December 19, 2021 // Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan Football Awards Ceremony, presented by the U-M Club of Greater Detroit, was held on Sunday morning (Dec. 19) at the Jack Roth Stadium Club at Michigan Stadium. The 2021 team award winners were recognized during the ceremony and senior student-athletes were celebrated before receiving their coveted ‘M’ rings, among other gifts.
Senior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was voted the BO SCHEMBECHLER MOST VALUABLE PLAYER by his teammates. He was also the Defensive Player of the Year. U-M’s MVP award was officially changed to the Bo Schembechler Award starting in 1995, making Hutchinson the 25th recipient of the honor named after Michigan’s winningest coach (no awards given in 2020). He is the first defensive end to win the honor since Chase Winovich in 2018 and the fourth defensive player to win the honor in the six times it has been awarded under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Hutchinson returned for his senior season after an injury cut short his 2020 campaign, and he has been the cornerstone of U-M’s championship season with a program-record 14.0 sacks among 58 total tackles. Hutchinson has been recognized as the Heisman Trophy runner-up, and the winner of the Rotary Lombardi Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy, in addition to being a finalist for several more national honors. He is a CoSIDA Academic All-American, a consensus first-team All-American, the Big Ten Woodson-Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year, the Big Ten Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year, and the Big Ten Grange-Griffin Championship Game MVP. Hutchinson recorded more quarterback pressures (15) against Ohio State than any player in any game since the stat was first tracked by Pro Football Focus College and has seven sacks over U-M’s last four contests.
Ross also won the ROGER ZATKOFF AWARD going to the team’s top linebacker. The team’s leading tackler for the second straight season, Ross has 95 stops (49 solo) through 13 contests, producing 8.5 tackles for loss. His direction and leadership have helped the defense rank top-15 nationally in total defense, third-down percentage allowed (13th), pass efficiency (10th), and scoring defense (fourth) this season.
The winner of the HUGH H. RADER MEMORIAL AWARD given to the team’s top lineman was senior offensive lineman Andrew Stueber. Stueber has been one of the mainstays across the line for the Wolverines, starting all 13 contests and picking up second-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Stueber is a first-team All-Big Ten pick by the media, and helped engineer the U-M rushing attack which ranks 10th in the country. U-M’s line has allowed the fewest sacks and third-fewest tackles for loss in the NCAA this season.
Interior defender Mazi Smith was the recipient of the RICHARD KATCHER AWARD, which is given to the team’s most outstanding defensive lineman or outside linebacker. Though interior defensive players aren’t always recognized for their selfless play, Smith’s value has been clear this season. In his first year as a starter, Smith has compiled 35 tackles (15 solo) with 2.5 tackles for loss and four breakups while filling gaps in the middle of the stout Michigan defense.
The ROBERT P. UFER BEQUEST was shared between graduate students Josh Rossand Brad Robbins. The award honors the senior(s) who display the most enthusiasm and love for Michigan.
U-M elected two recipients of the DR. ARTHUR D. ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD, one for undergraduate studies and one for graduate school. The recipient for undergraduate studies was Joshua Luther, an engineering major with a concentration in computer and data science. The recipient for graduate studies was Andrew Vastardis, who is pursuing a master’s degree of science and physiology. Vastardis was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American (second team) earlier this month.
More than 20 awards were given out in total. The full summary of awards and winners is below.
Michigan is preparing the College Football Playoff semifinal. The Wolverines will play Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl, set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on New Year’s Eve (Jan. 31). The game will be televised on ESPN.
Following are the 2021 University of Michigan football team award winners:
Bo Schembechler MVP: Aidan Hutchinson
Dr. Arthur D. Robinson Scholarship Award: Andrew Vastardis (graduate), Josh 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, D.J. Turner
Specialist of the Year: Jake Moody
Most Improved Player (Offense): Cade McNamara, Luke Schoonmaker
Most Improved Player (Defense): David Ojabo, D.J. 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
