Michigan football: Best bets to win the major postseason awards

Several Michigan players are on watch lists to win the major individual postseason awards, and there’s a decent chance (at least) some of the Wolverines will take home the hardware. Here are our best bets — some obvious, some not so much — to capture the national honors, listed in order of probability.

RELATED: Inside the Fort – Michigan short yardage backs, OL, night game, etc.

Michigan center Olu Oluwatimi, Rimington Award (nation’s top center)

Several are already pegging the Virginia transfer to win the award after finishing second last year, including his teammates. Junior guard Zak Zinter told us from the Chicago Mega Camp he expected it. Senior defensive tackle Mazi Smith said the new addition is everything advertised, and more. Their head-to-head battles in the spring were brutal and impressive, per observers.

As well as Michigan center Andrew Vastardis played in his sixth year a season ago — and he was really good — Oluwatimi should take it to another level. We expect him to be a finalist for this award again, with a great chance to win it.

Kicker Jake Moody, Lou Groza Award (top kicker)

Last year’s Groza Award winner is back for another year after giving serious thought to leaving for his NFL shot. He told us last month he just wasn’t ready to leave Michigan, feeling he had more to accomplish.

That’s saying someone for a guy who made 23 of his 25 field goal attempts, all of his 56 PATs (program record) and earned consensus All-America honors. He also captured the Bakken-Andersen Big Ten Kicker of the Year award, the first in program history.

It’s tough to imagine him having as good a year as last season, but he’s a special guy. It wouldn’t surprise to see him as a finalist again, maybe even winning it for a second straight year.

Punter Brad Robbins, Ray Guy Award (top punter)

Robbins’ contribution last year was somewhat overshadowed by Moody’s performance, but he was critical to Michigan football’s 2021 success. He averaged 46.3 yards per kick and was a Guy Award semifinalist despite earning only honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.

Robbins’ average stands as the No. 2 single-season average in program history. His big leg and hang time forced 21 forced fair catches, and he put 17 punts inside the 20 and had 12 kicks of 50 yards or longer.

We expect the Michigan sixth-year senior to be a finalist this year. It wouldn’t surprise at all to see him win the award.

Tight end Erick All, John Mackey Award

We’d been waiting for All to break out, and he finally did it last year. The senior notched eight starts at tight end and caught 38 passes for 437 yards with two touchdowns last year. Included — the game winner at Penn State in which he outran the PSU defense on a gimpy ankle.

That was an eye-opener.

After having issues with his hands the first few years, All became a reliable pass catcher last year. He was also a dominant blocker. He could well be a finalist for this award if he builds on last season’s success.

Michigan running back Blake Corum, Doak Walker Award

Departed back Hassan Haskins’ five-touchdown game against Ohio State and big season (1,327 yards, 20 touchdowns) overshadowed the fact that had Corum not been injured, he also would have eclipsed 1,000 yards. He still finished with 952 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging a whopping 6.7 yards per carry.

Corum is the “home run hitter” fans love. His next step, however, is to prove he can get the tough yards after contact to keep the chains moving the way Haskins did last season. If he does that, and the offense is as good as expected, he could have a monster year and be in serious contention for the Doak Walker Award.

Offensive guard Zak Zinter, Outland Trophy

Zinter has been a road grader since he arrived at Michigan, and he seems ready to take another step. He played through a hand injury early in the season last year that hindered him — by the end of the year, he was mauling people. The Ohio State game in which he and his teammates dominated should be on loop in the OL room for years to come.

The Outland Award is tough to predict given there are no individual numbers to measure. But the Michigan offensive line is expected to be outstanding again in 2022. That will draw attention to its best players, and Zinter will be one of them. He’s got a shot.

Michigan cornerback DJ Turner, Jim Thorpe Award

That Turner is sixth on this list speaks to the talent on this year’s Michigan team. He had a huge year a season ago, an honorable mention All-Big Ten performer, and is one of Pro Football Focus’ top 10 returning corners.

“Turner took on a starting spot for the first time in his Michigan career in Week 8 this past season and performed at a high level from that point forward,” they wrote. “His 80.7 coverage grade from Week 8 on was the third-best among Power Five outside corners. And Turner did that despite playing a decent amount of press-man and being picked on with the 13th-highest target rate among that group at 17.4 percent.

“The 2019 four-star recruit allowed the fourth-lowest catch rate in the Power Five over that span at 42 percent. Overall, Turner finished with an 83.3 coverage grade and is a candidate to obtain elite status in 2022.”

He could be a Thorpe finalist if he plays to his potential. At the same time, the revamped Michigan pass rush will have something to do with it, as well. He’ll need some help from the new guys up front.