Best Michigan football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore

The best Michigan football players of the modern era, including Charles Woodson and Desmond Howard, make up half of the Michigan Mount Rushmore.

One half of the best rivalry in college football, the all-time leader in program wins and the 11-time National Champion, Michigan football is an undeniable blue blood in the sport. While they have not had the recent success that some would hope for, that’s simply because the Wolverines measure success not in wins but in trophies. They’ve still been a winning team that’s one of the best in the country.

In the rich history of Michigan football, the Wolverines have produced three Heisman Trophy winners, two of them coming in the modern era of the program since 1990. What’s more, the Wolverines have also produced 83 Consensus All-Americans in the history of the program, speaking to how many greats have come out of Ann Arbor.

But if we’re talking about Michigan’s best of the best, which four players make it onto the Mount Rushmore, specifically in terms of players from the modern era (since 1980)? Let’s figure that out — but first, let’s give a few guys a much-deserved shoutout as they just missed the cut.

With a nickname as unforgettable as his on-field performance, “Shoelace”, a.k.a. Denard Robinson was a singular talent for Michigan football. His dual-threat ability left him as the Wolverines’ career leader in total offense (10,745 yards) as well as tied for the career leader in total touchdowns (90). Furthermore, he’s second all-time on the career rushing list, cementing his greatness in the history of the program.

For his accolades and production, Mark Messner was a tough omission from the Mount Rushmore. The first Wolverines position player to earn four All-Big Ten First Team selections and the career leader in sacks (36) and tackles for loss (70), Messner was one of the most dominant defensive tackles of his generation.

Chad Henne‘s productive career was never spectacular but always consistent and solid. As such, he’s the Michigan football career leader in passing yards (9,715) and passing touchdowns (87) for the work he put forth over his career. Had Henne been able to notch one truly great season, he may have made his way into the top four.