Season Review: 2020 Michigan Football
1/15/2021 1:45:00 PM | Football
• Team Captains: Nick Eubanks, Aidan Hutchinson, Carlo Kemp, Ben Mason, Kwity Paye, Josh Ross, Andrew Vastardis
• Record: 2-4, 2-4 Big Ten Conference, 6th Big Ten East Division
• Final Rankings: Not ranked
• Postseason: None
• Final Notes Packet | Player Bios | Record Book | Last Time It Happened
The 2020 season was an anomaly for the Wolverines. The COVID-19 pandemic postponed, then delayed, then cut short the season that was, and the Maize and Blue fought its way to a 2-4 record in the six games they did play.
U-M claimed one national award finalist in senior defensive lineman Kwity Paye, who was a final candidate for the Senior CLASS Award. Junior linebacker Adam Shibley did great work off the field as well. His work leading the TUFF Foundation helped Shibley become a member of the AFCA Good Works Team as well as a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award.
It was a season of growth for many players. The Wolverines had 17 different players make their first collegiate start, and four players scored their first career points. Defensively, eight different players recorded their first career tackles for loss, sacks, pass breakups, or a combination of the three, and 16 of the 22 players who recorded tackles this season set a new career high.
The season featured an exciting season-opening win, a triple-overtime thriller, close losses and performances that will fuel the 2021 team. There were career highs, records set and debuts made. In a season filled with challenges for all, there were bright spots and contributors who upped their level of play in the 2020 season.
Team Highlights
• U-M Opens on the Road, Wins at Minnesota: Faced with a night game against a ranked opponent in week one, Michigan needed to be sharp early. The Wolverines came out firing with 21 first-quarter points in a 49-24 victory. U-M scored in all four frames, with one defensive touchdown courtesy of defensive lineman Donovan Jeter's fumble recovery and return. Backs Hassan Haskins and Zach Charbonnet combined for more than 150 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 touches, while six different players earned their share of a tackle for loss.
• Wolverines Victorious in 3OT Thriller: Three of Michigan's six games were night contests, with the final being played at Rutgers. The Wolverines spotted the Scarlet Knights 17 points early, and a quick-strike touchdown from Cade McNamara to Cornelius Johnson just before the half cut the lead to 10. Giles Jackson ran the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown, and suddenly U-M had the momentum. McNamara was responsible for five scores and led the comeback effort which required three overtime frames to complete. After a pair of missed field goals, the teams traded touchdowns before Haskins punched in another score. The game ended when U-M's defense held Rutgers out of the end zone in a series culminating in an interception from Daxton Hill to seal the game.
• Special Teams Units Continue Trend of Production: The Wolverines have relied on effective special teams units throughout Coach Jim Harbaugh's tenure, and that continued this season. Michigan's kickoff return team was ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten (24.8 yards per return) and Giles Jackson (27.2 average) finished tops in the Big Ten and No. 16 nationally on the season. Additionally, the kicking game remains strong. Punter Brad Robbins (45.3 average) was the Big Ten's best, and his 53.6 average at Indiana (66-yard long) was the fourth-highest single-game mark all-time. He downed eight of 23 punts inside the 20-yard line and forced nine fair catches. Kicker Quinn Nordin saw a streak of 12 consecutive field goals made, and also became the program's career record-holder for most field goals of 40-plus yards (14). Kickoff man Jake Moody also was a force, delivering touchbacks on 14 of 22 kickoffs over the final five games.
Individual Highlights
• McNamara Takes Reigns, Guides Victory at Rutgers: The Wolverines snapped a three-game skid in a contest with plenty of dramatics when they traveled to New Jersey and beat Rutgers in triple-overtime. Down 17-0, Michigan turned to McNamara just before the end of the first half. It took him just three plays to strike for a 46-yard touchdown to Cornelius Johnson, and McNamara went on to throw three more touchdowns, adding another on the ground. He finished 27-for-36 for 260 yards, completing touchdowns to three different players. In U-M's history, quarterbacks have attempted 36-plus passes 60 times. None have completed a higher percentage of passes in those games than McNamara (75 percent).
• Paye Lights Up Gophers in Season-Opener at Minnesota: Fans of defensive lineman Kwity Paye did not have to wait long into the season for an explosive performance. Paye came to play in week one at Minnesota, notching four solo tackles (three for loss) and two sacks, with one quarterback hurry. Paye's sacks came on back-to-back plays near the start of the fourth quarter while the Gophers were making an effort to mount a comeback.
