Season Review: 2021 Michigan Football
1/17/2022 9:00:00 AM | Football
• Team Captains: Andrew Vastardis, Ronnie Bell, Josh Ross, Brad Hawkins
• Record: 12-2, 8-1 Big Ten Conference, Big Ten Champions, First Place East Division
• Final Rankings: No. 3, AP and Coaches' Polls
• Postseason: Reached College Football Playoff Semifinal, lost to Georgia
» Final Notes Packet | Season Review | Player Bios | Record Book | Last Time It Happened
The 2021 campaign is one to celebrate for the University of Michigan football program. The Wolverines won the 43rd Big Ten Championship in program history and its first under head coach Jim Harbaugh. U-M suffered only one loss during the regular season and capped a memorable year with a historic victory over Ohio State in the regular-season finale.
Two Wolverines were consensus All-Americans and two others were second-team selections, and Harbaugh collected a number of national Coach of the Year honors as well, in addition to Sanford Robertson Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Josh Gattis collecting the prestigious Broyles Award. Sherrone Moore (Joe Moore Award) and Jay Harbaugh (Special Teams Coach of the Year, multiple outlets including FootballScoop) were recognized for outstanding work as well.
It was a season of growth, with 35 of 38 Wolverine defenders setting new career bests in single-season tackles and every offensive contributor setting a new season best. In all, the Wolverines accomplished a number of high-reaching program goals also while setting the foundation for an exciting future.
Team Highlights
• Wolverines Beat Buckeyes at Home -- In front of a crowd of 111,156, the Wolverines powered past Ohio State with a 42-27 win. That result prompted the program to its second Big Ten East Division title and its first appearance in the Big Ten Championship game. The Wolverines scored their highest point total against OSU since 1946 (42), posted its largest margin of victory since 1993 (15 points), the most rushing yards since 1995 (297) and most total yards since 2013 (487).
• B1G Championship Gives U-M Conference-Leading 43 -- The Wolverines traveled to Indianapolis for their first appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game since the two-division format was adopted in 2011. U-M seized the moment and defeated Iowa 42-7 to win the program's first conference title under head coach Jim Harbaugh and the program's first since 2004. The Wolverines scored touchdowns on four drives of 75 yards or longer and dominated on defense, forcing eight punts and limiting the Hawkeyes to 279 yards of total offense. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was named the Grange-Griffin Big Ten Championship Game Most Valuable Player.
• Special Scores Help Honor Oxford Community -- Following tragedy at Oxford High School, the Wolverines chose to honor the community's victims with jersey patches featuring four hearts, which represent the lives of Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, and Hana St. Juliana. Myre's jersey number (42) also was present on the patches. The Wolverines scored 42 points against Ohio State and against Iowa in the two games that followed. Patches can still be purchased through the M Den with 100 percent of proceeds going to the families of those affected.
• Wolverines Appear in First CFP -- U-M achieved a milestone moment when the program made its first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. Having qualified as the nation's No. 2 team overall, Michigan squared up with SEC East Division Champion Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl. The Wolverines came out on the losing end, but finished a historic year as the Big Ten's top team and one of four to earn the privilege of playing in the College Football Playoff.
Individual Highlights
• Hutchinson, Ojabo Snap Defensive Records -- Records fell in a number of areas during the 2021 season, but two notable all-time marks were reset on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson recorded a program-record 14 sacks, up from the 12 registered by David Bowens (1996) and LaMarr Woodley (2006). Hutchinson broke the record on the same day he passed his father Chris' single-season best (11, 1992) with a three-sack performance against Ohio State that will live in Michigan fans' memories forever. On the other side of the formation, the other half of U-M's dominant pass rush duo was David Ojabo (11 sacks), who nearly matched that single-season record himself. Ojabo did reach a new record of his own by forcing five fumbles this past season, more than any Wolverine has ever forced in a single campaign. Together, Hutchinson and Ojabo combined for the highest single-season sack total by any duo in Michigan history (25).
• Moody Lights Up Field Goal Record Book -- U-M's first-ever winner of the Lou Groza Award for the most outstanding kicker in college football, Jake Moody totaled 125 points during a stellar year. Only Desmond Howard (138 points, 1991) has scored more for Michigan in one season. Moody achieved that mark by going 23-for-25 on field goal tries, finishing two made field goals shy of tying the single-season record at U-M. He was 17-for-19 from 30-plus yards and did not miss an extra point in 56 tries, a single-season high for PATs by a Michigan kicker. Moody's 92 percent field goal conversion rate was the highest among FBS kickers with at least 20 made field goals and a long of 50-plus yards, and also ranks as the second best single-season rate in Michigan history.
