The Detroit News picks Michigan’s best football players for the past 25 years

QUARTERBACK – Chad Henne, 2004-07: Henne in 2004 became only the second true freshman to start at quarterback for the Wolverines (Rick Leach was the first). Of course, players are judged for their big wins, and that’s why it was a tough call over Brian Griese, who led Michigan to a share of the national title in 1997. But Henne started four years and has all the school passing records, including yards at 9,715. His 87 touchdowns are third in Big Ten history.

RUNNING BACK – Mike Hart, 2004-07: Michigan’s all-time leading rusher started as a freshman in 2004 and finished his career with 5,040 yards rushing. Hart was an extra-effort back who also excelled in pass protection. He was Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. As a junior he finished fifth in Heisman Trophy balloting. Hart leads Michigan with three games of 200 yards or more rushing.

RUNNING BACK – Anthony Thomas, 1997-2000: The “A Train” was a powerful runner who became Michigan’s all-time leading rusher in 2000 with 4,472 yards, a record that would be broken by Hart. He is now third behind Hart and quarterback Denard Robinson (4,495). He has Michigan’s record for rushing touchdowns with 55 and also a UM record of six games of 150 yards or more rushing.

TIGHT END – Jerame Tuman, 1995-98: Maybe you remember Tuman best for being on the receiving end of Michigan’s 1997 bread-and-butter play-action bootleg that worked time and again. Tuman holds the program record for tight ends in career receiving touchdowns with 15 – in 1996 and 1997 he had five touchdowns each season. He is third in career receptions by a tight end with 98 and was All-Big Ten his final three seasons.

OFFENSIVE LINE – Jake Long, 2004-07: One of the more dominant tackles in the game, Long was a two-time All-American in 2006 and 2007 and went on to become the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft in 2008. Long, who became a starter early in his redshirt season, was the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the year in 2006 and 2007.

OFFENSIVE LINE – Steve Hutchinson, 1997-2000: Hutchinson, who earlier this year earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, arrived at Michigan as a defensive tackle who was converted to offensive guard. He became a four-year starter beginning in 1997. He was Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2000, the same year he was a unanimous All-American.

OFFENSIVE LINE – Jon Jansen, 1995-98: He was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and set a school record with 50 straight starts, all at right tackle. Jansen was an integral part of the 1997 championship team as a captain and offensive lineman. He was Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1998.

OFFENSIVE LINE – Taylor Lewan, 2010-13: Lewan was Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2012 and 2013 and was a first-team All-American both of those seasons. He also was a first-team All-Big Ten selection three times, 2011-13.

OFFENSIVE LINE – David Baas, 2001-04: Not only was Baas the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2004, he also was named the nation’s best center and was awarded the Rimington Trophy. Baas was a three-time All-Big Ten first-team selection and also was an All-American in 2004.

WIDE RECEIVER – David Terrell, 1998-2000: The two-year starter was an All-American in 2000. Terrell was the first Michigan receiver with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons – 1,038 in 1999 and 1,130 in 2000. He was the Orange Bowl MVP in 2000 with a career-high 10 catches for 150 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Alabama.

WIDE RECEIVER – Braylon Edwards, 2001-04: Edwards holds most of Michigan’s receiving yards and had a particularly prolific season in 2004 when he was the Big Ten MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, as well as the Biletnikoff Award winner. That season, Edwards set the season record for receptions with 97 and yards with 1,330. He tops Michigan’s career leaders with 252 receptions, 3,541 yards and 39 touchdowns.

DEFENSIVE LINE – Brandon Graham, 2006-09: Graham was the Big Ten MVP in 2009 and a first-team All-American that season. He is second in the Michigan record book with 56 tackles for loss during his career and second in TFL yards in a season with 26 in 2009. He is second in career sacks with 29.5 and third in sack yardage (222).

DEFENSIVE LINE – LaMarr Woodley, 2003-06: Woodley holds the record for tackles for loss yardage with 131 for a season and is second in career yardage with 286. He holds the record for sack yardage in a season with 119 in 2006 and is second in career yardage with 224. He has a huge season in 2006 and was an All-American, the Lombardi Award winner, the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year.

DEFENSIVE LINE – Glen Steele, 1994-97: Steele was voted the team’s top defensive lineman in 1997 and helped the Wolverines go undefeated and earn a share of the national title. He had 45 tackles for loss during his career and his 24 sacks rank him tied for fourth.

DEFENSIVE LINE – Maurice Hurst, 2015-17: His name isn’t all over the Michigan record books, but Hurst was a dominant lineman who was All-Big Ten first team in 2017 and an All-American that season. He had 33.5 tackles for loss during his career.

LINEBACKER – Larry Foote, 1998-2001: Foote was first team All-Big Ten in 2000 and 2001. In his last season, Foote was Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American. He held the record for most tackles for loss in a game with seven against Iowa in 2001, but the record was broken in 2017 by Khaleke Hudson (eight against Minnesota).

LINEBACKER – David Harris, 2003-06: Harris came on the scene as a junior – his first two seasons were slowed by injury – and led the team in 2005 with 88 tackles, then 103 as a senior. He was a second-team All-American and a second-round pick in the NFL Draft in 2007.

LINEBACKER – Devin Bush, 2016-18: Bush was in many ways the heart of his team, definitely a tone-setter on defense. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and also the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year that season, as well as an All-American. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Charles Woodson, 1995-97: The 1997 Heisman Trophy winner impressed on all fronts, primarily on defense, but also on offense and special teams as he helped Michigan to an unbeaten season. He ranks No.2 at Michigan in career interceptions with 18 and his eight in 1997 is tied for third for interceptions in a season. He was a two-time All-American and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Leon Hall, 2003-06: An All-American in 2006, Hall is tied for fourth in career interceptions with 12. He holds the record for most fumble return yards with 83 in 2005 and is tied for second in pass breakups in a season with 18 in 2006. He is second in career PBUs with 43.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Marlin Jackson, 2001-04: Jackson was an All-American in 2004 and a Big Ten first-team selection in 2002 and 2004. He is second in the Michigan record book in pass breakups for a season with 18, tied with Leon Hall. He’s fourth in career PBUs with 34 (2001-2004).

DEFENSIVE BACK – Jabrill Peppers, 2014-16: The versatile athlete used in various phases of the game was an All-American in 2016 and a Heisman Trophy finalist. He also won the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in the game. Peppers was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten in 2016.

KICKER – Garrett Rivas, 2003-06: Rivas has the Michigan record for most career field goals with 64. He’s also tied for attempts with Remy Hamilton with 82. Rivas has the record for most PATs scored with 162 and attempted the most (171). He holds the record for most points scored at Michigan with 354.

PUNTER – Zoltan Mesko, 2006-09: Mesko was two-time first-team All-Big Ten in 2008 and 2009. He holds the Michigan records for most punts, 80 in 2008, and in his career, with 252. He set a record for most yardage punting in a season with 3,436 in 2008 and career with 10,703.