Graham Named Bo Schembechler MVP of 2008 Team
12/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Graham becomes the 11th defensive player to be voted MVP since 1970. He is the first defender voted MVP since linebacker David Harris (2003-06) shared the team's top honor with Mike Hart (2004-07) in 2006. Graham and NFL Hall of Famer Bill Hewitt (1931 recipient) are the only defensive ends to capture the award.
Graham ranks second nationally in tackles for loss and is tied for 10th in sacks this season. He set career highs with 20 TFLs and 10 sacks to go along with a career-best 46 tackles. Graham is tied for seventh in TFLs and is tied for eighth in sacks in Michigan's season annals. He posted at least one TFL in 10 of his 11 games played this season and collected sacks in six of those contests. Graham was an All-Big Ten second team selection by the conference coaches and media.
Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Will Johnson (Oakland, Mich./Lake Orion HS) was awarded the DR. ARTHUR D. ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD as the leading senior scholar on the U-M football team. Johnson will graduate Dec. 14 with a general studies degree from the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. He is one of six players in school history to earn Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors four times. A team captain, Johnson contributed 29 tackles, three TFLs, two sacks and one fumble recovery this season.
The only senior on offense, fifth-year senior tight end Mike Massey (Brecksville, Ohio/St. Ignatius HS) received the ROBERT P. UFER BEQUEST as the senior football player who demonstrates the most enthusiasm and love for Michigan. A team captain, Massey started three games at tight end and played in 10 contests during the season. He and his brother Pat, a 2005 captain, joined the Mallory's (Mike and Doug) as the only brother tandem in school history to be elected captains.
Fifth-year senior Tim Jamison(Riverdale, Ill./Harvey Thornton HS) was the recipient of the DICK KATCHER AWARD as the team's top defensive lineman or outside linebacker. A team captain, Jamison registered 50 tackles and 10 TFLs for the second straight season. He started all 12 games at defensive end, tallying 50 stops, 10.5 TFLs and matched his career high with 5.5 sacks. He received All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media this season.
The team's leading tackler, junior/sophomore Obi Ezeh(Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central HS) was named the ROGER ZATKOFF AWARD winner as U-M's top linebacker. Ezeh recorded a career-best 98 tackles in 2008, including seven tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery and three pass breakups. He posted a pair of 15-tackle efforts (Utah and Illinois) and added 10 stops against Michigan State and Northwestern. Ezeh earned All-Big Ten honorable mention from the coaches and media after finishing seventh in the league in tackles.
Junior/sophomore right tackle Stephen Schilling(Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue HS) was presented with the HUGH R. RADER, JR. MEMORIAL AWARD as the squad's top offensive lineman. Schilling started the first 11 games at right tackle, playing every snap at the position, before suffering an injury during the week leading up to the Ohio State game. Schilling had his team-leading streak of 24 straight starts snapped when he was unable to go against the Buckeyes.
Following is a list of the six 2008 individual award recipients:
Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player: Brandon Graham
Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award: Will Johnson
Robert P. Ufer Bequest: Mike Massey
Dick Katcher Award: Tim Jamison
Roger Zatkoff Award: Obi Ezeh
Hugh H. Rader, Jr. Memorial Award: Stephen Schilling
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
