2010 Michigan Wolverines football team

Preseason

In 2009, the Wolverines started out 4–0, but finished the season 5–7 and missed a bowl game for the second year in a row. Michigan finished the season seventh in the Big Ten in total offense and ninth in total defense.

The team entered the season surrounded by questions of how they would overcome the late season collapse from last year and what it would take for Rich Rodriguez to return for a fourth year. On January 5, Michigan hired David Brandon to replace Bill Martin as its athletic director. Martin had previously announced his retirement during the 2009 season. Reaction to the hire was positive, but the hire also brought increased scrutiny upon Rich Rodriguez, as Brandon made it clear that he would do whatever was necessary to turn the program around from its recent slump.

The team also faced uncertainty relating to who would be the starting quarterback. While it was expected that Tate Forcier would retain his starting job, the build-up to the season led to a quarterback controversy that turned into a three way battle between Forcier, Denard Robinson, and highly touted recruit Devin Gardner. On defense, Michigan installed a new 3–3–5 formation that the coaches hoped would better suit the players currently on the team. Michigan lost several key players from the previous season, including DE Brandon Graham, the 2009 Big Ten defensive Most Valuable Player, RB's Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown, LB Stevie Brown, and CB Donovan Warren. Michigan suffered a severe blow to its defensive secondary during fall practice, as starting CB Troy Woolfolk suffered a dislocated ankle that ended his season before it began.

Preseason award watch lists

Michigan began the season with five players listed on prominent watch lists. Junior Kevin Koger was listed on the John Mackey Award list for tight ends. Redshirt sophomore Roy Roundtree was listed on the Fred Biletnikoff Award list for wide receivers. Fifth-year senior Stephen Schilling was listed on the Outland Trophy list for lineman. Redshirt junior David Molk was named to the Rimington Trophy list for centers. Fifth-year senior Jonas Mouton was listed on the Butkus Award watch list for linebackers.

Rankings

Schedule

The schedule is as follows:

Statistics

The offense improved upon its 2009 performance to finish first in the Big Ten in total offense and third in scoring. However, Michigan ranked last in the Big Ten and 110th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in defense.

Denard Robinson finished first in the conference in rushing and total offense, while finishing fourth and second in the nation in these categories respectively. Jonas Mouton also led the conference in tackles, while teammate Jordan Kovacs finished second. Robinson averaged 130.92 rushing yards per game, while averaging 328.62 yards of total offense. Mouton averaged 9.25 tackles per game, while Kovacs averaged 8.92 tackles. The per game team rankings below include 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams and 11 Big Ten Conference teams:

The per game rankings below include players who have played in 75% of team's games and are ranked in the top 100 national leaders and top 25 conference leaders:

Individual accomplishments

Denard Robinson became the first major-college quarterback to throw and rush for 1,500 yards in one season. He also went on to set the Big Ten Conference single-season rushing yards by a quarterback record and was named a Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist. In November, he was also named as one of sixteen Maxwell Award semifinalists. Center David Molk was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. Michigan had three individual statistical champions for conference game statistics: Denard Robinson averaged 317.5 yards of total offense per game, wide receiver Roy Roundtree averaged 83.9 receiving yards per contest and punter Will Hagerup averaged 46.0 yards per punt. They also had three champions for all games: Robinson 130.9 rushing yards per game and 328.6 average yards of total offense, while Jonas Mouton recorded 9.8 tackles per game. Denard Robinson was also named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, the following other players were selected to the All-Big Ten Conference team: Denard Robinson (1st team – media, honorable mention – coaches), Molk (1st team – media & coaches), Mike Martin (2nd team – coaches, honorable mention – media) Mouton (2nd team – media), Roundtree (2nd team – media), Stephen Schilling (honorable mention – coaches & media), and Jordan Kovacs (honorable mention – media). Denard Robinson was also named the winner of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football for being the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player.

Denard Robinson was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches, the Big Ten media and College Football News (CFN)—despite not being named by the coaches to either the first or second All-Big Ten team; however, he was a first team All-conference selection by the media and CFN. He also edged out Terrelle Pryor as the Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player as voted by the Big Ten coaches, although both had the same number of first place votes. He was a first team All-American selection by the Football Writers Association of America as a running back, a third team selection by the Associated Press as an all-purpose player, and an honorable mention quarterback selection by Sports Illustrated and College Football News. He finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Molk was also recognized by Sports Illustrated as an honorable mention All-American. Cam Gordon was selected as a second team Freshman All-American by CFN at safety, and he was joined on the second team by offensive line selection Taylor Lewan. Schilling was selected as a participant to the Senior Bowl, while Mouton was selected to play in the East–West Shrine Game.

Postseason

The postseason quickly became an eventful one for the team. Four days after their game against Mississippi State, Rich Rodriguez was fired along with his entire staff after failing to meet expectations, as well as failing to defeat rivals Ohio State and Michigan State during his three seasons as head coach. Michigan immediately launched a national coaching search, and hired Brady Hoke as its new head coach one week later. Although the entire coaching staff was fired, Hoke elected to retain running backs coach Fred Jackson.

In addition to Rodriguez's firing, Michigan also saw the departure of QB Tate Forcier. Forcier cited the fact that he felt no longer wanted as a reason for his departure from the school.

2011 NFL Draft

Following their postseason recognition, Jonas Mouton and Stephen Schilling were invited to participate in the NFL Combine, which was held from February 23 – March 1. They were both drafted. Following the 2011 NFL lockout, the following Wolverines signed: tight end Martell Webb with the Philadelphia Eagles, cornerback James Rogers with the Denver Broncos and offensive lineman Perry Dorrestein with the New York Jets. Former Wolverine transfers also signed: linebacker Cobrani Mixon from Kent State University with the Detroit Lions and offensive guard Justin Boren ended up in Baltimore Ravens. The following seniors were initially unsigned: linebacker Obi Ezeh and defensive linemen Greg Banks and Adam Patterson. However, Ezeh signed with the Washington Redskins on July 31. Banks was also a late signee with the Detroit Lions.