Michigan Football: Who Is the Underdog in Wolverines QB Battle?

Listening to Jim Harbaugh’s banter after Michigan’s first practice you might be fooled into believing that he doesn't have a definite time table for ranking his seven quarterbacks.

But with early enrollee Alex Malzone already taking snaps this spring and two more quarterbacks arriving for fall camp (Zach Gentry and transfer John O’Korn) the clock is ticking for quarterbacks recruited by Brady Hoke to prove their worth.

“Every day there will be an evaluation process on every player, in every drill,” said Harbaugh. “That is ongoing, that’s always.”

Harbaugh dodged a question about how many quarterbacks would be too many to coach but Russell Bellomy won’t be the only transfer after competition shakes out.

USA TODAY Sports

Name	Eligibility
Alex Malzone	FR
Wilton Speight	RS FR
Joe Hewlett	RS FR
Matt Thompson	RS FR
Garrett Moores	RS SO
Shane Morris	JR
Brian Cleary	RS JR

Shane Morris brings the most baggage but also has the most experience having put in a decent performance during Michigan’s last bowl game. Morris was poised to challenge Devin Gardner last season until a nightmare outing in the Big Ten opener ended his season.

But the underdog is 6’6” Wilton Speight who was an early enrollee last spring. He was held out even as poor quarterback play sunk Michigan’s season and ended Brady Hoke’s tenure in Ann Arbor.

If Speight couldn't get playing time last season after Morris’ concussion and Gardner’s excessive turnovers, it doesn’t bode well for him cracking the lineup under Harbaugh.

But even with Michigan’s next starting quarterback on the horizon, Speight is excited by the opportunity for a fresh start under the new staff.

When questioned about the looming quarterback battle—the position that will surely dictate the success or failure of his first season—Harbaugh projected a sense of detachment.

“Right now we’re throwing the balls out there and letting them compete.”

Harbaugh said that most of his offensive staff would take part in evaluating the quarterbacks throughout the spring. But he will have the final word on who starts next season. Harbaugh has shown a knack for selecting signal callers who fit his offense even when the choice goes against conventional wisdom.

Now it’s just up to one of his seven quarterbacks to make a big impression before his handpicked quarterback recruits show up for fall camp.

Phil Callihan is a featured writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations obtained firsthand

Follow
@PCallihan