University of Michigan Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2014
Mark Messner was a two-time defensive lineman All-America selection, starting all 49 games of his career after redshirting the 1984 season. He was a four-time All-Big Ten first teamer, joining Steve Hutchinson as the only Wolverines in U-M history to earn first team honors all four years. He helped U-M compile a 38-8-2 record, was part of two Big Ten championship teams (1986, '88) and helped Michigan record three bowl wins -- 1986 Fiesta Bowl (W, 27-23, Nebraska), 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl (W, 28-24, Alabama) and 1989 Rose Bowl (W, 22-14, USC). He was named the MVP of the 1986 Fiesta Bowl after registering nine tackles, forcing a fumble and recovering another in the win over Nebraska.
The 1988 team captain and 1988 Rotary Lombardi Award finalist, Messner remains U-M's all-time leader in tackles-for-loss in a career (376) and in a season (70). He also is the all-time leader in career sacks (36) and holds the single-game record with five against Northwestern (Oct. 31, 1987). He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and played in four career games.
