Walker Named Michigan Football's Most Valuable Player

LIVONIA, Mich. -- University of Michigan senior wide receiver Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger HS) was named winner of the BO SCHEMBECHLER AWARD as the Most Valuable Player of the 2001 football team. Walker was one of seven players to receive individual recognition as the seniors received their 'M' rings at the 81st annual Michigan Football Bust presented by the U of M Club of Greater Detroit held tonight (Monday, Dec. 3) at the Laurel Manor.

Walker

Walker becomes the fourth consecutive offensive player and the seventh offensive performer in the last eight seasons to receive the team's MVP award. The last defensive player to earn the recognition was Charles Woodson in 1997. Walker joins Tai Streets (1998), Desmond Howard (1991), Anthony Carter (1980, 1982) and Jack Clancy (1966) as the only receivers in school history to receive recognition as the team's most valuable player.

Walker had a record-setting senior year, catching a Michigan school record 81 passes for 1,043 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. He was credited with a team-high 23 punt returns for 206 yards during the regular season. Walker is the school's all-time leading receiver with 171 career receptions, while listing fifth in receiving yards (2,169) and seventh in receiving touchdowns (17). His current string of 35 consecutive games with at least one reception is also a school record.

A Football News All-America first-team selection, Larry Foote (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) was named the ROGER ZATKOFF AWARD winner as the Wolverines' top linebacker. He led the Michigan defense with 73 tackles during the regular season while adding a school-record-tying 26 tackles for loss and six sacks. Foote leads the Big Ten Conference and nation in TFLs this year, and he was a semifinalist for both the Butkus Award and Football News Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Fifth-year senior center Kurt Anderson (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South HS) enters the Florida Citrus Bowl after being named the HUGH H. RADER JR. MEMORIAL AWARD winner as Michigan's top offensive lineman. A first-year starter on the offensive line, Anderson stepped into the starting center spot this season after playing in three games at left guard during the 2000 season. He started all 11 regular-season games this year at center and has played 20 career games.

Senior punter/placekicker Hayden Epstein (Cardiff, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) was the recipient of the SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD. Epstein leads the team in scoring with a career-best 71 points on 12-of-19 field goals and 33-of-33 on PATs. He has punted 64 times for a 39.3-yard average, with 16 punts being downed inside the opposition's 20-yard line. Epstein also handles the team's kickoff duties and has booted 17 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks this season.

Junior/sophomore defensive end Shantee Orr (Detroit, Mich./Denby HS) received recognition as the DICK KATCHER AWARD winner as the team's top defensive lineman. Orr enters the Florida Citrus Bowl leading the defensive line in tackles (34) and tackles for loss (11), while listing second on the line with six sacks. He set career highs in every statistical category this season and has added three pass breakups and blocked a field goal attempt.

Fifth-year senior inside linebacker and co-captain Eric Brackins (Pigeon Forge, Tenn./Gatlinburg-Pittman HS) was recipient of the ROBERT P. UFER BEQUEST, an award given annually to the senior football player who demonstrates the most enthusiasm and love for Michigan. Brackins is fifth on the team with 49 tackles this season, despite missing nearly three whole games because of injury. He has added four tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

An elementary education major, fifth-year senior defensive tackle Jake Frysinger (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) was awarded the DR. ARTHUR D. ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD as the leading student-athlete on the football team. Frysinger has contributed 12 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks in 10 games of action this season.

Michigan (8-3, 6-2 Big Ten) will compete in the Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, in Orlando, Fla. The Wolverines' opponent from the Southeastern Conference will be announced on Dec. 9.

Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423