The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/629217
ated Press, Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America. The All-Big Ten first-teamer also drew honorable mention from the confer- ence media at kick returner. But Lewis made his name in an upgraded ver- sion of Michigan's press-man coverage, recording 21 passes broken up on the season. That effort set a new Michigan standard, breaking the old record of 18 shared by Marlin Jackson (2002) and Leon Hall (2006). Hall ranks as Michigan's all-time leader in career passes broken up, with 43, but Lewis trails by only a dozen. Lewis af- firmed several times he's coming back for his senior season in maize and blue, and he could become the new U-M standard bearer for passes broken up. He also snagged a pair of intercep- tions during the season, returning one 37 yards for a touchdown against Northwestern. His 52 tackles on the year placed him fourth on the team, second among Michigan's defensive backs. In addition, Lewis forced a fumble and recorded 3.5 tackles for loss on the year. He factored in as a major part of Michi- gan's three straight shutouts during the season. The junior also expressed great thank- fulness for the teaching the Wolverines received during the year. He sounded amazed at the difference Harbaugh and his crew made. "He loves the game of football and you can see that," Lewis said of the head man. "That's what he loves to do. You could see that every time he goes out; at practice, games, any time we're around, any time he's around the team, he's always energetic. He just loves the game, and he loves being around it." Lewis himself will love being around Michigan Stadium for one more season. 3. JABRILL PEPPERS Redshirt Freshman, S Peppers entered the fall with the No. 1 designation on our preseason top-25 list. He didn't fall far, either, from living up to his billing in a number of ways. Peppers became the three-way threat many expected of him and a second- team All-American in the process. Sports Illustrated so labeled him, while he earned first-team All-Big Ten rec- ognition from coaches and media. He also earned notice as a kick returner: second-team all-conference from the coaches and honorable mention by the media. He became a finalist for the Paul Hor- nung Award, presented annually to the most versatile performer in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Peppers earned that recognition by playing 986 snaps on the year: 765 on defense, 171 on special teams and 50 on offense. The Big Ten's Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year managed 45 tack- les, including 5.5 for loss, and broke up 10 passes on the season. He returned 17 punts for a clip of 11.4 yards per re- turn and averaged 27.9 yards per run- back on 18 kickoffs. Peppers, performing on offense to- ward the end of the year, carried the ball 18 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns, as well as catching eight passes for 79 yards. His biggest disappointment arrived via injuring his right hand and having to miss out on Michigan's 41-7 thumping