Peppers Tabbed Finalist for Lombardi Award
12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 14, 2016
HOUSTON, Texas -- Junior linebacker and all-purpose contributor Jabrill Peppers was named one of four finalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award on Wednesday (Dec. 14), the Rotary Club of Houston announced.
Since 1970, the Rotary Lombardi Club of Houston has presented the Lombardi Award to a college football player who demonstrates outstanding performance and skill in offensive or defensive positions and best exemplifies the discipline, virtue and wisdom that defined Vince Lombardi's exceptional brand of leadership. Peppers is Michigan's first Lombardi Award finalist since Jake Long in 2007. He is the seventh Wolverine in program history to be named a finalist and the third in the last 10 seasons.
Peppers, a Heisman Trophy Finalist who was voted the BO SCHEMBECHLER MOST VALUABLE PLAYER by his teammates at the annual Football Bust celebration on Tuesday (Dec. 13), showed his range and versatility by contributing at 15 different positions on offense, defense and special teams.
This fall, Peppers has helped direct a Michigan defense that leads the nation in pass defense, tackles-for-loss and third-down conversion percentage allowed. U-M ranks second nationally in six other categories.
The East Orange, New Jersey, native is tied for second on the team in tackles with a career-best 72 stops on the year. He leads U-M in tackles-for-loss (16), averaging 1.3 per game, and helped U-M become the only defense in the nation to average more than three sacks (3.27) and nine sacks (9.6) per game. Peppers also contributed four sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.
In the return game, he had 21 punt returns for 310 total yards, averaging 14.8 yards per return with one touchdown, and he also had 10 kickoff return opportunities, totaling 260 yards for a 26.0-yard average. Peppers carried the ball 27 times on offense for 167 total yards (6.18 yards per carry) with three touchdowns and also registered two receptions.
Through his 15 different positions played this season (five on offense, six on defense, four on special teams), Peppers has played an astounding 933 snaps, logging 726 plays on defense, 53 plays on offense and 154 snaps on special teams.
Michigan will match up with Florida State in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Friday, Dec. 30, on ESPN. The game is set for an 8 p.m. kickoff and will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Communications Contact: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard
