NFF National Scholar-Athletes
DE - 3.54 GPA – Applied Exercise Science
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh | Athletics Director: Warde Manuel
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Ketra Armstrong
A guiding force on defense for No. 6 Michigan, Aidan Hutchinson is among the Big Ten leaders in sacks while maintaining a 3.54 GPA. The Plymouth, Michigan, native becomes the Wolverines' ninth NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
A two-time First Team Academic All-District selection, Hutchinson is on pace to graduate in December with a degree in applied exercise science. The 2019 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar is a two-time academic all-conference honoree.
This season, Hutchinson leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the nation with 13 sacks, which set a new Michigan single-season record. The two-year team captain also ranks third on the team with 54 total tackles after returning this season from a lower-body injury that cut his 2020 campaign short. He has led the No. 2 Wolverines to an 11-1 record, and they will take on Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis this Saturday, Dec. 4, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Hutchinson is one of four finalists for the 2021 Rotary Lombardi Award. He has also been named a semifinalist for the 2021 Bednarik Award and a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Hutchinson was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording seven tackles and three sacks in the Wolverines' 42-27 win over rival Ohio State. Following his standout performance in Michigan's 31-10 win over Washington in which he had 2.5 sacks, he earned Reese's Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week honors. He was also named the Big Ten Conference and Reese's Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week after posting a career-high three sacks and one forced fumble among seven total tackles to help the Wolverines beat Penn State, 21-17.
A 2019 Third Team All-Big Ten selection, Hutchinson was named Michigan's Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2019 and the Wolverines' Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018. He guided Michigan to appearances in the 2018 Peach Bowl and 2020 Citrus Bowl and top 20 final rankings in 2018 (No. 14) and 2019 (No. 18).
Giving back to the community, Hutchinson has volunteered with local schools where he regularly speaks to students and athletes. Prior to the pandemic, he also volunteered at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.
Hutchinson joins his father, Chris, as just the second father-son duo to both earn NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Honored by the NFF in 1992, Chris was a First Team All-America defensive tackle for Michigan who led the team to four Big Ten titles.
