Patterson Named MVP During Football Awards Show at Crisler Center
12/15/2019 9:05:00 PM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan Football Awards Show, presented by U-M Club of Greater Detroit, was held Sunday evening (Dec. 15) at Crisler Center on the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus at U-M, where 2019 team award winners were announced and senior student-athletes received their coveted 'M' rings, among other gifts.
Senior quarterback Shea Patterson was voted the BO SCHEMBECHLER MOST VALUABLE PLAYER by his teammates. U-M's MVP award was officially changed to the Bo Schembechler Award starting in 1995, making Patterson the 24th recipient of the honor named after Michigan's winningest head coach. He is the first winner at his position since Denard Robinson was a back-to-back winner in 2010-11.
Patterson led the Big Ten in total offense and passing in league play, totaling 2,828 yards on 197-of-344 passing with 22 touchdowns through the air and another five on the ground (27 total). Patterson became the only quarterback in Michigan history with three straight 300-yard games and the only quarterback with consecutive weeks with four-plus touchdown passes. Patterson posted a 19-6 record as a starter over two years, and when he surpassed the mark of 5,000 career passing yards earlier this year he did so as the second-quickest U-M quarterback to that number in just his 24th career start.
Patterson's memorable stretch to close the season marked the highest three-game passing total in Michigan history (384 yards against Michigan State, 366 yards at Indiana, 305 yards against Ohio State), totaling 1,055 aerial yards down the stretch. Before Patterson, only Jake Rudock (1,035 yards, 2015) had cracked 1,000 yards passing across any three-game stretch. At Indiana, Patterson's five touchdown passes marked the most in regulation by any U-M quarterback, one shy of Rudock's six-touchdown game that came in double-overtime against the Hoosiers in 2015.
Junior wide receiver Nico Collins earned the distinction of OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, while senior linebacker Josh Uche was named DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, both earning the recognition in a vote of their teammates.
Collins led the Michigan receiving corps with seven touchdowns and a 20.6-yard average per catch, good for ninth in the country and best among Big Ten pass-catchers. He tied for second on the team in total receptions (33) and yards (681) while leading the team at 61.9 receiving yards per game. Always a deep-play threat, Collins has recorded at least one catch of 20-plus yards in nine games this year and in 18 of 28 career games. His connection with Patterson helped him lead U-M in receiving in four games, including a historic six-catch, 165-yard, three-touchdown outing at Indiana.
Uche tied for 10th on the team with a career-high 34 tackles (23 solo), but his impact was felt most in the opposing offense's backfield. His 11.5 tackles for loss ranked second on the team, and the 74 yards the opposition lost on his stops behind the line of scrimmage led U-M by more than 20 yards. Uche racked up 8.5 sacks, two more than the next-closest Wolverine, giving him 15.5 over his last 25 games played. In Big Ten games, Uche was at his best, averaging 0.83 sacks per conference game, tied for fifth-most in the league. He had a 3.0-sack effort at Illinois and had 2.0 more at Maryland a few weeks later. Uche is tied for 15th in U-M history in sacks, and 1.5 more in the bowl game would tie him with former teammates Chris Wormley and Chase Winovich for 11th-most.
The SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR is linebacker Khaleke Hudson. A defensive captain and Michigan's leader in tackles (97), Hudson was a force all over the field for the Wolverines in 2019, but he was also an impactful special teams contributor as he has been throughout his career. His most specialized skill -- blocking punts -- was put on display against Michigan State, when he blocked a Spartan attempt in the fourth quarter. Michigan scored on the very next play to take a 34-10 lead. Hudson has five career blocked punts, the most in program history.
This year's recipient of the ROBERT P. UFER BEQUEST is Joseph Files. Files is a fifth-year senior tight end from Lake Orion, Michigan, who appeared in one game at tight end when U-M hosted Rutgers earlier this season. Files is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2017-18-19) who appeared in two games in 2018. He is a diligent worker with a contagious enthusiasm for his teammates and Michigan Football. Files works tirelessly on the scout team to prepare his teammates each week, and he brings energy, commitment and a hard-working attitude to Schembechler Hall every day.
Senior guard Ben Bredeson and fifth-year senior tackle Jon Runyan were presented with the HUGH H. RADER MEMORIAL AWARD given to the team's best lineman. The duo shares the honor after Runyan won it outright last year. Together, they anchored the left side of an offensive line that proved to be one of the best in the Big Ten and in the country. This year's line allowed 1.83 sacks per game -- 1.6 in league play (No. 2, Big Ten) -- and yielded only 22 sacks and 57 tackles for loss. At an average of 4.76 tackles for loss allowed per game, Michigan's OL unit allowed the 20th-fewest negative plays against nationally. Collectively, the line allowed sacks on only 4.6 percent of all passing plays, and the interior trio of Bredeson, Cesar Ruiz and Michael Onwenu was the only FBS interior line that did not allow a sack all season, according to Pro Football Focus College.
