B1G awards: U-M's Butt named Tight End of the Year

Before fall camp, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said Jake Butt was one of the most talented tight ends he had coached.

This season, Butt proved it with 48 catches for 620 yards. And Big Ten voters validated that today, when he was named the Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year.

Butt was the All-Big Ten tight end, according to the coaches and the media, and was joined on the coaches’ first team with Jehu Chesson at wide receiver.

Chesson has 45 catches for 646 yards and eight receiving touchdowns, plus two dynamic rushing touchdowns of 66 and 36 yards.

Butt had little competition for the award as he had 15 more catches than the next pursuer, Northwestern’s Dan Vitale, and 225 yards ahead of Minnesota’s Brandon Lingen.

Big Ten defensive awards: Peppers, Lewis honored

Butt joins former Wolverine Devin Funchess, who won the award in 2013, setting the program receiving record, even though much of his season was as a wide receiver.

With a year of eligibility remaining and now in Harbaugh’s tight end-friendly offense, Butt could hold most of the program records when it's all said and done, as he’s also in the Top 5 in career catches and yardage.

The reason that may not happen: He’s the top tight end in the NFL draft rankings, according to NFLDraftScout.com and the No. 2 underclassman tight end, according to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

All Big Ten offensive award winners and teams

He was not named a Mackey Award finalist, which was surprising, considering he is one of the three players who ranks in the top four nationally in yards and catches among tight ends.

Radio show: The “Inside Michigan Basketball” radio show with men’s coach John Beilein and women’s coach Kim Barnes Arico will debut tonight across the state’s IMG radio network from 7-8 p.m. Locally, it airs on WWJ-AM (950) and WTKA-AM (1050). The show, broadcast from Pizza House in Ann Arbor, will air on Wednesday this week and next because of the men’s team playing Tuesday road games. Through most of the season it will air on Monday nights with host Matt Shepard.

All-Big Ten offense

Quarterback

Connor Cook, Michigan State

Running backs

Jordan Howard, Indiana

Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

Wide receivers

Aaron Burbridge, Michigan State

Jehu Chesson, Michigan (coaches)

Alex Erickson, Wisconsin (media)

Offensive linemen

Jack Allen, Michigan State

Pat Elflein, Ohio State

Jack Conklin, Michigan State

Taylor Decker, Ohio State

Jordan Walsh, Iowa (coaches)

Dan Feeney, Indiana (media)

Tight end

Jake Butt, Michigan

Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder.

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