Sporting News Tabs Butt, Peppers as All-Americans
12/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 15, 2015
• Michigan Sporting News All-Americans
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior tight end Jake Butt and sophomore defensive back Jabrill Peppers of the 17th-ranked University of Michigan football team were named second team All-Americans by the Sporting News on Tuesday (Dec. 15).
Butt and Peppers represent U-M's first Sporting News All-Americans since offensive tackle Taylor Lewan earned the honor in 2013. The last year with multiple Wolverine honorees was 2004, when defensive lineman Alan Branch, defensive back Leon Hall and offensive tackle Jake Long were also voted to the publication's second team.
Both athletes have collected multiple All-America honors this fall; for Butt, this marks his third such honor, while Peppers is collecting his second national recognition.
Jake Butt Season Highlights
• Selected as a Sports Illustrated first team All-American and named a second team honoree by the Associated Press.
• Named the Big Ten's Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year and a first team All-Big Ten honoree.
• Semifinalist for the John Mackey Award given to the top tight end in the nation.
• Second among all U-M pass-catchers with 48 receptions; ranks third with 620 yards this season and has also hauled in three touchdowns.
• Ranks fourth in single-season receptions (48) and third in yards (620) among all-time Michigan tight ends.
• His 89 career receptions rank fourth all-time in U-M tight end history, and his 1,066 yards rank fifth among all Wolverines to play the position.
• His career-high eight receptions against Utah (Sept. 3) were the most by any U-M tight end since Jay Riemersma had nine catches against Michigan State in 1995.
• His 56-yard reception against Rutgers (Nov. 7) sparked a career-high 102 yards receiving and earned him the John Mackey Tight End of the Week Award (Nov. 11).
Jabrill Peppers Season Highlights
• Sports Illustrated second team All-America honoree.
• Finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, presented annually to the most versatile player in the FBS. He started on defense and special teams while contributing on offense as the regular season progressed.
• All-Big Ten honoree at defensive back (first team; coaches and media) and as a kick returner (second team; coaches, honorable mention; media).
• In 12 games, Peppers played a combined 986 snaps this season, with 50 coming on offense, 765 on defense and 171 on special teams.
• Named Big Ten's Thompson-Randel El Freshman of the Year; the fifth Wolverine in program history to earn that honor, joining Charles Woodson (1995), Anthony Thomas (1997), Steve Breaston (2003) and Mike Hart (2004).
• Primarily as a cornerback, helped anchor the defense that ranks third in the nation in pass defense and fourth in total defense.
• With Lewis and Peppers both earning conference honors, this year is the first time since 1997 that Michigan has had at least two secondary players named first team all-conference in the secondary; Charles Woodson, Marcus Ray and Andre Weathers were named by the coaches to the first team.
• Totaled 45 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss and 10 pass breakups (ranks 15th in program history).
• Bolstered a unit that ranks second in the FBS with 28.4 yards per kick return by returning 17 punts for 194 yards (11.4 yards per return) and eight kickoffs for 223 yards (27.9 yards per return).
• Hauled in eight passes for 79 yards and added 18 carries for 72 yards and two touchdowns as an offensive contributor. Altogether, he has gained 568 all-purpose yards this fall.
All-America Award Release Dates
Thursday, Dec. 10: Walter Camp Football Foundation
Sunday, Dec. 13: The Associated Press
Monday, Dec. 14: Football Writers Association of America (FWAA)
Tuesday, Dec. 15: The Sporting News
Wednesday, Dec. 16: American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)
Thursday, Dec. 17 or Friday, Dec. 18: Consensus Team (from the NCAA)
Communications Contact: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard
