Three Wolverines were up for some of college football’s premium awards last night, and two came up victorious. Senior wide receiver Braylon Edwards and senior center David Baas were recognized as the elite in the game. Junior Ernest Shazor was a finalist for the Thorpe Award.
- Michigan Football
- Seniors David Baas (left) and Braylon Edwards had much to celebrate. (TONY DING/Daily)
David Baas was awarded a share of the Rimington trophy — along with LSU’s Ben Wilkerson — which is annually given to the nation’s best center.
Baas started the season at left guard — the position at which he was named an All-American last year — but was moved to center at the start of the Wolverines’ conference play to accomodate the younger lineman.
This is the second piece of hardware that Baas can add to his trophy cabinet. In November, he took home the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award.
He did not fair as well as Edwards at the awards show last night. He was one of three finalists for the Outland trophy — awarded to the nation’s best offensive lineman — but lost to Oklahoma’s Jamaal Brown. The Rimington Trophy was not announced as part of the awards program.
Baas has also been placed on three different All-American teams this year.
“This is unexpected and an extreme honor to win the Riminiton Trophy,” Baas said.
Braylon Edwards was named the 2004 recipient of the Biletnikoff Trophy, awarded annually to the best wide receiver in the nation.
In his senior year with the Wolverines, Edwards caught 87 passes for 1,221 yards. He also added 12 touchdown catches, some of which have been considered among the best and important plays of the year for Michigan.
Edwards led the Big Ten in both receptions and receiving yardage and was second in receiving touchdowns.
During his four years at Michigan, Edwards has 242 receptions for 3,432 yards, both tops on the all-time Michigan list. His 36 touchdowns are second only to Anthony Carter, who had 37 during his time at Michigan.
When asked by ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit if he thought he was the best receiver ever to play at Michigan, Edwards said:
“I can honestly say that I feel that I’m the best receiver ever to come to the University of Michigan.”