Led By Ryan, Seven Wolverines Earn Big Ten Honors
12/1/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 1, 2014
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Seven members of the University of Michigan football program earned conference recognition Monday (Dec. 1), led by linebacker Jake Ryan being voted to the All-Big Ten first team by the conference's coaches and media.
In addition to Ryan, wide receiver Devin Funchess was voted an all-conference second team performer by the coaches and an honorable mention by the media. Defensive end Brennen Beyer, defensive back Blake Countess, punter Will Hagerup and defensive back Raymon Taylor also earned honorable mention. Quarterback Devin Gardner was named Michigan's sportsmanship award honoree.
Ryan led Michigan with 112 tackles, including 14.0 for loss with 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and five quarterback hurries. The Butkus Award finalist also grabbed one interception and registered three pass breakups. A senior from Westlake, Ohio, Ryan ranks second in the Big Ten in tackles and is fourth in the conference in tackles-for-loss. In his career, Ryan recorded 267 tackles, 45.5 for loss with 9.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, seven pass breakups and one interception. His forced fumbles total is tied for second on Michigan's all-time list, and his tackles-for-loss total is sixth all-time in school history.
Funchess led the Wolverines with 62 receptions for 733 yards and four touchdowns in his first full season at wide receiver. The junior from Farmington Hills, Michigan, has caught at least one pass in 25 straight games, tied for the eighth-longest streak in school history. He ranks third in the Big Ten in receptions and fifth in the conference in receiving yards. His five career 100-yard receiving games, which includes two this season, are tied for 12th on Michigan's all-time list.
Beyer is an honorable mention on both teams. He finished his senior season with 35 tackles, 7.5 for loss with a team-high 5.5 sacks, and two quarterback hurries while starting 11 of 12 games at defensive end. His sack total is tied for 15th in the Big Ten. The senior from Canton, Michigan, who also is a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, recorded single-season career-high totals in tackles, tackles-for-loss and sacks this year.
Countess was selected honorable mention by the media. He registered 24 tackles, including 16 solo stops and three pass breakups while starting 10 games of his junior campaign. The Owings Mills, Maryland, native has 114 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, with six interceptions, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble in his career. His 169 interception return yards are tied for sixth on Michigan's all-time career list.
Hagerup was named honorable mention by the conference's coaches. The senior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, punted 53 times for 2,274 yards with a long of 63 yards. He boomed nine punts 50 yards or more and landed 16 inside the 20-yard line with nine touchbacks. His average of 42.9 yards per punt ranks third in the Big Ten. In his career, he averaged 42.1 yards per punt to rank third on Michigan's all-time list, and his 6,243 total yards punted is eighth in school history.
Taylor was selected honorable mention to both teams. He tied for the team lead with six pass breakups and recorded 38 tackles, including 1.0 for loss. The senior from Detroit capped his career with 171 tackles, 2.5 for loss with 0.5 sack, 16 pass breakups, six interceptions and two fumble recoveries. His career pass breakup total is tied for 21st in school history.
The Sportsmanship Award recognizes student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior and who are in good academic standing with a good record of citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. One of Gardner's most public displays of sportsmanship came last weekend at Ohio State when he consoled injured Buckeyes' quarterback J.T. Barrett and said after the game he wanted Barrett to know he was praying for him and to stay positive. Gardner, a senior from Detroit who is completing his Master of Social Work degree, is one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, which recognizes seniors who have notable achievements in the areas of community service, academics, character and competition.
Communications Contact: Derek Satterfield (734) 763-4423
