All-B1G: U-M's Peppers top frosh, joins Lewis on defense

Jabrill Peppers arrived at Michigan with insane hype.

As the nation's No. 2 ranked player in the class of 2014, he was expected to do it all.

Though his emergence was delayed by a year due to injury, he showed flashes of that potential this season as a redshirt freshman, earning the Big Ten Thompson-Randle El freshman of the year award.

Peppers wasn't confined to one spot on the field this season, playing at least 10 positions, so it only made sense that he appeared a few times in the All-Big Ten awards, as a first-team defensive back with teammate Jourdan Lewis and as a second-team All-Big Ten return man.

While Peppers had 10 pass break-ups, 45 tackles, 5 1/2 for loss, none of his stats were overwhelming, but his body of work was enough to have him join elite company as a U-M freshman of the year with cornerback Charles Woodson (1995), tailback Anthony Thomas (1997), receiver Steve Breaston (2003) and tailback Mike Hart (2004).

Lewis' selection was far more expected.

Michigan's junior cornerback from Detroit Cass Tech earned his spot with gaudy numbers

​Lewis had 21 passes defended – 19 breakups and two interceptions – setting a Michigan single-season record, ranking second nationally, one behind Northern Illinois' Shawun Lurry.

The 21 defended passes were three more than the previous team record set by Marlin Jackson (2002) and Leon Hall (2006) and vaulted Lewis to No. 4 on the career U-M list with 31. His six break-ups against Michigan State tied the program's single-game record.

Michigan's last cornerback named to the team was Blake Countess in 2013.

The other All-Big Ten cornerback, Iowa's Desmond King from Detroit East English Village, tied for the national lead with eight interceptions. King was named the Tatum-Woodson defensive back of the year.

U-M players named to the All-Big Ten third teams: defensive lineman Chris Wormley (coaches) and kicker Kenny Allen (media). There were also a number of Wolverines named honorable mention: linebackers Joe Bolden and Desmond Morgan, defensive linemen Ryan Glasgow, Willie Henry and Royce Jenkins-Stone, punter Blake O'Neill and safety Jarrod Wilson.

All-Big Ten defense

Defensive line

Joey Bosa, Ohio State

Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State

Carl Nassib, Penn State

Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland

Linebackers

Joe Schobert, Wisconsin

Anthony Walker, Northwestern

Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State (media only)

Joshua Perry, Ohio State (coaches only)

Defensive backs

Desmond King, Iowa

Jourdan Lewis, Michigan

Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

Vonn Bell, Ohio State (media only)

Will Likely, Maryland (coaches only)

Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder.Download our new Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!