• Haskins Runs Away with Touchdown Record -- It was a season for the record books for running back Hassan Haskins, who finished with 1,327 yards on 270 carries and added 131 receiving yards on 18 catches. He also set a new Michigan record for the most rushing touchdowns in a single season (20), tying it at the end of a memorable five-touchdown performance against Ohio State. No player from any team had ever registered five rushing touchdowns against the Buckeyes in the history of the OSU program. Haskins completed the record-breaking run with a two-touchdown showing against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. His 1,327 rushing yards were the most in a season by any Wolverine since Denard Robinson (1,702 yards, 2010) and the most by a U-M running back since Mike Hart (1,562; 2007).
• Hawkins Collects Deserving Career Honor -- Safety Brad Hawkins accomplished something no player in Michigan history ever has: appearing in a program-record 56 games throughout his Wolverine career. Hawkins totaled 31 starts from the safety spot and never missed a game in five seasons. He is the new University of Michigan Football iron man, usurping the record of 52 games played, which was shared by Khaleke Hudson and Jordan Glasgow (2016-19).
• Joe Moore Award is Sweet Payoff for Offensive Line -- For the first time in the six-year history of the Joe Moore Award, the University of Michigan was named the winner. The offensive line was the heartbeat of U-M's offense, helping the Wolverines tally 6,203 yards of offense, the second-highest single-season total in program history. The unit blocked for a 1,000-yard back in Haskins and had Blake Corum (952 yards) on the cusp of the same achievement. The unit conceded the fewest tackles for loss (34) and fifth-fewest sacks (14) in the nation, aiding the Big Ten's best rushing attack (214.4 yards per game).
Honors and Awards
Aidan
Hutchinson
Jake
Moody
Andrew
Stueber
Andrew
Vastardis
All-Big Ten Conference (Coaches)
Offense
First Team: Hassan Haskins
Second Team: Ryan Hayes
Third Team: Blake Corum, Cade McNamara, Andrew Stueber
Honorable Mention: Erick All, Trevor Keegan, Luke Schoonmaker, Andrew Vastardis, Zak Zinter
Defense
First Team: Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Daxton Hill
Honorable Mention: Christopher Hinton, Josh Ross, Mazi Smith, DJ Turner
Special Teams
First Team: Jake Moody
Third Team: A.J. Henning
Honorable Mention: Brad Robbins
All-Big Ten Conference (Media)
Offense
First Team: Hassan Haskins, Andrew Stueber
Second Team: Andrew Vastardis, Zak Zinter
Third Team: Cade McNamara
Honorable Mention: Erick All, Blake Corum, Ryan Hayes, Trevor Keegan, Luke Schoonmaker
Defense
First Team: Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo
Second Team: Daxton Hill
Third Team: Josh Ross, Vincent Gray, Brad Hawkins
Honorable Mention: Christopher Hinton, Mazi Smith, DJ Turner
Special Teams
Third Team: Jake Moody, A.J. Henning
Honorable Mention: Brad Robbins
Sportsmanship Honoree: Andrew Vastardis
Additional Big Ten Honors:
Aidan Hutchinson -- Grange-Griffin Big Ten Championship Game MVP, Woodson-Nagurski Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year
Jake Moody -- Bakken-Andersen Big Ten Kicker of the Year
Academic All-Big Ten (60)
Lucas Andrighetto, Sr., Economics
Reece Atteberry, So., LSA Undeclared
Christian Bartholomew, So., LSA Undeclared
Luke Buckman, Sr., Communication and Media
Blake Corum, So., LSA Undeclared
Eamonn Dennis, So., LSA Undeclared
Isaiah Gash, So., LSA Undeclared
Joey George, Sr., Business Administration BBA
Jaylen Harrell, So., Sport Management
Mathew Harrison, Jr., Business Administration BBA
Brad Hawkins , Gr., Unclassified
Ryan Hayes, Sr., Psychology
A.J. Henning, So., LSA Undeclared
Matthew Hibner, So., Business Administration BBA
Daxton Hill, Jr., AfroAmerican & African Studies
Nikhai Hill-Green, So., LSA Undeclared
Christopher Hinton, Jr., Political Science
Danny Hughes, Jr., Communication and Media
Cole Hussung, So., LSA Undeclared
Aidan Hutchinson, Sr., Applied Exercise Science
Kris Jenkins, So., LSA Undeclared
Cornelius Johnson, Jr., Communication and Media
Quinten Johnson, Jr., Political Science
Trente Jones, Jr., Creative Writing-Literature
Trevor Keegan, Jr., Communication and Media
Caden Kolesar, Jr., Communication and Media
Joshua Luther, Jr., Computer Science
Cade McNamara, Jr., American Culture