This season's recipient of the ROGER ZATKOFF AWARD presented to the team's top linebacker as well as the BLUE COLLAR AWARD presented to the team's hardest worker is fifth-year senior Jordan Glasgow. Glasgow lists second on the team in tackles with a career-high 79 stops, including 41 solos. He has added six tackles for loss and five sacks, with a pair of pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one blocked punt, which came in his home state of Illinois. After leading the team in special teams stops the last two years, Glasgow was a starter for the first time in 2019 at will linebacker. He had seven or more tackles in seven games and double digits twice, matching his career high of 11 tackles against Army and Illinois. A semifinalist for the Butkus Award honoring the nation's top linebacker, Glasgow was also a candidate for the Burlsworth Trophy given to the top player in the country who began his career as a walk-on. Glasgow's receiving the Blue Collar Award is a testament to how highly respected his work ethic is by his teammates and coaches. No one spends more time in the weight room, and his tireless film study habits make him as prepared as anyone his opponents will face all year.
Sophomore Aidan Hutchinson and junior Kwity Paye are co-recipients of the RICHARD KATCHER AWARD presented to the team's top defensive lineman or outside linebacker.
Fifth-year senior defensive back Louis Grodman was presented the DR. ARTHUR D. ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD for his work in the classroom. Grodman is graduating with his degree in movement science from Michigan's School of Kinesiology, and upon graduating he will enroll in the U-M Medical School program. In addition to three straight Academic All-Big Ten honors (2017-18-19), Grodman has appeared in 20 career games as a steady special teams contributor, including all 12 games this year. Grodman tied for second on the U-M roster in special teams tackles (five), with a team-leading four stops made on kickoff coverage.
Now being presented for the second time, the OFFENSIVE SKILL POSITION PLAYER OF THE YEAR and the DEFENSIVE SKILL POSITION PLAYER OF THE YEAR awards recognized junior wide receiver Ronnie Bell and junior defensive back Ambry Thomas as this year's respective honorees.
Bell led U-M in receiving in a team-high seven games, with 75-plus yards in each of those contests. He went off against Michigan State with nine catches for 150 yards and had five-plus catches in five contests. On the season, Bell was the team leader in catches (44) by 11 and paced the team in receiving yards (705). He had an average of nine yards per catch or better in 10 matchups and an average of 16.0 yards or better four times. Bell's run-after-the-catch ability left defenses scrambling, and he had receptions over 20 yards on eight occasions, forcing teams to change how they played U-M in coverage over the middle of the field.
Thomas was U-M's leader in forcing turnovers, being involved in five this season. In addition to tying for the team lead with three interceptions, he had a pair of fumble recoveries and finished third among U-M defensive backs with 34 stops. Thomas was a willing run game supporter with 28 solo tackles and three tackles for loss, and his four PBUs give him seven total breakups on the year. Pro Football Focus College credits Thomas with limiting opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of 50.2, allowing 47.2 percent of passes thrown his way to be completed. After battling health issues in the summer that kept him from playing in camp until the last week before the season started, Thomas recovered a fumble and made an interception in the season opener against Middle Tennessee State.
For the third time, Michigan issued its TOUGHEST PLAYER AWARD, and this year's winner is Ben Mason. Mason totaled a career-high six tackles playing along the defensive line and on special teams, making most of his tackles on special teams. Mason played on offense, too, lining up in the backfield with increasing regularity as the season wore on. He was a key blocker in goal-line and red-zone situations, especially. Mason is also respected by his teammates as a weight room workhorse and someone who will always be ready to hit in practice.
The ROOKIE OF THE YEAR is an award split three ways, with one winner each for offense, defense and special teams.
On offense, running back Zach Charbonnet took home the honor. Charbonnet had an exciting first season in Ann Arbor, with 642 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing heading into the Vrbo Citrus Bowl. He has started six games, and by starting the season opener against Middle Tennessee State, became the fourth Wolverine since 1994 to start the first game of the year as a freshman. Charbonnet's 11 scores on the ground set a new record for U-M freshmen, surpassing Mike Hart and Tyrone Wheatley's previously shared record of nine. Charbonnet currently lists third all-time on Michigan's single-season freshman rushing list, just 108 yards shy of matching Ricky Powers' 1990 campaign for the second-most yards ever. The four multi-touchdown games Charbonnet has had this season are the most ever by a freshman, and his memorable 33-carry, 100-yard game that saw him score three touchdowns against Army earlier this season was a signature moment.
The winner on defense is defensive back Daxton Hill. Hill was a force from the jump for U-M, beginning to see the field via special teams before working his way into the defensive back rotation. He played in all 12 games, including nine games with action in the defensive backfield, and led all special teamers with six tackles playing on kickoff and punt units while also rotating in as a safety. Hill made two starts to close the regular season at Indiana and against Ohio State, filling in for an injured Brad Hawkins. He led the team with eight stops in Bloomington and made another three against the Buckeyes. Hill also recovered a pair of fumbles in the Notre Dame contest and recorded his first career interception in his first career start against the Hoosiers.
