ANN ARBOR — A trio of University of Michigan football players are finalists for national awards.

Jake Butt, Jourdan Lewis and Jabrill Peppers are in the running for the John Mackey, Jim Thorpe and Bednarik awards respectively.

That trio of Wolverines will travel to Columbus, Ohio, Saturday for the 113th meeting of Michigan and Ohio State. The game will be played at noon and will be broadcast on ESPN to a national audience.

 

Mackey Award

NEW YORK — University of Michigan senior tight end Jake Butt has been named one of three finalists for the 2016 John Mackey Award, presented annually to the top collegiate tight end by the Friends of John Mackey.

Butt, the only Big Ten representative on the list, is the program’s first-ever finalist in the 17 seasons this award has been granted (since 2000).

He is joined by Alabama’s O.J. Howard and Clemson’s Jordan Leggett as this year’s finalists.

Butt is second on the team with 38 receptions for 460 yards (12.4 avg.) and four touchdowns this season. He has hauled in at least one reception in 10 games, with 26 of his 38 catches netting first downs, including seven receptions that converted third downs. Butt has collected three or more receptions in eight contests and had a season-best seven catches on two occasions.

Butt is Michigan’s career leader among tight ends in receptions (130) and receiving yards (1,560), and second with 11 career receiving touchdowns.

The winner of the 2016 John Mackey Award will be announced on Dec. 7.

 

Jim Thorpe Award

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Sports Hall of Fame announced Monday that University of Michigan senior cornerback Jourdan Lewis has been named one of three finalists for the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back.

Lewis is the program’s first finalist for the award in 10 years (Leon Hall), and the sixth finalist overall. The lone Michigan athlete to have won this award is Charles Woodson, in 1997.

Lewis has been a leader on the Wolverines top-ranked defense which leads the country in seven defensive categories this season, including pass defense, total defense, scoring defense and third down defense. Michigan ranks among the nation’s 12 best teams in all 11 major defensive categories this year.

Lewis holds the Michigan career record with 44 pass breakups after recording three last weekend, and he set the single-season record with 22 pass break-ups in 2015. He has tallied six interceptions with one return for a touchdown in his career, and has recorded 129 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and one sack through his four seasons.

Lewis will attend the ESPN College Football Awards Show Dec. 8.

 

Bednarik Award

PHILADELPHIA — The Maxwell Football Club announced on Monday that junior all-purpose contributor and starting linebacker Jabrill Peppers of the No. 3-ranked University of Michigan football team was named as a finalist for the Maxwell Player of the Year Award.

Peppers has helped the Michigan defense to lead the country in six categories: scoring defense, total defense, pass defense, third down defense, tackles for loss and first downs. In total, the unit lists among the country’s top 12 programs in all 11 defensive categories.