It is that time of the year again, and Michigan has a few players come in for post-season awards. Let's do the quick rundown:
2013 Individual Awards
Devin Funchess wins the Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year award
Taylor Lewan win the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the year award
Funchess getting a tight end award has got to rub all the conference's real tight ends the wrong way, as the sophomore has been tight end in title only for most of the season. While his production is off the charts, his hand was rarely on the ground. Still, a good win for an up and coming young Wolverine.
Lewan winning the Rimington-Pace award is just about expected for someone with as much name recognition as he has. The rest of the Michigan line's struggles weren't enough to lose Lewan the support.
Coaches all-Big Ten Team
First Team: Taylor Lewan, OT
Second Team: Jeremy Gallon, WR; Devin Funchess, TE; Frank Clark, DE; Blake Countess, CB
Honorable Mention: Jibreel Black, Michael Schofield
Sportsmanship Honorees: Courtney Avery
Media all-Big Ten Team
First Team: Taylor Lewan, OT; Devin Funchess, TE; Blake Countess, CB
Second Team: Jeremy Gallon, WR
Honorable Mention: Jibreel Black, Frank Clark, Devin Gardner, Brendan Gibbons, Raymon Taylor
I'm not going to lie, I think there are a few Michigan players that got hosed. Yes, I am biased.
First and foremost, Jeremy Gallon gets second team while being one of two players to average over 100 yards per game and being third in the conference in yards per catch? I don't see how Abbrederis gets the nod for first team over Gallon.
What is more disappointing is the lack of Michigan defenders pretty much anywhere. No love for safety Thomas Gordon, who quietly had another good season helping Michigan avoid giving up long plays and coming up with a few game changing plays of his own. None of Michigan's linebackers even get honorable mention?
None of this is all that surprising. Michigan didn't have a great season, and its defense was good but in ways that don't generally jump off the page when looking at statistics.
For my money, I think Michigan should have been better represented on these all-Big Ten teams, but like I said, I am biased.
What say you, Maize n Brewers?