A day after the Big Ten media and coaches announced their All-Big Ten special teams and defensive teams, the conference announced its All-Big Ten offense.
Junior tight end Jake Butt was the conference’s Tight End of the Year, giving the Wolverines three first-team players along with junior cornerback Jourdan Lewis and redshirt freshman safety Jabrill Peppers. Redshirt junior wide receiver Jehu Chesson made the All-Big Ten first team in the coaches’ vote.
The four All-Big Ten first-team players are the most for Michigan since 2007. Peppers will return next season, while Lewis, Chesson and Butt all have the option to do so if they defer leaving for the NFL.
Butt led all Big Ten tight ends by a wide margin with 48 receptions for 620 yards. The second-team tight end, Minnesota’s Brandon Lingen, had just 28 catches for 395 yards.
Butt’s totals in yards and receptions were the third- and fourth-most, respectively, by a tight end in school history.
Though Chesson wasn’t in the top 10 in the conference in receptions, receiving yards or yards per catch, he was named to the coaches’ first team due to his late surge, playmaking ability and 11 all-purpose touchdowns — tied for third among all Big Ten players.
His biggest game by far came against Indiana on Nov. 14, when he scored four touchdowns and tallied 207 receiving yards. The totals were first and third in school history, respectively. He also had the school’s fourth-longest kick return and first opening-kickoff touchdown since 1992.
Butt didn’t have a single breakout performance but was the only tight end in the Big Ten to have a reception in every game this season. His top performance came against Rutgers, when he had four catches for 102 yards. Butt scored one touchdown apiece in games at Utah, Indiana and Penn State.
Seven offensive players were named Big Ten honorable mentions for the Wolverines: Senior offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, sophomore offensive lineman Mason Cole, redshirt junior wide receiver Amara Darboh, junior running back De’Veon Smith, fifth-year senior quarterback Jake Rudock and redshirt junior offensive linemen Kyle Kalis and Ben Braden.
Despite improving the team by four wins in his first season, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was beat out by Kirk Ferentz for the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year award. Ferentz is leading an undefeated Iowa team in his 16th season at the helm.