppers
Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award (Top Senior Scholar-Athlete): Grant Newsome
Robert P. Ufer Award (Most Love and Enthusiasm for Michigan): Grant Newsome
Richard Katcher Award (Top Defensive Lineman): Ryan Glasgow and Chris Wormley
Hugh R. Rader Memorial Award (Top Offensive Lineman): Erik Magnuson
Roger Zatkoff Award (Top Linebacker): Ben Gedeon
Most Improved Player: Wilton Speight
Scout Team Player of the Year: Anthony Dalimonte
Academic All-Big Ten
Kenny Allen, Sr., general studies
Joe Beneducci, Jr., political science.
Ian Bunting, Jr., organizational studies
Jake Butt, Sr., sociology
Noah Furbush, Jr., aerospace engineering
Ben Gedeon, Sr., economics
Jordan Glasgow, So., business administration
Bobby Henderson, Sr., information
Joe Hewlett, Jr., business administration
Maurice Hurst, Sr., sport management
Michael Jocz, Gr., mechanical engineering
Alex Malzone, So., LSA undeclared
Bryan Mone, Jr., general studies
Garrett Moores, Sr., political science
Grant Newsome, So., LSA undeclared
John O'Korn, Sr., American culture
Ryan Tice, So., sport management
Nolan Ulizio, So., LSA undeclared
Jack Wangler, Sr., cognitive science
Maurice Ways, Jr., international studies
Chase Winovich, Jr., evolutionary anthropology
Chris Wormley, Sr., sport management
Michael Wroblewski, Sr., health and fitness
Big Ten Player of the Week
Wilton Speight (co), vs. Maryland; vs. CFU
De'Veon Smith (co), vs. Indiana
Kenny Allen, vs. Michigan State
Mike McCray, vs. Hawaii
John Mackey Award
Jake Butt
Paul Hornung Award
Jabrill Peppers
Lott IMPACT Trophy
Jabrill Peppers
Communications Contact: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard
