Michigan Football: 2010s All-Decade team for the Wolverines
LB: Devin Bush, Jabrill Peppers, Jake Ryan
Bush’s stats (2016-18): 172 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 10 sacks, INT
The son of 1995 NFL first-round pick Devin Bush Sr., the younger Bush carved out his own legacy at the collegiate level.
As a freshman in 2016, Bush saw action in all 13 games on special teams and appeared in seven games as a linebacker. This foundation gave Michigan fans a taste of what was to come over the following two seasons.
Starting every game in 2017, Bush totaled 95 tackles and 5.5 sacks. At just 19 years old, he earned All-Big Ten first-team recognition from the coaches.
The Pembroke Pines, FL native followed this up with an even better junior season. While Winovich was the vocal leader of the defense, Bush was the unit’s best player. Although he stood just 5-foot-11, he was a hard-hitting sideline-to-sideline menace.
A consensus All-American in 2018, Bush was once again named to the All-Big Ten first-team, this time both the coaches and the media, and received Michigan football’s Team Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Bush elected to forego his final year of eligibility and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the tenth pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Peppers’ stats (2014-16): 119 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 3 sacks, INT
As electrifying and versatile as any player to ever put on the “Block M,” a case could be made for Peppers on this list as either a linebacker or a safety. I went with linebacker because that’s where he primarily played during the 2016 season when he was named an All-American.
Originally a cornerback, Peppers appeared in three games, making one start, for Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison in 2014. An injury would cut his freshman campaign short, but the East Orange, NJ native returned with a vengeance as a sophomore.
Starting every game he would play in over the 2015-16 seasons, Peppers was a force in all three phases of the game. As a junior, he finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting and was named to the All-Big Ten first-team as both a linebacker and return specialist. Interestingly, his first, and only, career interception came in his final game as a Wolverine at Ohio Stadium on November 26, 2016.
We may never see another Charles Woodson, but Peppers was about as close as it gets.
Ryan’s stats (2011-14): 267 tackles, 45.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks, INT
Jake Ryan made his presence felt early and often in his Michigan football career.
As a freshman, he tied a Sugar Bowl record with four TFL in Michigan’s victory over Virginia Tech. He started 11 games in the 2011 campaign and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Named to the All-Big Ten second-team as a sophomore by the media and unanimously named to the first-team as a senior, Ryan stands near the top of several of Michigan’s defensive records. His seven forced fumbles are tied for second-best in program history, and his 45.5 TFL are seventh-best.
One stat really puts Ryan’s impact into perspective: He recorded at least one TFL in 30 of his final 40 games as a Wolverine.
Honorable mentions: Joe Bolden (2012-15), Mike McCray (2014-17), Desmond Morgan (2011-15)