Five Wolverines Collect All-Big Ten Recognition on Defense
12/16/2020 12:12:00 PM | Football
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Five student-athletes from the University of Michigan football team were recognized by the Big Ten on defense, the conference announced Wednesday (Dec. 16). Senior defensive lineman Kwity Paye picked up second-team honors from the conference media to highlight Michigan's selections.
Paye has appeared in four games this season, missing two due to injury. In those four contests, he has totaled 16 tackles (12 solo) with four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. An All-Big Ten second team (coaches) and third team (media) selection in 2019, Paye was voted as a captain by his teammates prior to the start of the 2020 season. He has been a leader and anchor for the U-M front seven, and the Wolverine defense plays differently with him on the season.
Paye is graded as the seventh-best edge player in the nation with a top-25 pass rush grade, according to Pro Football Focus College.
A two-time team captain, Carlo Kemp earned honorable mention recognition from the Big Ten coaches. Kemp has totaled 21 tackles this season with three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. When ends Aidan Hutchinson and Paye went down with injuries, Kemp slid outside from his interior position and has made several starts on the edge.
Kemp has appeared in 46 career contests and was an All-Big Ten pick by the coaches last fall (third team), making this his second all-conference recognition.
Defensive back Daxton Hill lists second on the team in tackles with 46 stops, including a team-leading 30 solo tackles. Hill has also recorded five pass breakups, including one interception in his first full season as a starter, second among Wolverine defenders.
According to PFF College, Hill has allowed a completion rate of 52 percent in coverage (sixth-lowest, Big Ten) and a passer rating of 75.6. This marks his first career All-Big Ten honor after being named honorable mention on both the coaches' and media ballots.
Fellow defensive backfield member Brad Hawkins also was an honorable mention selection by the league media. Hawkins is the fourth leading tackler for U-M with 39 stops, including 25 solos. He has broken up two passes with one tackle for loss.
PFF College gives Hawkins a 53.3 percent completion percentage allowed, meaning receivers have combined to catch 21-of-40 targets thrown at Michigan safeties this season, allowing just one touchdown with one interception. Hawkins has been even better in run support, with 15 defensive stops according to PFF College (tied, third-most among Big Ten safeties) and the second-lowest missed tackle percentage among qualified safeties.
Linebacker Michael Barrett was an honorable mention selection by the media. Another first-year starter, Barrett totaled 44 tackles this season, third-most among Wolverines. His numbers included 25 solo tackles, two for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and a quarterback hurry.
Playing the viper spot, Barrett was credited with six pressures and more than 80 "key plays" as defined by PFF College, both top-10 marks in the Big Ten.
Following is a breakdown of Michigan's players on the All-Big Ten defensive and special teams ballots:
All-Big Ten Conference (Coaches)
Defense
Honorable Mention: Daxton Hill, Carlo Kemp, Kwity Paye
All-Big Ten Conference (Media)
Defense
Second Team: Kwity Paye
Honorable Mention: Michael Barrett, Brad Hawkins, Daxton Hill
