Ad Disclosure
Harbaugh sheds some light on Michigan’s QB battle
Published:
A few days ago, pass game coordinator Pep Hamilton gave very little insight on Michigan’s battle for the starting quarterback position. But now, head coach Jim Harbaugh is willing to open the book a little bit.
Prior to the start of fall camp, Harbaugh said that the battle for the starting job was a three-horse race. Two of the contenders have separated themselves, though, and it’s now a two-man heat.
“John (O’Korn) and Wilton (Speight) have really stepped up,” Harbaugh told reporters. “They’ve created a little bit of separation. One is with the ones, and then the next day, the other is with the ones. We’re keeping a very close eye on it and it’s progressing well.”
That means that freshman Brandon Peters is likely out of the mix as Speight and O’Korn continue to fight for the No. 1 spot before the season opener against Florida.
Speight was the starter for the Wolverines last year, leading the team to a 9-3 mark in 12 starts. He threw for 2,538 yards and 18 touchdowns last season while completing passes at a 61.6 percent clip.
O’Korn did make one start last season in Michigan’s game against Indiana after Speight suffered a shoulder injury in the loss to Iowa. He completed just 7-of-16 passes for 59 yards in the game.
Though Speight is probably the favorite to start against Florida, this is one battle to monitor over the coming days and weeks.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB