With both the public and punditry fawning over the Michigan Wolverines in advance of the 2016 college football season, it isn't a surprise that Jim Harbaugh's team is well-represented on a major preseason All-American list. What is a surprise, though, is that Michigan serves as the Big Ten's leader in this regard, while trailing only the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide.
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The college football staff at Sports Illustrated released their preseason All-American team on Tuesday, and the Wolverines saw three inclusions on the list. Offensively, tight end Jake Butt received the nod, and with apologies to Jehu Chesson and Mason Cole, the 6-foot-6 senior is likely the only player on that side of the ball worthy of mention at this level.
On defense, both Jabrill Peppers and Jourdan Lewis landed on the list, and the SI.com staff had this to say about Peppers:
Technically a linebacker in new coordinator Don Brown's defense, Peppers's role shouldn't change much. Regardless, expect dominance.
This is a jarringly accurate representation of Peppers' game, as no one can figure out how to describe it specifically but everyone agrees it will be fantastic. This list includes him at linebacker (and so will Michigan's depth chart, in all likelihood), but the uber-talented athlete will play all over the field in hopes of building on his breakout 2015 campaign.
As for Lewis, he flanks fellow Big Ten cornerback Desmond King of Iowa on the list, and that is no surprise. Lewis is arguably the front-runner for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2016, and the race between the two conference rivals for this honor will be a lot of fun to witness.
Michigan did not place a player on the second team, though Chesson, Cole and Chris Wormley should be considered "hot on the heels" of every player included. The Wolverines are deep and loaded with talent as 2016 opens and expectations continue to rise.
