Michigan Football: 10 Best Players in Wolverines' History

A number of legendary players have suited up for Michigan over its 126-year history, but 10 stand out among the best to ever wear the maize and blue.

The list only takes into consideration collegiate accomplishments, so NFL stars like Tom Brady didn't make the cut. All-American honors, all-conference nods, Heisman Trophy finishes and school records were all factors.

Of course, with thousands of players to choose from, several well-known Wolverines will be left out.

Head to the comments section and add your favorite Michigan players. 

Mike Hart, Running Back

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Mike Hart didn't waste any time entering the record books. He amassed a freshman-record 1,455 yards in 2004 and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Following an injury-affected sophomore campaign, the running back ripped off consecutive 14-touchdown seasons. He scampered for 1,562 and 1,361 yards in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

As a junior, Hart finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. During each of his three healthy seasons, Hart secured first-team All-Big Ten honors. He remains Michigan's all-time leading rusher with 5,040 yards, adding the fourth-most touchdowns (41).

Hart also compiled a program-best 28 100-yard, 12 150-yard and five 200-yard games.

Rick Leach, Quarterback

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Many former Michigan quarterbacks put up respectable passing numbers. Some, like Denard Robinson, ran circles around defenses for a while. Rick Leach did a little bit of both.

The quarterback was a star two-sport athlete, who would eventually play 10 seasons in Major League Baseball.

While in Ann Arbor, though, Leach tallied 4,045 passing yards and 46 touchdowns. He also scampered for 2,171 yards—which at that time was a top-10 program mark—and 34 scores.

Leach secured eighth- and third-place finishes in Heisman voting for the 1977 and 1978 seasons, as well as a trio of first-team All-Big Ten selections, per the school.

Steve Hutchinson, Offensive Guard

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Steve Hutchinson enjoyed a successful NFL career, but his Michigan tenure was nothing short of excellent.

After redshirting in 1996, Hutchinson earned a starting spot at left guard. He never relinquished the position, opening 45 games and claiming four first-team All-Big Ten honors.

Per the school, he didn't allow a sack during his final two seasons. As a senior, Hutchinson was a consensus All-American and the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Hutchinson was also a finalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy before hearing his name in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft.

Jake Long, Offensive Tackle

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Jake Long broke into Michigan's lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2003. Injuries slowed him down over the next season, but during his final two years, Long excelled.

And the awards piled up.

Long twice earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and consensus All-American honors.

As a senior, he was a finalist for both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award. Long was the No. 1 overall selection of the 2007 NFL draft.

Bennie Oosterbaan, Wide Receiver/Defensive End

One of the greatest athletes you might not know existed, Bennie Oosterbaan is a Michigan legend.

In addition to a pair of All-American nods in basketball, he also lettered in baseball. Oh, and there was that football thing. He played wide receiver and defensive end.

According to the New York Times, Oosterbaan led the Big Ten with eight touchdowns in 1925.

Because of the era in which he played, complete stats are not available. One highlight of Oosterbaan's football career is when he tossed three touchdowns during the Michigan Stadium dedication ceremony against Ohio State, a 21-0 victory.

Oosterbaan gathered three consensus All-American accolades, the only player in school history to accomplish that.

Braylon Edwards, Wide Receiver

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Best recognized for a three-touchdown explosion against Michigan State in 2004, Braylon Edwards had as stellar a three-season run as you'll find in college football.

He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark and caught 10 touchdowns as a sophomore, then amassed 85 catches for 1,138 yards and 14 scores the next year. That was a precursor to his dominant senior year.

In 2004, Edwards racked up 97 receptions, 1,330 yards and 15 touchdowns, becoming a consensus All-American and finishing 10th in Heisman voting. He won the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the nation's top receiver.

Edwards—who the Cleveland Browns took with the No. 3 overall pick in 2005—is still Michigan's all-time leader in receptions (252), receiving yards (3,541) and receiving touchdowns (39).

Tom Harmon, Running Back

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When the Wolverines broke out the "Legends" jerseys, Devin Gardner's 98 was a tribute to Tom Harmon.

The running back capped his Michigan career by winning the Maxwell Award, AP Player of the Year and Heisman Trophy in 1940.

During that season, Harmon ran for 852 yards and 15 scores, threw six touchdowns, snagged four interceptions and added two other trips to the end zone while averaging 37 yards per punt.

Harmon exited Ann Arbor as the career leader in rushing scores (33), according to the school. He accumulated 2,134 rushing yards, 16 touchdown passes, 33 extra points and two field goals.

Anthony Carter, Wide Receiver

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Anthony Carter assembled a decent freshman campaign, reeling in 17 passes for 462 yards and seven scores. He also returned a punt for a touchdown.

Then, the wide receiver started cementing himself in Michigan lore. Carter became the first player to have 10 touchdowns in a season, tallying 14 as a sophomore with 51 receptions and 818 yards. He was 10th in Heisman voting that year.

Carter posted 50/952/8 and 43/844/8 lines during his final two years—both of which included consensus All-American nods—and grabbed two more top-10 Heisman finishes.

He spent all four seasons as the Wolverines' primary kick and punt returner, totaling 5,802 all-purpose yards. That, along with his 161 receptions, 3,076 yards and 37 touchdowns, was a school record at the time.

Charles Woodson, Defensive Back

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Considering the weight now placed on offensive numbers, it's unlikely a player will ever again sweep national awards like Charles Woodson did in 1997. He seemingly won everything.

Woodson—who was also the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1995—claimed the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year; was a consensus All-American; earned the Nagurski, Bednarik, Thorpe and Camp awards; and hoisted the Heisman Trophy.

In each of his three years at Michigan, the defensive back secured a first-team All-Big Ten spot. In addition to 18 total interceptions, Woodson set a then-record with 30 pass breakups.

He also gathered 21 passes for 370 yards and three touchdowns, two rushing scores and took a punt return to the house.

Desmond Howard, Wide Receiver

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Every year, college football searches for a certain player's "Heisman moment." Few are more iconic than Desmond Howard's, when he struck the pose after returning a punt for a score against rival Ohio State.

The touchdown sealed a tremendous season in which Howard caught 62 passes for 985 yards and a school-record 19 scores, adding two touchdowns as a runner and another as a kick returner.

A consensus All-American, Howard took home 1997 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors, the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year honors along with the prestigious Heisman.

In just three years, Howard registered 134 receptions and 2,146 yards and scored 37 total touchdowns. There's no question that he's one of the greatest to ever suit up for Michigan.