Preseason Honors: Patterson Named to Manning Award Watch List
7/26/2019 1:00:00 PM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson was named Wednesday (Aug. 21) to the watch list for the Manning Award, presented annually to the top quarterback in the nation. On Monday (Aug. 19), Patterson was named to the watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is given annually to the top senior or fourth-year junior quarterback set to graduate with their class.
Michigan's preseason watch list honorees (as of Aug. 21):
Shea Patterson, Sr., QB
• Aug. 21: Manning Award Watch List (nation's top QB)
• Aug. 19: Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List (top senior/fourth-year junior QB)
• July 16: Davey O'Brien Award Watch List (best quarterback)
• July 15: Maxwell Award Watch List (player of the year)
Patterson was named to the All-Big Ten team (third team, coaches; honorable mention, media) last fall after starting all 13 games. He completed 210 of 325 passes for 2,600 yards with 22 touchdowns, tied for the fifth-most in a single year at U-M. Patterson was named a finalist for the 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and also was a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien and Maxwell Awards. Patterson helped spark the offense last year, especially in the passing game, and helped the Wolverines finish second in the Big Ten in scoring (35.2 points per game) and pass efficiency (149.8).
Lavert Hill, Sr., DB
• July 26: Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List (outstanding player of the year)
• July 23: Nagurski Trophy Watch List (best defensive player)
• July 22: Jim Thorpe Award Watch List (best defensive back)
• July 15: Bednarik Award Watch List (defensive player of the year)
Hill was an Associated Press third-team All-American in 2018, and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. He was named a semifinalist for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award after finishing the year with 14 tackles, one tackle for loss and six pass breakups, including one interception returned for a touchdown. He played in a secondary that finished the season ranked second in the nation in pass defense while U-M defenders totaled 11 interceptions to just 14 passing touchdowns allowed. Hill has earned three varsity letters with 26 career starts across 36 appearances.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Jr., WR
• July 25: Paul Hornung Award Watch List (most versatile player)
Peoples-Jones has earned All-Big Ten accolades as a wide receiver and punt returner in his career, including third-team honors from the coaches at both positions last fall. He was named Michigan's Offensive Skill Position Player of the Year in 2018 after an outstanding season catching passes and returning punts. Peoples-Jones totaled a team-leading 47 catches for 612 yards and a team-high eight receiving touchdowns, the most by any Wolverine under Jim Harbaugh since Jehu Chesson had nine in 2015. His contributions helped U-M lead the Big Ten in passing efficiency (149.8), as he had at least one reception in every game. Peoples-Jones has made 16 starts in 25 career games.
Will Hart, Sr., P
• July 24: Ray Guy Award Watch List (best collegiate punter)
Hart was recognized as a second-team All-American and earned the Big Ten's Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year Award after a stellar 2018 season. Hart was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award last fall, when he punted 43 times for 2,020 for a 47.0-yard average. He pinned 15 attempts inside opponents' 20-yard lines and booted 19 kicks 50 yards or more. Hart also set the program record for single-game punting average (59.3 yards, minimum three attempts) and single-season punting average (51.7 yards).
Ben Bredeson, Sr., OL
• July 23: Outland Trophy Watch List (top interior lineman)
Bredeson secured second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media for the second time last fall and was chosen as a midseason All-American by the Associated Press. He is entering his fourth season as a starter with 37 career games and 33 career starts under his belt. Bredeson is respected by his teammates as depicted by his junior captaincy in 2018 as well as his being named the Toughest Player of last year's squad. He was named Offensive Lineman of the Week four times and Offensive Player of the Week once last season. Bredeson helped U-M take a leap forward on offense. He helped block for 1,000-yard rusher Karan Higdon.
