The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/629217
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK • Tight end Jake Butt and cornerback Jourdan Lewis were both named first- team All-Americans in their junior seasons. CBSSports.com and SportsIllustrated.com named Butt to the first team, while Lewis was the pick for SportsIllustrated.com and USA Today. The two, along with redshirt freshman defensive back Jabrill Peppers, were also voted second-teamers by a number of media outlets. This is the first year since 2006 that Michigan produced multiple first-team All-Americans, last achieving the feat when cornerback Leon Hall, left tackle Jake Long and defensive end LaMarr Woodley garnered such distinction after the Wolverines' 11-2 season. In 2015, Butt became only the third tight end in Michigan history to catch 50 balls in a season, joining Jim Mandich (1969) and Bennie Joppru (2002) with 51 grabs for 654 yards and three touchdowns. He had 24 receptions, good for 338 yards, in U-M's final five games. Lewis set a Michigan single-season record with 22 passes defended, includ- ing two interceptions. He returned his second pick of the year 37 yards for a touchdown against Northwestern in week six. In addition, Lewis recorded career highs in tackles (52) and tackles for loss (3.5). • Peppers has also been named a Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American. This marks the second straight year a Wolverine has earned the FWAA honor, with sophomore left tackle Mason Cole receiving the recognition in 2014. Playing dime linebacker, cornerback, nickel back and safety defensively, as well as running back and wide receiver offensively, and returning punts and kickoffs, Peppers played a combined 986 snaps, including 50 on offense and 171 on special teams. Peppers earned second-team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated, Sporting News and CBS Sports. Additionally, he was named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media at defensive back, and second-team as a kick returner by the coaches. In December, he became the fifth Wolverine in program history to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, joining Charles Woodson (1995), Anthony Thomas (1997), Steve Breaston (2003) and Mike Hart (2004). • With the departure of seniors Joe Bolden, Desmond Morgan and Jarrod Wilson, Michigan is saying goodbye to its top three tacklers from 2015, mark- ing the first time since 2007 that has happened. In 2007, the Wolverines bid adieu to safety Jamar Adams, and linebackers Shawn Crable and Chris Graham, who combined for 272 tackles. This year's