The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1194003
20 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2020 show my full ability, being able to block punts." Fifth-year senior tight end Joseph Files garnered the Robert P. Ufer Bequest, given annually to a player showing great love and enthusiasm for Michigan. Files, who got into the Rutgers game earlier this year, un- derscored his qualification for the award upon accepting it. "Ever since I've joined the team, the passion Coach Harbaugh brings every day in practice, the staff — the love the entire university has for this team just feeds into it. It's incredi- ble," Files said. "When I came here as a freshman, I really did just view this as a sport. I didn't realize, this is a lifestyle. This is an identity. This for- ever will be a part of anybody that's been a part of this program. "You cannot leave Michigan foot- ball. It will remain with you. That is truly an incredible thing about Mich- igan football that I don't think most other places can say." Senior left guard Ben Bredeson and fifth-year senior left tackle Jon Run- yan Jr. garnered the Hugh Rader Me- morial Award, going annually to the team's best offensive lineman. Run- yan earned it last year, and Bredeson noted he was more than happy to share it this year. "I wouldn't want to share it with anyone else," Bredeson noted. "Being able to play next to Jon for two years, we work really well together. We've kind of got our own little tandem go- ing on. I'm very pleased." Fifth-year senior linebacker Jor- dan Glasgow came away with a pair of Schemmys — the Roger Zatkoff Award as U-M's best linebacker and the Blue Collar Award as the team's hardest worker. "I just want to succeed for my teammates," Glasgow assured. "I don't want to be a reason that we fail. I want to be one of the reasons we succeed. I know everyone else cares a whole lot about us winning, about us having a great season. "When I see everyone else putting the effort in, it makes me want to do well for them." Sophomore defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and junior defensive end Kwity Paye earned the Richard Katcher Award, delivered annually to the team's top defensive line- man. Paye noted the award takes on greater meaning, given that many wondered how Michigan would re- cover from the loss of last year's de- fensive ends, Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich, to the NFL. "We've done that well," Paye as- sured. Other Schemmys earned on the evening included the following: • Fifth-year senior defensive back Louis Grodman earned the Dr. Ar- thur D. Robinson Scholarship Award for academics. Grodman is headed for the U-M Medical School, after earning his degree in movement sci- ence from Michigan's School of Kine- siology. He's a three-time All-Big Ten Academic honoree. • Bell captured Michigan's Of- fensive Skill Position Player of the Year award, after becoming the team leader with 44 catches and 705 re- ceiving yards. He delivered a game- changing effort against Michigan State, pulling in nine grabs for 150 yards. • Junior defensive back Ambry Thomas garnered the Defensive Skill Position Player of the Year honor, getting involved with five turnovers on the season. He made three inter- ceptions and recovered a pair of fum- bles, to go along with his 34 tackles on the year. • Junior fullback Ben Mason cap- tured the Toughest Player Award. He performed at defensive line, on special teams and at fullback, always with an aggressive mindset. • Three Rookie of the Year honors — freshman tailback Zach Charbon- net (642 yards, 11 touchdowns rush- ing) on offense, freshman defensive back Daxton Hill (two fumble recov- eries, one interception, 28 tackles) on defense, and freshman wideout Giles Jackson (97-yard kick-return touch- down at Maryland; 24.9-yard aver- age on 21 runbacks) on special teams. Jim Harbaugh said of the Citrus Bowl: "It's not over! We want that 10th win. We want it against 'Bama. Let's bring 'em on." PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL