ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan Football Awards Show, presented by the U-M Club of Greater Detroit, was held in a Sunday morning (Dec. 18) banquet in the Jack Roth Stadium Club at Michigan Stadium. The team award winners were recognized during the ceremony and senior student-athletes were celebrated before receiving their coveted ‘M’ rings, among other awards.
Running back Blake Corum was voted the BO SCHEMBECHLER MOST VALUABLE PLAYER by his teammates. He was also voted the recipient of the TOUGHEST PLAYER and BLUE COLLAR AWARDS. U-M’s MVP award was officially changed to the Bo Schembechler Award starting in 1995, making Corum the 26th recipient of the honor named after Michigan’s winningest coach (no awards given in 2020). He is the first running back to win the award since Mike Hart in 2007 and just the second offensive player under head coach Jim Harbaugh to earn the nod (Shea Patterson, 2019).
Corum led the offense this season as Michigan’s lead back, totaling 247 carries for 1,463 rushing yards (No. 8, NCAA), the most yards by a U-M back since Mike Hart’s 2006 season (1,562 yards). Corum achieved that rushing total despite seven games this year with no fourth-quarter touches (out of 11 played). His streak of at least 100 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown in eight consecutive Big Ten games was the longest streak at U-M in the last 25 seasons.
A consensus All-American, Corum finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy Balloting and also earned the title of Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year. He was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and the Walter Camp National Player of the Year Award.
The team’s RICHARD KATCHER AWARD, given to the team’s top defensive lineman or outside linebacker, was presented to Mike Morris. A second-team All-American by two publications, Morris was the Big Ten Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-Big Ten honoree. He leads the team in tackles for loss (11.0) and sacks (7.5) among 21 total tackles. Morris was a semifinalist for both the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Ted Hendricks Award.
The ROGER ZATKOFF AWARD honoring the team’s top linebacker was presented to Junior Colson. Colson leads the team with 97 tackles, a career-high, and has added six tackles for loss (third on the team) with two sacks. He was named a second-team All-Big Ten linebacker by the Big Ten coaches (third team, media). Colson’s tackling consistency and sideline-to-sideline speed is part of why no team has run for 150 yards on U-M all year.
Olusegun Oluwatimi was given the HUGH H. RADER AWARD presented to the team’s top offensive lineman. Oluwatimi is Michigan’s first-ever Outland Trophy winner and also won the Rimington Award given to the nation’s top center. He was a first-team All-Big Ten pick on the coaches ballot and has helped the offensive line win repeat Joe Moore Awards while providing the structure for the nation’s No. 6 run game (243 yards per game) which has produced 38 rushing touchdowns (No. 2 NCAA).
For the second time, Brad Robbins was named the recipient of the ROBERT P. UFER BEQUEST which is awarded to the player who demonstrates the most enthusiasm and love for the University of Michigan. Robbins is the first player to win the award in multiple seasons as it is traditionally given to a senior. Robbins a sixth-year player, is among the Wolverines’ all-time best punters. He led a pro-style unit and produced the nation’s No. 1 hangtime (4.34 seconds) and only allowed six returns on 38 punts with 19 fair catches forced. He also holds for kicker Jake Moody, whose 136 points lead the NCAA this year.
The DR. ARTHUR D. ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD was presented to Caden Kolesar. A defensive back and special teams ace, Kolesar blocked a punt in the non-conference schedule and racked up eight tackles before suffering an injury that ended his season. He has maintained a 3.763 GPA while majoring in communications with an entrepreneurship minor.
More than 20 awards were given out in total. The full summary of awards and winners is below.
Michigan is preparing for the College Football Playoff semifinal. The Wolverines will play TCU in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, set for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff on New Year’s Eve (Jan. 31). The game will be televised on ESPN.
Following are the 2022 University of Michigan football team award winners:
Bo Schembechler MVP: Blake Corum
Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award: Caden Kolesar
Robert P. Ufer Bequest: Brad Robbins
Roger Zatkoff Award: Junior Colson
Richard Katcher Award: Mike Morris
Hugh H. Rader Memorial Award: Olusegun Oluwatimi
The above six are original team awards presented by the U-M Club of Greater Detroit
Toughest Player Award: Blake Corum
Blue Collar Award: Blake Corum
Rookie of the Year (Offense): Colston Loveland
Rookie of the Year (Defense): Mason Graham, Will Johnson
Rookie of the Year (Special Teams): Colston Loveland, Jimmy Rolder
Offensive Player of the Year: J.J. McCarthy
Defensive Player of the Year: Mazi Smith
Special Teams Player of the Year: A.J. Henning
Offensive Skill Player of the Year: Ronnie Bell
Defensive Skill Player of the Year: Mike Sainristil
Specialist of the Year: Jake Moody
Most Improved Player (Offense): Karsen Barnhart
Most Improved Player (Defense): Michael Barrett
Most Improved Player (Special Teams): Eamonn Dennis, Matthew Hibner
Scout Team Player of the Year (Offense): Zach Peterson
Scout Team Player of the Year (Defense): Jesse Madden
Scout Team Player of the Year (Special Teams): Joel Metzger
