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Michigan junior tight end Jake Butt will return to school for his senior season in 2016, he announced on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon:
— jake butt (@JBooty_88) December 8, 2015
Butt had been deliberating as to whether he wanted to declare early for the 2016 NFL Draft and informed the media on Monday that he was "50-50." He added that he would only leave for the NFL if he was guaranteed to be selected in the first three rounds -- Bleacher Report's Matt Miller had him in the third round in his newest mock draft -- and wanted to received additional input from Jim Harbaugh. It seems he received that input today.
This is a big win for Michigan. Butt was the Big Ten's Tight End of the Year after he caught 48 passes for 620 yards and three touchdowns in 2015, and he was considered by many to be one of the best receiving tight ends in the nation. The Wolverines have some other tight ends on the roster in Khalid Hill and Henry Poggi, but it would have been much tougher for Michigan to replace both Butt and senior A.J. Williams in a Harbaugh offense that loves its tight ends.
Next season, Butt should be a favorite for the Mackey Award, which is given to the nation's top tight end, and will be part of a three-headed receiving corps along with All-Big Ten first-teamer and team MVP Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh that will help Jake Rudock's successor step right in without any hiccups.