Jake Moody, Sr., Sport Management
Jordan Morant, So., LSA Undeclared
Mike Morris, Jr., Communication and Media
R.J. Moten, So., LSA Undeclared
Kalel Mullings, So., Business Administration BBA
Hunter Neff, Jr., History
Gabe Newburg, Jr., American Culture
Jerome Nichols, So., LSA Undeclared
David Ojabo, Jr., English
Makari Paige, So., LSA Undeclared
Jalen Perry, Jr., Political Science
Jeffrey Persi, So., LSA Undeclared
Elijah Pierre, Gr., Master of Social Work
Brad Robbins, Gr., Unclassified
Will Rolapp, So., LSA Undeclared
Andre Seldon, So., LSA Undeclared
Carter Selzer, 5th Year, Movement Science
Mazi Smith, Jr., Creative Writing-Literature
Jess Speight, Gr., Masters of Management
Sam Staruch, So., LSA Undeclared
Noah Stewart, So., LSA Undeclared
Andrew Stueber, Gr., Real Estate Program
Greg Tarr, So., LSA Undeclared
Jake Thaw, So., Business Administration BBA
Nico Tiberia, So., History
Matt Torey, Sr., Business Administration BBA
Andrew Vastardis, Gr., Physiology MS
Dan Villari, So., LSA Undeclared
William Wagner, Jr., Mechanical Engineering
Julius Welschof, Sr., Sociology
Roman Wilson, So., LSA Undeclared
Zak Zinter, So., Sport Management
Big Ten Player of the Week
Andrel Anthony -- Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Michigan State)
Blake Corum -- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Washington)
Hassan Haskins -- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (Ohio State)
Brad Hawkins -- Co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Nebraska)
Aidan Hutchinson -- Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Penn State)
Jake Moody -- Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week (Nebraska)
David Ojabo -- Co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Wisconsin)
Other National Awards
Blake Corum -- Paul Hornung Award Finalist
Hassan Haskins -- Second-Team All-American (AFCA)
Hassan Haskins -- Third-Team All-American (AP)
Aidan Hutchinson -- Consensus All-American
Aidan Hutchinson -- Heisman Trophy Runner-Up
Aidan Hutchinson -- CoSIDA Academic All-American (first team)
Aidan Hutchinson -- Rotary Lombardi Award winner
Aidan Hutchinson -- Lott IMPACT Trophy winner
Aidan Hutchinson -- Ted Hendricks Award winner
Aidan Hutchinson -- Co-Winner, Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year
Aidan Hutchinson -- NFF Scholar; William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist
Aidan Hutchinson -- Walter Camp Trophy Finalist
Jake Moody -- Consensus All-American
Jake Moody -- Lou Groza Award winner
David Ojabo -- Second-Team All-American (AP)
David Ojabo -- CoSIDA Academic All-American (second team)
Andrew Stueber -- Second-Team All-American (AFCA)
Andrew Vastardis -- CoSIDA Academic All-American (second team)
Offensive Line -- Joe Moore Award
Jim Harbaugh -- Associated Press Coach of the Year
Jim Harbaugh -- Dodd Trophy Finalist
Jim Harbaugh -- Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
Jim Harbaugh -- Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year finalist
Josh Gattis -- Broyles Award winner
Michigan Team Awards
Bo Schembechler MVP: Aidan Hutchinson
Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award: Andrew Vastardis (graduate), Joshua Luther (undergraduate)
Robert P. Ufer Bequest: Josh Ross, Brad Robbins
Roger Zatkoff Award: Josh Ross
Richard Katcher Award: Mazi Smith
Hugh H. Rader Memorial Award: Andrew Stueber
The above six are original team awards presented by the U-M Club of Greater Detroit
Toughest Player Award: Hassan Haskins
Blue Collar Award: Andrew Vastardis
Rookie of the Year (Offense): Andrel Anthony, Donovan Edwards, J.J. McCarthy
Rookie of the Year (Defense): Junior Colson, Rod Moore
Rookie of the Year (Special Teams): Rod Moore
Offensive Player of the Year: Hassan Haskins
Defensive Player of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson
Special Teams Player of the Year: Caden Kolesar
Offensive Skill Player of the Year: Erick All, Blake Corum, Cornelius Johnson, Mike Sainristil
Defensive Skill Player of the Year: Brad Hawkins, Daxton Hill, Vincent Gray, DJ Turner
Specialist of the Year: Jake Moody
Most Improved Player (Offense): Cade McNamara, Luke Schoonmaker
Most Improved Player (Defense): David Ojabo, DJ Turner
Scout Team Player of the Year (Offense): Davis Warren
Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense): George Rooks
Scout Team Player of the Year (Special Teams): Tyler McLaurin