• Haskins Notches 100-Yard Games Twice In Closing Stretch: Running back Hassan Haskins is up to four career 100-yard games after closing out the 2020 season with two straight. Haskins finished the season with 111-yard (at Rutgers) and 101-yard (vs. Penn State) performances over the final two weeks. He had three touchdowns during that stretch while averaging 5.3 yards per rush. Haskins is up to 997 career rushing yards at season's end.
• Jackson's Kickoff Return TD Marks His Second: Wide receiver Giles Jackson opened the second half of Michigan's game at Rutgers in style, returning the kickoff 95 yards to the end zone. After a 97-yard return at Maryland in 2019, Jackson is now up to two for his career, tying him with Desmond Howard for most in program history. The play helped land Jackson a spot on the All-Big Ten Special Teams ballot after U-M led the league in kick return average (24.8 yards).
Honors and Awards
Giles
Jackson
Carlo
Kemp
Kwity
Paye
Adam
Shibley
All-Big Ten Conference (Coaches)
Offense
Honorable Mention: Hassan Haskins, Andrew Stueber
Defense
Honorable Mention: Daxton Hill, Carlo Kemp, Kwity Paye
Special Teams
Third Team: Giles Jackson
Honorable Mention: Brad Robbins
All-Big Ten Conference (Media)
Offense
Honorable Mention: Hassan Haskins
Defense
Second Team: Kwity Paye
Honorable Mention: Michael Barrett, Brad Hawkins, Daxton Hill
Special Teams
Second Team: Giles Jackson
Honorable Mention: Brad Robbins
Other Big Ten Conference Awards
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award: Carlo Kemp
Academic All-Big Ten (50)
Matt Brown, Sr., Economics
Luke Buckman, Jr., Communication and Media
Zach Charbonnet, So., Business Administration
Jared Davis, Sr., Economics
Nick Eubanks, Gr., School of Social Work
Adam Fakih, Sr., Business Administration
Sammy Faustin, Jr., Sociology
Luke Fisher, So., Engineering: First Year
Joey George, Jr., Business Administration
Izaak Gerkis, Jr., Biology Health & Society
Mathew Harrison, So., LSA Undeclared
Will Hart, Gr., Gr. of Management
Ren Hefley, So., LSA Undeclared
Daxton Hill, So., LSA Undeclared
Christopher Hinton, So., LSA Undeclared
Danny Hughes, So., LSA Undeclared
Aidan Hutchinson, Jr., Applied Exercise Science
George Johnson, So., LSA Undeclared
Cornelius Johnson, So., LSA Undeclared
Quinten Johnson, So., LSA Undeclared
Trente Jones, So., LSA Undeclared
Trevor Keegan, So., LSA Undeclared
Carlo Kemp, Gr., Management and Leadership
Karl Kerska, So., LSA Undeclared
Caden Kolesar, So., LSA Undeclared
Jonathan Lampani, Sr., Business Administration
Joshua Luther, So., Computer Science BSE Data Science
Ben Mason, Sr., Business Administration
Dylan McCaffrey, Sr., Psychology
Jake McCurry, Sr., Business Administration
Cade McNamara, So., LSA Undeclared
Jake Moody, Jr., Sport Management
Mike Morris, So., LSA Undeclared
Hunter Neff, So., LSA Undeclared
Ryan Nelson, Sr., Business Administration
Gabe Newburg, So., LSA Undeclared
Quinn Nordin, Gr., Management and Leadership
David Ojabo, So., LSA Undeclared
Kwity Paye, Sr., AfroAmerican & African Studies
Jalen Perry, So., LSA Undeclared
Geoffrey Reeves, Sr., Neuroscience
Nolan Rumler, So., LSA Undeclared
Nate Schoenle, Sr., Business Administration
Carter Selzer, Sr., Movement Science
Adam Shibley, Sr., Communication and Media
Mazi Smith, So., LSA Undeclared
Anthony Solomon, So., LSA Undeclared
Andrew Stueber, Sr., Business Administration
Matt Torey, Jr., Business Administration
Andrew Vastardis, Gr., Physiology
Big Ten Player of the Week
Giles Jackson -- Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 23)
Other National Awards
Adam Shibley -- AFCA Good Works Team (Sept. 23), Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Semifinalist (Nov. 17)
Kwity Paye -- Senior CLASS Award Finalist (Dec. 11)
