Michigan's loss to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl overshadowed some terrific individual performances by Wolverines, including a highlight afternoon for receiver Jeremy Gallon.
http-equiv="content-type">
align="center">
bgcolor="#000080"> TheWolverine.com Hot 11
align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">Rank
align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> Player
align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> The Analysis
align="center" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">Last Game
1
face="verdana">Jeremy Gallon,
WR
style="font-family: verdana;">One of the smallest players on the field for Michigan was its biggest star in the Outback Bowl after Gallon set career highs for receptions (nine), yards (145) and touchdowns (two). He twice gave U-M the lead with his TD grabs in the second half, while seven of his nine grabs went for first downs or scores.
style="font-family: verdana;">It was a mixed bag of spectacular and lackluster efforts for Gardner, who would complete only 50.0 percent of his passes while turning the ball over twice. However, the junior signal-caller made big play after big play in the second half, rushing for 38 yards while throwing for two of his three touchdowns in staking Michigan to 22-21 and 28-27 leads.
style="font-family: verdana;">2
3
face="verdana">
face="verdana">Denard Robinsonface="verdana">,
RB/QB
face="verdana">In his final game in a winged helmet, Robinson dazzled once more, recording the 20th 100-yard rushing effort of his career as he tied Tyrone Wheatley for third all time among U-M ball carriers in that category. Robinson did most of his damage at running back, rushing 16 times for 72 yards in proving to NFL brass he has a future as an offensive playmaker.
style="font-family: verdana;">1
4
face="verdana">
face="verdana">Taylor Lewan,
OT
style="font-family: verdana;">style="font-family: verdana;">On the heels of a 4.5-sack game against Clemson, USC D-End Jadeveon Clowney was largely held in-check by Lewan, who did not allow a sack in the Outback Bowl. Clowney would finish with two tackles for loss, but only one in beating Lewan. The junior left tackle played superbly and is expected to enter the NFL Draft.
style="font-family: verdana;">NR
5
face="verdana">
style="font-family: verdana;">Drew Dileo,
WR
style="font-family: verdana;"> The junior was on the other end of Gardner's "flick," hauling in a five-yard TD pass in the first half. He wound up with three catches for 22 yards, and he also rushed for seven yards, picking up a first down on a fake field goal. U-M's holder, Dileo also helped steady the nerves and the football for three made field goals.
style="font-family: verdana;">NR
6
face="verdana">
face="verdana">Brendan Gibbons,
PK
face="verdana">After failing to appear in Michigan's final two regular-season games, Gibbons picked up where he left off, drilling two kicks right down the middle, good from 39 and 40 yards, as he extended his streak of consecutive field-goal conversions to 13. Gibbons finished his year 16 of 18 (88.9 percent).
style="font-family: verdana;">NR
7
face="verdana">
face="verdana">Matt Wile,
PK/P
face="verdana">Wile stepped in brilliantly for the suspended Will Hagerup at punter, averaging 48.0 yards on four kicks, including a booming 56-yarder. The sophomore was also given a shot to attempt a long field goal, and like he did earlier this season, calmly drilled it, connecting from 52 yards, tying Gibbons' 52-yarder as U-M's longest this season. face="verdana">
style="font-family: verdana;">NR
8
face="verdana">
face="verdana">Jake Ryan,
LB
face="verdana">It wasn't a banner day for the defense, but the redshirt sophomore linebacker managed to make a few big plays. He had 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, finishing with 16.0 tackles for loss on the year, including 4.5 sacks to lead the Wolverines, and also scooped up a fumble in the Outback Bowl loss.
style="font-family: verdana;">4
9
face="verdana">
face="verdana">Roy Roundtree,
WR
style="font-family: verdana;">Following a season-best game against Ohio State in the regular-season finale, Roundtree probably envisioned going out with a bang in his final collegiate contest. Instead, the senior made just three grabs for 27 yards, however, the snags were important catches for the Maize and Blue offense. face="verdana">
style="font-family: verdana;">3
10
face="verdana">
face="verdana">Joe Bolden,
LB
face="verdana">With senior Kenny Demens out early in this game with an injury, Bolden stepped in at middle linebacker and played the most minutes of his career. The true freshman snuffed out a screen pass, laying one of the best hits of the day, and finished with one TFL among 2.5 stops.
style="font-family: verdana;">NR
11
face="verdana">
face="verdana">Quinton Washington,
DT
style="font-family: verdana;">The redshirt junior will anchor Michigan's defensive line next season, and on Tuesday he showed further glimpses of his potential. Washington notched the first sack of his career and his third tackle for loss. He also got his big paws on a field-goal try, blocking the kick in stifling a scoring opportunity for South Carolina.
...