Seven Wolverines Pick Up All-Conference Accolades on Offense

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Seven student-athletes from the University of Michigan football team were awarded with offensive All-Big Ten honors, the conference announced on Wednesday (Nov. 29), headlined by senior tackle Mason Cole and sophomore guard Ben Bredeson securing second-team honors, and junior running back Karan Higdon earning third-team honors from the coaches and media.

A native of Tarpon Springs, Florida, and offensive captain for U-M this fall, Cole made his 50th consecutive start against Ohio State (Nov. 25), placing him in a tie with Jon Jansen for most all-time among Michigan offensive linemen. With a start in the bowl game, Cole will tie Craig Roh at 51 consecutive starts, the most for any player in U-M history, regardless of position.

Cole and Bredeson, along with fifth-year senior center Patrick Kugler, an honorable mention selection by the media, have helped block for seven 100-yard rushing performances this season (and 14 in the past two seasons), including two 200-yard rushing efforts and another 192-yard outing. Overall, Cole has seen 21 different 100-yard rushing performances in his career.

The linemen were key cogs of the historic offensive outputs against Rutgers (Oct. 28) and Minnesota (Nov. 4). Michigan recorded its first sequence of multiple backs with 100-plus-yard rushing efforts in consecutive weeks since October 1975. The 2017 season is also the first for Michigan since 1991 in which three backs have recorded more than 500 yards rushing (Higdon, Chris Evans, Ty Isaac). Twenty-five of U-M's 34 scores came on the ground this season.

Overall, Cole and Bredeson spearheaded an offensive attack that registers as No. 3 in the Big Ten (186.3 yards per game), led by two of the top six rushers in the conference: Higdon (6.32 yards per carry) fourth and Evans (5.25) sixth.

Higdon secured All-Big Ten third-team honors from both the media and coaches, while Evans was honorable mention on the coaches' ballot. This season, Higdon became the first Michigan back to record multiple 200-yard rushing efforts since Mike Hart accomplished the feat three times during the 2004 season.

Michigan ran for one or more touchdowns on 11 of 12 opponents this fall and had multiple rushing touchdowns in six games, including five of the last seven contests.

In addition to Kugler, other Wolverines to earn honorable mention recognition included: junior tight end Zach Gentry and sophomore tight end Sean McKeon.

Kugler earned his first career start at center this season, having one start at guard under his belt already, and has started all 12 games at the center position for U-M.

Gentry and McKeon have combined for 43 receptions totaling 561 yards and five touchdowns. They list one-two in receiving touchdowns, two-three in receiving yards and three-four in average receiving yards per game among all U-M pass catchers this season, with McKeon ranking highest in each category. For perspective, Michigan's John Mackey Award-winning tight end from 2016, Jake Butt, totaled 46 receptions for 546 yards with four scores.

McKeon's 29 receptions pace the U-M pass-catching corps, and he is in the midst of a nine-game receiving streak with three touchdowns in the last four contests. Meanwhile, Gentry has recorded a reception of 25 yards or more in six games this season.

The Big Ten will announce individual award winners on Thursday (Nov. 29).

Following is a breakdown of Michigan's players on the All-Big Ten offensive ballots:

All-Big Ten Offense (Coaches)
Second Team: Mason Cole, Ben Bredeson
Third Team: Karan Higdon
Honorable Mention: Chris Evans

All-Big Ten Offense (Media)
Second Team: Mason Cole, Ben Bredeson
Third Team: Karan Higdon
Honorable Mention: Zach Gentry, Patrick Kugler, Sean McKeon