Hurst Named MVP During 2017 Football Bust
12/12/2017 10:07:00 PM | Football
LIVONIA, Mich. -- The University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit held its 97th annual football bust on Tuesday evening (Dec. 12) at the Laurel Manor in Livonia, where the 2017 team awards were announced and the senior football student-athletes received their coveted "M" rings. In addition to this year's squad being recognized, the program's past assistant coaches were honored.
Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was voted the Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player by his teammates, as well as the Defensive Player of the Year. U-M's MVP award was officially changed to the Bo Schembechler Award starting in 1995, making Hurst the 23rd recipient of the honor named for Michigan's winningest head coach. This fall, Hurst was a key component of a defensive unit that replaced 10 starters currently on NFL teams, and still leads the Big Ten in four defensive categories and lists top-three nationally in five categories and top-20 in five others.
The Westwood, Massachusetts, native stepped into a full-time starting role for the first time this season, and strived to increase his individual production while remaining a dependable team player in a defense which relies heavily on disciplined play from its linemen. He did that successfully, setting career highs in tackles (59), tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (5.0) while playing 608 total snaps, and he has been rewarded with first team All-American honors from one publication, and second team honors from two more.
Pro Football Focus College graded Hurst as the top-rated player in the nation at any position, and his grade of 96.9 on a 100-point scale earned him PFF All-American honors. Hurst was named to the Pro Football Focus National Defensive Team on four occasions, and landed on the weekly Big Ten Defensive Team an amazing nine times in 12 weeks.
Hurst has been a factor in the box score each and every week. In addition to the career highs listed above, he added two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two pass breakups and one blocked field goal this season. He's had five or more tackles in six games, and has one tackle for loss or better in eight straight contests during the year. In U-M's pressure-based scheme, Hurst's disruption in the middle is of critical importance. It helped lead to Michigan claiming the title of the nation's top pass defense, allowing 142.7 yards per game, and also helped the Wolverines lead the nation in three-and-outs forced. U-M forced opponents into five or more three-and-outs in 11 of 12 games in 2017, with a total of 75 forced (51.4 percent of all drives). No other team in the country is above 44 percent in that category.
A fifth-year senior, Hurst will leave Michigan with a bachelor's degree in sport management, a master's degree from in Management of Human Services and four Academic All-Big Ten accolades. He has also accepted a bid to the Reese's Senior Bowl.
This year's Robert P. Ufer Bequest is a shared honor between fifth-year seniors, co-captain Mike McCray and alternate captain Henry Poggi. Named for legendary Wolverine broadcaster Bob Ufer, the award is presented annually to the football player who demonstrates the most enthusiasm and love for the University of Michigan, traditionally a senior.
McCray, a native of Trotwood, Ohio, and has matched his career-high in tackles (75) with one game remaining. That total includes a career-high five sacks and a tied-career-high 13.0 tackles for loss, good for eighth in the Big Ten. The only returning starter on the No. 1 defense in the country, McCray played a pivotal role in Michigan's defensive success this season, leading on and off the field. Earlier this month, he was named All-Big Ten honorable mention from both the coaches and media for the second consecutive year.
Poggi is a Baltimore, Maryland, native, and half of U-M's fifth-year senior fullback duo. He is a special-teams staple, contributing on kick return, punt, field-goal protection and more. In the game at Maryland this season, Poggi scored his first career touchdown on his first career carry, a two-yard dive. He also has two receptions this fall and was credited for making several special teams tackles.
Fifth-year senior linebacker Michael Wroblewski was presented the Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award for his work in the classroom. A Health and Fitness major in the School of Kinesiology, Wroblewski collected Academic All-Big Ten honors this fall for the second time in his career, making him one of a Big Ten-leading and Michigan-record 48 football student-athletes to earn academic recognition from the conference. The St. Clair Shores, Michigan, native was also a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2016. A walk-on who was awarded a scholarship prior to the start of the 2016 season, Wroblewski has been a reliable special teams contributor for the Wolverines, as well as a reserve linebacker. This season, Wroblewski has played linebacker in four contests and has appeared in all 12, making a career-high eight tackles, registering his first career turnover at Purdue (forced fumble).