Josh Metellus, Sr., DB
• July 23: Nagurski Trophy Watch List (best defensive player)
• July 22: Jim Thorpe Award Watch List (best defensive back)
• July 15: Bednarik Award Watch List (defensive player of the year)
Metellus was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2018, and also earned all-conference recognition from the Associated Press. He made 48 tackles (29 solo) with 3.5 tackles for loss and seven pass breakups, including three interceptions. Metellus scored one of Michigan's four pick-sixes last season as he helped lead a secondary which allowed 147.8 yards passing against per game. According to Pro Football Focus College, Metellus allowed a 41.8 percent completion percentage against him and held opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of 34.3, best among Big Ten safeties.
Michael Onwenu, Sr., OL
• July 23: Outland Trophy Watch List (top interior lineman)
Onwenu was a third-team All-Big Ten pick by the coaches last fall and earned honorable mention from the media. He is entering his third year as a starter with 33 career games and 21 career starts. He was Offensive Lineman of the Week twice, and has also been a reliable special teams contributor throughout his career. Onwenu helped contribute to an offensive line that saw a 36 percent decrease in sacks allowed from 2017 to 2018 and turned the ball over just 12 times, the second-fewest total in program history.
Cesar Ruiz, Jr., OL
• July 23: Outland Trophy Watch List (top interior lineman)
• July 19: Rimington Trophy Watch List (best center)
Ruiz earned All-Big Ten recognition a season ago, garnering third-team honors from the coaches and honorable mention from the media. Last fall as the team's center, Ruiz anchored a unit that was vastly improved. Michigan ranked fifth nationally in time of possession and showed balanced scoring ability with 26 rushing touchdowns and 24 passing touchdowns. With Ruiz holding things down in the middle, the offensive line combined for a season-long pass-blocking efficiency rating of 97.8, according to Pro Football Focus College. He helped block for Shea Patterson, a semifinalist for two major awards and a finalist for another, as well as Karan Higdon, a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award.
Jon Runyan, 5th-Yr., OL
• July 23: Outland Trophy Watch List (top interior lineman)
Runyan was a first-team All-Big Ten pick by the coaches last year and a second-team selection by the media. In his first year starting at left tackle, Runyan started all 13 games and was recognized with the Hugh H. Rader Memorial Award given to the team's best lineman, joining his father Jon (1994) as the only father-son recipients in program history. For his career, Runyan has made 15 starts in 23 career appearances. He was twice named Offensive Lineman of the Week last season as he helped stabilize an offensive line that produced one of the five most productive offensive seasons in program history. As a unit, all five offensive line starters earned conference accolades while they decreased negative plays allowed by 40 percent from 2017 to 2018.
Khaleke Hudson, Sr., LB
• July 22: Butkus Award Watch List (best linebacker)
Hudson is a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention selection at the viper position for U-M. A three-time letterman, Hudson holds the U-M record for most tackles for loss in a single game (8.0), which is also tied for an NCAA record. Last fall, he totaled 44 tackles with 3.5 for loss, 2.0 sacks, two blocked punts, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery. Hudson is an important piece to a fast-moving, hard-hitting defense that held five opponents to 10 points or fewer last season. Hudson has totaled 24 starts at viper in 39 career games.
Josh Uche, Sr., LB
• July 22: Butkus Award Watch List (best linebacker)
After leading the Wolverines with 7.0 sacks last fall, Uche earned his first career conference accolade, collecting All-Big Ten honorable mention from the coaches and media. Uche has appeared in 26 games in his Michigan career and has shown a penchant for tackles behind the line of scrimmage. In 2018, he made 15 total tackles, and eight were credited as tackles for loss. He will continue to use his speed and power off the edge to provide a versatile pass-rush option for the U-M defense, a unit that led the Big Ten in five categories last season.
Sean McKeon, Sr., TE
• July 19: John Mackey Award Watch List (most outstanding tight end)
McKeon has twice been named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media after making 23 starts in the past two seasons. He totaled 14 catches for 122 yards with one touchdown in 2018, and he has 47 receptions, 433 yards and four touchdowns in his Michigan career. McKeon's reliable blocking presence and downfield receiving ability made him an important part of a balanced Michigan offense that produced the school's fifth-highest all-time yardage total offensive last year.