On special teams, Giles Jackson picked up the Rookie of the Year honor. Jackson averaged nearly 25 yards per kick return attempt, the fourth-best average in the Big Ten among those with at least 15 tries. Jackson's memorable 97-yard kick return touchdown at Maryland made him the first U-M freshman since 1972 to return a kick return for a touchdown. He is also Michigan's first freshman since that 1972 season to record a touchdown via reception, rush and kick return in the same season, joining Gil Chapman.
For the fourth time, U-M also gave out the SCOUT TEAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR and MOST IMPROVED PLAYER awards. Both awards include three winners apiece, with recipients on offense, defense and special teams.
The Most Improved Player Award includes sophomore running back Hassan Haskins on offense, junior defensive back Brad Hawkins on defense, and senior fullback/tight end Peter Bush on special teams.
Haskins was U-M's second-leading rusher, totaling 561 yards and four touchdowns on 103 carries (5.4 yards per carry). He started the final five games at tailback this year after appearing in just three games on special teams as a freshman. Haskins, primarily a linebacker last fall, moved back and forth between sides of the ball before setting at running back last spring. He showed a tough, physical running style when given the chance this fall, including 100-yard performances against Illinois (125 yards) and Notre Dame (149), when he was given 20 carries. Haskins scored three of his four touchdowns over the final month of the season.
Hawkins stepped into a starting role this fall and responded by being the team's sixth-leading tackler (53) despite missing the final two weeks of the season. He had consecutive 10-tackle games against Army and Wisconsin, a testament to his strong play in the run game, and made five solo tackles or more in four contests. Hawkins showed a willingness to support the run defense up front while exhibiting strong range on the back end, helping U-M to the No. 2 pass defense in the Big Ten during league play.
Bush has been a stalwart for U-M on nearly all cout ieam slayer of the, earearing in all 12 games on kickoff, kick return, punt, and punt return units. He made one tackle at Illinois on kickoff coverage earlier this year. Bush was also named Scout Team Offensive Player of the Game for his role in helping to prepare his teammates on the defense to play Army.
The Scout Team Player of the Year award was also split three ways. Freshman offensive lineman Zach Carpenter secured the offensive award, with freshman defensive lineman David Ojabo winning for the defense and Jared Davis for special teams.
The inaugural recipient of the PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD LIFETIME IMPACT AWARD is Tom Maentz.
Tom Maentz, President Gerald R. Ford Lifetime Impact Award recipient
A native of Holland, Michigan, Maentz was a standout end for the Michigan football team from 1954 through 1956. He earned second-team All-America honors in 1955 and third-team accolades in 1956. Playing both offense and defense as well as punter for the Wolverines, Maentz was captain of the 1956 team that finished second in the Big Ten. He earned All-Big Ten first team honors in 1955 and second-team honors in 1956. Maentz and teammate Ron Kramer formed a pass receiving duo known as the "touchdown twins" and became the first Michigan football players to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Maentz was inducted in the athletic department's Hall of Honor in 1994.
After graduation, Maentz embarked on a business career in the state of Michigan. He worked for Keeler Brass in Grand Rapids before starting his own automotive sales firm in 1960. He ventured into automotive manufacturing in 1978, opening Thomas S. Maentz (TSM) Corporation in Birmingham, which has grown from 10 employees and four machines to a state-of-the-art manufacturing company with more than 200 machines and 180 employees. Tom was active in the business until this retirement in 2017.
In the community, Tom was a member of the Board of Directors at Beaumont Hospital. He has been a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Detroit, fundraised for Sigma Chi Fraternity and the First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, and has been active with many initiatives at the University of Michigan.
Tom is married to his college sweetheart, JoAnn Monger. They have three children and seven grandsons.
Following are the 2019 University of Michigan football team award winners:
Bo Schembechler MVP: Shea Patterson
Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award: Louis Grodman
Robert P. Ufer Bequest: Joseph Files
Roger Zatkoff Award: Jordan Glasgow
Richard Katcher Award: Kwity Paye, Aidan Hutchinson (co-recipients)
Hugh H. Rader Memorial Award: Ben Bredeson, Jon Runyan (co-recipients)
The above six are original team awards presented by the U-M Club of Greater Detroit
President Gerald R. Ford Lifetime Impact Award: Tom Maentz
Toughest Player Award: Ben Mason
Blue Collar Award: Jordan Glasgow
Rookie of the Year (Offense): Zach Charbonnet
Rookie of the Year (Defense): Daxton Hill
Rookie of the Year (Special Teams): Giles Jackson
Offensive Player of the Year: Nico Collins
Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Uche
Special Teams Player of the Year: Jared Davis
Offensive Skill Player of the Year: Ronnie Bell
Defensive Skill Player of the Year: Ambry Thomas
Most Improved Player (Offense): Hassan Haskins
Most Improved Player (Defense): Brad Hawkins
Most Improved Player (Special Teams): Peter Bush
Scout Team Player of the Year (Offense): Zach Carpenter
Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense): David Ojabo
Scout Team Player of the Year (Special Teams): Jared Davis