Sophomore offensive lineman Stephen Spanellis was also honored for having the Top Cumulative Grade Point Average. Spanellis has not yet declared a major, but sports a 3.968 GPA. He was a special-teams contributor in all 12 games this season and played as the team's sixth lineman in five contests, where he repped as an extra tackle, left guard and reserve center.
Sophomore linebacker Devin Bush was awarded the Roger Zatkoff Award, given to the program's most outstanding linebacker. The Butkus Award finalist and Pembroke Pines, Florida, native led Michigan with 94 stops this season. His 10.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks rank sixth and third on the Michigan defense, and he also tied for the team lead with nine pass breakups. A first-year starter, Bush was named a second team All-American by the Walter Camp Association and was given third team honors by the Associated Press.
The Richard Katcher Award had a new recipient for the first time in three seasons: sophomore Rashan Gary. The Richard Katcher Award is given annually to the most outstanding defensive lineman or outside linebacker at the conclusion of the season. Gary stepped into a starting role this season and embraced the challenge, finishing with 62 total tackles, second-most among linemen and sixth-most overall. He set career highs in stops, tackles for loss (11.0) and sacks (5.0), and registered a team-high seven quarterback hurries as well. Often the focus of double-teams or special assignments, Gary managed to produce at a high level statistically while still maintaining his gap responsibility in a defense which relies on its front seven to play disciplined and bring pressure. The Plainfield, New Jersey, native was a first team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and a second team selection by the media.
Senior left tackle Mason Cole was honored with the Hugh H. Rader Memorial Award, given to the team's best lineman. Cole began his career as the first true freshman to start at tackle for the Maize and Blue. Fittingly, he will close his Michigan career with his 51st consecutive start at the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida, near his hometown of Tarpon Springs, Florida. When Cole makes that start, he will match Craig Roh for the longest consecutive start streak in program history. Cole already shares the record for offensive linemen. He began his career with 25 consecutive starts at left tackle before playing his most natural position, center, for the 2016 season (13 games) and bumped back out to tackle for this, his senior campaign. Cole has blocked for 21 different 100-yard rushing performances during his career at Michigan, and led U-M to several different rushing achievements this season. He was a consensus All-Big Ten second-team selection by the coaches and media in 2017.
Junior running back Karan Higdon was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year. Higdon has had an outstanding fall campaign for U-M, and with 929 rushing yards heading into the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day (Jan. 1), has a chance to become Michigan's first single-season 1,000-yard rusher since Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint both accomplished the feat in 2011. The consensus All-Big Ten third-team selection averaged 6.0 yards per carry or better for the second straight season, with 11 rushing touchdowns, tied for third-best in the Big Ten. He is also Michigan's first running back with multiple 200-yard performances in the same season since Mike Hart in 2004.
He had 200-yard performances against Indiana and Minnesota and ran for 158 yards against Rutgers as well. Along with teammates Ty Isaac and Chris Evans, Higdon became part of the first Michigan backfield to produce multiple 100-yard rushers in consecutive games since 1975. After Higdon and Evans (191 yards) combined for 391 yards and four touchdowns against Minnesota, they became the first pair of teammates to play the same position and share a weekly conference award, being named co-Big Ten Offensive Players of the Week.
The Special Teams Player of the Year was Jordan Glasgow. A junior defensive back from Aurora, Illinois, Glasgow has played in all 12 games this season. He has played in the defensive secondary in five contests -- mostly at strong safety -- and has been a special teams staple throughout the season, contributing on kickoff, kick return, punt and punt-return teams each week. Glasgow was awarded Special Teams Player of the Game accolades after wins over Rutgers and Purdue, and shared co-honors after the win over Minnesota. His 10 tackles this season come with a pair of career-high three-tackle games (Minnesota, Wisconsin), and the seven tackles he made on special teams were a team best.
For the first time, Michigan also gave out the Toughest Player Award, to freshman fullback Ben Mason. A versatile and enthusiastic special-teams participant, Mason is a contributor on kickoff, kick-return and punt-return units. He routinely delivers big hits in addition to playing solid coverage and has also grown into his role at fullback, earning his first career start against Ohio State. Mason participated in all 12 games this year on special teams, playing fullback in eight of those contests.
