Edwards Receives Schembechler Award as 2004 MVP

LIVONIA, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football program handed out six individual awards at the 84th annual Football Bust held tonight (Nov. 29) at Laurel Manor in Livonia, Mich., with senior wide receiver Braylon Edwards (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher HS) receiving the BO SCHEMBECHLER MOST VALUABLE PLAYER award as the 2004 team MVP. Edwards was one of seven players to gain individual recognition and was among the seniors who received their coveted 'M' rings.

Edwards

Edwards, the Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Big Ten selection, led the Wolverines by setting school records for receptions (87) and receiving yards (1,221) in a season. He added 12 touchdown grabs during the year and with 36 career TD catches needs one receiving score to equal Anthony Carter's (1979-82) school and Big Ten record. Edwards leads the Big Ten in receptions and receiving yards and ranks among the top five nationally in every major receiving category this season.

A Biletnikoff Award finalist, Edwards is the seventh consecutive offensive player and the ninth offensive performer in the last 10 seasons to receive the team's MVP award. Edwards joins Marquise Walker (2001), 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. The last primarily defensive player to earn the recognition was Charles Woodson in 1997.

Fifth-year senior co-captain and center David Baas (Sarasota, Fla./Riverview HS) was the recipient of the HUGH H. RADER JR. MEMORIAL AWARD as Michigan's top offensive lineman. Baas was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and garnered first-team all-conference accolades from the coaches. He is a finalist for the Outland Trophy. The anchor of the Wolverines' line, Baas shared the Rader Award last season with Tony Pape and Dave Pearson.

The ROBERT P. UFER BEQUEST, presented to the senior who demonstrates the most enthusiasm and love for Michigan, went to fifth-year senior fullback Kevin Dudley (Brookville, Ind./Franklin County HS). Dudley has rushed just three times for 13 yards and has caught five passes for 32 yards this year, but his blocking helped provide the Wolverines with a 1,000-yard rusher for the third straight season.

Senior punter Adam Finley (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) and senior tight end Matt Studenski (Troy, Mich./Brother Rice HS) shared the DR. ARTHUR D. ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD as the leading senior-scholar on the football team. A two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Finley earned CoSIDA Academic All-District IV honors earlier this season and is on the national ballot for Academic All-America honors. He is a biomedical engineering major and is currently working on his master's degree. Studenski is a reserve tight end majoring in nuclear engineering.

Collecting the DICK KATCHER AWARD given to the outstanding defensive lineman or outside linebacker was sophomore outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS). Woodley leads the Wolverine defense in tackles for loss (12) and has set career highs in every major statistical category. An All-Big Ten second team selection from the coaches, Woodley recorded 59 tackles, 12 TFLs, four sacks, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles during the regular season.

Fifth-year senior outside linebacker Roy Manning (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) was the recipient of the ROGER ZATKOFF AWARD as the team's outstanding linebacker. Manning finished the regular season with a career-best 35 tackles, including six tackles for loss, one sack, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

Following is a list of 2004 award winners:

Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player: Braylon Edwards, WR
Hugh H. Rader Jr. Memorial Award: David Baas, C
Robert P. Ufer Bequest: Kevin Dudley, FB
Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award: Adam Finley, P; Matt Studenski, TE
Dick Katcher Award: LaMarr Woodley, OLB
Roger Zatkoff Award: Roy Manning, OLB