In 2007, Sarah Pavan received the Honda Award as the nation's top female student-athlete.

He was also a finalist for the Draddy Trophy, which is presented to the nations' top student-athlete.

"To really be appealing to the top student-athlete, you've got to establish winning."

In his senior season, he won a Big Ten Medal of Honor for being the school's top student-athlete.

For his 2006 senior year, he was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor for being the top student-athlete at Michigan.

He was also the recipient of the Dial Award, given to the nation's top male and female student-athlete.

He earned the University of Detroit President's Award, awarded to the top senior student-athlete, in 1989.

Recruiting top student-athletes is even more strategic due to the potential increase in undergraduate admissions and booster donations that a championship may bring.

Wilkie graduated from Michigan's business school with a 3.5 grade point average, and received an award for being the top student-athlete on campus.

He said: "We are all out to recruit the top student-athletes.