The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2016 THE WOLVERINE 9 F ormer Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr used to tell his team to focus on winning and all the individual acclaim would follow. The 2016 Wolverines under Jim Harbaugh head into the last two weeks of the regular season 9-1 with all their goals still attainable, and the college football world is taking notice. This list of nominations for U-M players is growing longer by the day. Here's an update on some of the most recent in- dividual spotlights: • Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist: Redshirt sopho- more linebacker Jabrill Pep- pers is among 10 semifinalists for this award, which goes annually to a college football player making the biggest im- pact on his team both on and off the field. IMPACT, for this award, stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Aca- demics, Community and Te- nacity. • Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Wilton Speight landed among 18 semifinalists for the O'Brien Award, presented annually to the nation's best quarter- back. Speight directs an offense that has averaged nearly 50 points per game for most of the season and has been extremely stingy in turnovers. • Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Speight snagged this award after his strong effort in Michigan's 59-3 pummeling of Maryland. The third-year Wolverine connected on 19 of 24 passes for 362 yards and two touch- downs. He also rushed for a 10-yard TD, driving his team to scores on all five of its first-half possessions. • Biletnikoff Award watch list: Fifth-year senior wide- out Amara Darboh led the way for the Wolverines' receiv- ers all season, and he's on the list put out by the Tennessee Quarterback Club Foundation. The Biletnikoff Award goes to the nation's best wide receiver, and Darboh not only could be headed for a 1,000-yard receiving season, he's on pace to threaten his career-best total of 58 recep- tions in a season, set last year. • Paul Hornung Award honor roll: Peppers made this list on Nov. 14 for the sixth time in 10 games. No player in the nation has made the list more often. The Hornung Award is presented annually to college football's most versatile performer, and with Harbaugh identifying 13 different roles Peppers has played this season, he fills the bill nicely. • Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week: Fifth-year senior placekicker Kenny Al- len hit a rough patch earlier in October, but got fully on track for the crucial road trip to East Lansing, opening the door for this honor Oct. 31. Al- len connected on a pair of 23- yard field goals then nailed a season-long 45-yarder (a mark he reset against Iowa, with a 51-yarder) in Michigan's 32- 23 win against Michigan State. He converted on all three field goals and also made a trio of extra points while averaging 40.7 yards per punt. • Maxwell and Bednarik Awards semifinalist: Peppers has been included on the trimmed-down list for both of these honors. The Maxwell Award goes to college football's outstanding player of the year, while the Chuck Bednarik Award is issued to the defensive player of the year in college football. • Dodd Trophy Midseason watch list: Harbaugh him- self landed on the Dodd Trophy list, one of 18 coaches in the nation still in the running as the top boss in the land. • John Mackey Award semifinalist: Senior Jake Butt is a semifinalist for the honor that goes to the nation's top tight end for a second straight campaign. He ranks second on the squad with 38 receptions for 460 yards and four touchdowns while also playing a key role in U-M's powerful rushing attack. • Jim Thorpe Award semifinalists: Most programs would love to have one of these performers, who are in the running for the top defensive back in college football. Michigan boasts two of the 16 semifinalists, with Peppers and senior cornerback Jourdan Lewis making the list. Both are key figures in a defense that has led the nation in a host of defensive categories throughout the year. ❏ Inside Michigan ATHLETICS Awards List Is Growing Long For Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines On Nov. 7, fifth-year senior Amara Darboh was named to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the nation's best wide receiver. Through 10 games, he has 43 receptions for 746 yards and six touchdowns. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL