The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1061540
JANUARY 2019 THE WOLVERINE 21 • Defensive Player Of The Year: Devin Bush Jr. — Michigan defen- sive coordinator Don Brown got choked up when introducing his junior playmaker. He knows what Bush has contributed to U-M's ag- gressive defense. "In the meetings, this guy always sat to my right. He was always there," Brown said. "He's one tough guy." • Coach of the Year: Don Brown — Brown guided a defense that al- lowed the Wolverines to rampage their way through 10 straight wins, heading into the showdown in Co- lumbus. While he'll be working overtime for the next segment in that series, his crew helped Michigan be- come a top-10 team this season and once again surrendered fewer yards per game than any other team in the country. • Employee of the Year: Ben Her- bert — Harbaugh wanted a more rugged and tough Michigan team this year. The selection of Herbert puts a stamp of approval on his role in that process taking place. A SPIRIT OF CELEBRATION Former captain Jon Jansen hosted the show, stepping in for ESPN's Marty Smith. Weather kept the na- tional broadcaster from making it to Ann Arbor, opening the door for the man who opened the door for a host of Michigan running backs in the mid-to-late 1990s. Jansen became part of the athletic department this past year and set an upbeat tone for the goings-on at Crisler. He introduced Harbaugh, who talked about a "great season" for Michigan players and coaches. "The big one now is the bowl game," Harbaugh said. Harbaugh mentioned afterward how excited the Wolverines are to get after Florida in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. He stressed that only nine other teams in Michigan foot- ball history have posted 11 wins in a season. "The competition's always the best part, and the objective is to win," Harbaugh said. "We're hungry for that 11th win." They'll be attempting to secure it without junior defensive end Rashan Gary, and likely others. Gary is enter- ing the NFL Draft and will be sitting out of the bowl game. No one else had indicated publicly they are not participating as of Dec. 10, but Harbaugh acknowledged there could be more. "I'll let them make that decision or announcement," Harbaugh noted in a brief press conference following the event. Pressed on whether he expects more to sit out, he quickly inter- jected: "I don't make announcements concerning that." Jansen proved unequivocal when it came to the upcoming bowl out- come. He insisted: "It's going to be another victory for Michigan." ❏ First-year strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert was named the football program's Employee of the Year. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Defensive MVPs Stand Out For Michigan Fifth-year senior defensive end Chase Winovich's Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player honor isn't unique these days. Michigan is on a run of defensive MVPs. A year ago, defensive lineman Maurice Hurst captured the top team honor. Two seasons ago, hybrid linebacker Jabrill Peppers nailed down the top spot before heading early to the NFL. Not since 2015 — Jim Harbaugh's first as Michigan's head coach — has an offensive player come away with MVP hon- ors. That season, wideout Jehu Chesson raced away from the field as Michigan's No. 1 performer, so voted by teammates. In the 14 seasons between 1994 and 2007, only one Wol- verine on the defensive side of the football earned MVP honors outright. That, of course, involved Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson in 1997. Linebacker David Harris also shared the team's top honor with running back Mike Hart in 2006. Hart won it outright in 2007, and since then, the pendulum has swung to the defense. Starting with defensive end Brandon Graham's back-to- back MVP awards in 2008 and 2009, seven of the last 11 Michigan Most Valuable Players have come from the defen- sive side of the ball. Here's a look back at the past 25 Michigan MVPs: Michigan Most Valuable Players 2018 — Chase Winovich, DE 2017 — Maurice Hurst, DL 2016 — Jabrill Peppers, LB 2015 — Jehu Chesson, WR 2014 — Jake Ryan, LB 2013 — Jeremy Gallon, WR 2012 — Jordan Kovacs, DB 2011 — Denard Robinson, QB 2010 — Denard Robinson, QB 2009 — Brandon Graham, DE 2008 — Brandon Graham, DE 2007 — Mike Hart, RB 2006 — Mike Hart, RB, and David Harris, LB 2005 — Jason Avant, WR 2004 — Braylon Edwards, WR 2003 — Chris Perry, RB 2002 — B.J. Askew, RB 2001 — Marquise Walker, WR 2000 — Anthony Thomas, RB 1999 — Tom Brady, QB 1998 — Tai Streets, WR 1997 — Charles Woodson, CB 1996 — Rod Payne, C 1995 — Tshimanga Biakabutuka, RB 1994 — Todd Collins, QB — John Borton