Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

Almost exactly a year after Jake Butt announced that he would return to Michigan for his senior year, he was rewarded with a trophy.

Michigan’s senior co-captain from Pickerington, Ohio, today won the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end. He’s the first Wolverine to win it and will be recognized during the ESPNU Red Carpet Show before the College Football Awards on Thursday in Atlanta.

Earlier today, U-M linebacker Jabrill Peppers won the Paul Hornung Award as college football's most versatile player.

“It’s a great honor first and foremost, especially for this team,” Butt said in a released statement. “One thing coach (Jim) Harbaugh says, ‘A rising tide raises all ships.’ So it’s great to win this award. I want to thank the guys in this group, this is our award really it’s not a one-man award. I really thank everyone on this team, this coaching staff, my position coach Jay Harbaugh, my family and everyone that’s helped me achieve this great award. I’m really appreciative of that.”

Though he didn’t have the best stats nationally -- tied for ninth in tight end catches (43), 16th in yards (518) and tied for 17th in touchdowns (four) -- the position is not all about stats. If it were, he should have been a finalist -- or possibly won it -- last year, when his stats were among the best in the country.

This year, he showed vastly improved blocking skills and was the trusted safety valve for first-year starting quarterback Wilton Speight.

Twenty-nine of his 43 receptions were for first downs, with eight converting third downs.

Butt’s well-rounded game and leadership as a co-captain all rolled into his selection.

“I'm so proud of this kid from Ohio, far more for what he stands for as a man than what he has done on Saturdays the last few years,” U-M tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh posted on Instagram. “He embodies the competitive spirit and is proof that a relentless, team first attitude will inevitably benefit the individual. He never settled, and never changed when he tasted success. He sold out every day to create something for his team that would be remembered, and in turn, will go down as one of the best. Can't wait to see the marks you leave beyond this place. #GoBlue #TETO.”

Butt could have been the first tight end selected in last year’s NFL draft, but he knew his game could improve, even if his draft position may not.

"There's so many reasons why I'd want to come back," Butt said when he announced he was staying. "To try to break some of these tight end records, I love my roommates, my teammates. We haven't accomplished what I came here for, as a team, to do. That's beat Michigan State, beat Ohio State, win a Big Ten championship. There's a bunch of stuff out there and there's a bunch of reasons why you'd want to come back."

He achieved some of those goals -- beating MSU, ascending to the all-time U-M leader in receptions and yards by a tight end and sitting second in career touchdowns -- and was named the Big Ten tight end of the year for the second straight season.

Michigan football's Jake Butt named Big Ten tight end of the year

Contact Mark Snyder at msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder. Download our Wolverines Xtra app on iTunes and Android!