Game balls from Michigan's second straight Big Ten title win

Michigan football won its second straight Big Ten Championship on Saturday night in Indianapolis with a 43-22 win over the Purdue Boilermakers. There was no shortage of standout performers from another routine Wolverine victory.

Anthony Broome, Clayton Sayfie and Chris Balas select a player each week for Michigan after the game concludes. Here are the players that get the biggest nod from our staff following a Week 14 victory against Purdue.

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• Postgame reactions to Michigan football’s Big Ten Championship win over Purdue

Chris Balas: Freshman cornerback Will Johnson

Freshman cornerback Will Johnson has continued to grow up in front of our eyes. Every time he hits the field, he takes a step forward, and he was arguably the MVP of the Big Ten Championship game. Johnson had a pair of critical interceptions in the contest that helped fight off a potential Purdue upset. Aidan O’Connell and the Boilermaker passing game were on point for much of the night and decided to pick on the frosh sensation.

At this point, the conversation is more than valid about Freshman All-America status. It seems like a shoo-in. He has a shot to be Michigan’s best defensive back since Charles Woodson.

Clayton Sayfie: Sophomore running back Donovan Edwards

Michigan will be without Blake Corum for the foreseeable future but is thankful for having a star waiting in the wings in sophomore Donovan Edwards. He finished the day with 25 carries for 185 yards and a touchdown on a 27-yard scamper. Edwards also had a 60-yard rush early on in the second half that helped wake up the Wolverines en route to a 29-9 finish to the game.

Over the next four weeks, it will be critical to see if they can get his injured right hand in better shape. It is still affecting Michigan’s ability to get him involved in the passing game. But he continues to evolve as a running back the more carries he gets. His star-making turn is upon us.

Anthony Broome: Sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy

The stat sheet will not tell the sexiest story, but sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy continues to take steps forward as a star and a leader. He finished the game 11-for-17 with 161 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception, his first since the Penn State game. All three of McCarthy’s touchdowns were NFL-caliber throws and he continues to keep plays alive with his legs. Another month of him learning his craft and the game slowing down for him could help Michigan take that next step in its quest for a national championship.

He may not be the nation’s best quarterback, but he is Jim Harbaugh‘s best quarterback since arriving at Michigan. And with more wins and more clutch performances, the gap may start to widen.

Michigan football honorable mentions

Junior running back (!!) Kalel Mullings: Mullings is apparently the team’s No. 2 running back now after switching over from linebacker. He had 8 carries for 26 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the contest.

Graduate wide receiver Ronnie Bell: Bell finally got to play in a Big Ten Championship game, and he finished with 5 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Graduate tight end Luke Schoonmaker: Schoonmaker finished the day with 3 catches for 57 yards, a touchdown and a grab on a 2-point conversion that helped seal the game.

Junior EDGE Jaylen Harrell: Harrell played one of his best games of the season from a pass rush perspective, coming up with a pair of sacks.

Linebackers Junior Colson and Mike Barrett, safety Rod Moore: Michigan’s sterling linebacker duo did a fine job of cleaning things up on Saturday night. Colson had 15 tackles on the evening, Barrett had 14. Moore played his role from the safety position well, racking up 14 tackles on the night.