Another new award was the Blue Collar Award, going to the hardest-working player. The inaugural recipient is senior defensive end Chase Winovich. The Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, native led all defensive linemen and was third on the team with 74 tackles, including 28 solo stops. Another first-year starter, Winovich was Michigan's iron man, playing 678 snaps at defensive end. He led the Big Ten with 17.0 tackles for loss, responsible for 69 negative yards for opponents. Included in that figure are Winovich's 8.0 sacks, and both his sacks and TFLs are best at Michigan and in the Big Ten. He forced two fumbles and recovered another, and only failed to record a stop in opponents' backfields in one contest, recording at least 0.5 in every other game this season, including six games with 1.5 or more.
The Rookie of the Year was Detroit, Michigan, native Donovan Peoples-Jones. Peoples-Jones has been a factor on the U-M special-teams units since fall camp, returning punts in all 12 games. His 36 punt returns were the second-highest single-season total in program history. He ran a 79-yard return back for a touchdown against Air Force in September, the longest return score by a Wolverine punt returner since 2006, and also had a 42-yard return against Ohio State that nearly went the distance. As a wide receiver, he totaled 16 receptions for 219 yards, including five multi-catch games and a season-long 48-yard reception at Wisconsin.
For the second time, U-M also gave out Scout Team Player of the Year and Most Improved Player awards. Both awards include three winners each, with recipients for offense, defense and special teams.
The Most Improved Player Award was split between junior tight end Zach Gentry, junior safety Tyree Kinnel and senior kickoff specialist James Foug. Gentry recorded at least one reception of 25 yards or more in six contests this year, totaling 15 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Kinnel led the Michigan secondary in tackles with a career-high 67, adding 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and nine pass breakups from the free safety spot, tied for the team lead. Foug was a weapon for U-M all year, specializing in kickoffs. Michigan had the No. 1 kickoff coverage team in the country this season, allowing just 15.45 yards per return on average. Foug has a penchant for a long hangtime, often in excess of five seconds, which has allowed his coverage team the luxury of time to race downfield and make tackles. Not one of Michigan's 12 opponents averaged a single-game starting field position at or better than the 25 yard line, thanks in part to Foug.
The Scout Team Player of the Year award was split between freshman quarterback Dylan McCaffrey, senior linebacker Jameson Offerdahl and freshman wide receiver Jake McCurry. McCaffrey served as the scout team quarterback on many occasions throughout the season, and was recognized as Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week after helping the defense prepare for Cincinnati in September. Offerdahl, who overcame two ACL tears in his career, was Scout Team Defensive Player of the week on two occasions this season -- after wins over Cincinnati and Rutgers -- and he also earned Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week accolades after the win over the Bearcats. Offerdahl earned special teams playing time against Ohio State in the final home game of his U-M career. Finally, McCurry has been a nuisance for Michigan's special teams units all year in practice. His role in preparing his teammates for the opponent's top special teams contributors led him to three Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week accolades, coming after wins against Florida, Purdue and Minnesota.
Following are the 2017 University of Michigan football team award winners:
Bo Schembechler MVP: Maurice Hurst
Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award: Michael Wroblewski
Top GPA: Stephen Spanellis
Robert P. Ufer Bequest: Mike McCray and Henry Poggi
Roger Zatkoff Award: Devin Bush
Richard Katcher Award: Rashan Gary
Hugh H. Rader Memorial Award: Mason Cole
Offensive Player of the Year: Karan Higdon
Defensive Player of the Year: Maurice Hurst
Special Teams Player of the Year: Jordan Glasgow
Toughest Player Award: Ben Mason
Blue Collar Award: Chase Winovich
Rookie of the Year: Donovan Peoples-Jones
Most Improved Player (Offense): Zach Gentry
Most Improved Player (Defense): Tyree Kinnel
Most Improved Player (Special Teams): James Foug
Scout Team Player of the Year (Offense): Dylan McCaffrey
Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense): Jameson Offerdahl
Scout Team Player of the Year (Special Teams): Jake McCurry
