Who's the Real Favorite in Michigan's Quarterback Competition?

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Jim Harbaugh wasn't standing nearby, but had he been, it's a safe bet the new Michigan coach would have been impressed.

Shane Morris was a taking a break from his duties as an instructor at the Ann Arbor Aerial Assault quarterback camp to field questions from reporters when the subject of Michigan's impending quarterback competition came up.

The junior signal-caller is far from a stranger when it comes to the touchy topic, but last Saturday marked the first time Morris had met with the media since the arrival of Iowa graduate transfer Jake Rudock—his direct competition in this year's go-round.

Rather than dance around the Rudock-related questions, Morris spoke with a confidence reminiscent of his new head coach.

"He came here to take my job," Morris said of Rudock. "I'm just not going to let it happen."

If the quarterback competition three hours southeast at Ohio State is being billed by Urban Meyer as friendly, then this may be the furthest thing from it: two signal-callers who each feel they're fighting for their final shot to make an impact in their college careers.

Unlike Braxton Miller, Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett, Morris and Rudock have hardly been teammates for a month, and Morris has admitted the two haven't spoken much since Rudock's arrival in Ann Arbor.

Tony Ding/Associated Press

That might be just the way the competition-driven Harbaugh likes it, with his NFL playing and coaching careers making him no stranger to quarterback quandaries. In 2012, the then-San Francisco 49ers head coach opted to stick with the hot hand in Colin Kaepernick over a more experienced Alex Smith who was returning from an injury, a move that was vindicated with the Niners' subsequent trip to the Super Bowl.

But unlike picking between Kaepernick and Smith, the battle between Morris and Rudock hardly presents Harbaugh with an equally intriguing set of options.

At least not at the midpoint of Morris' college career, which has largely been viewed as disappointing after he arrived at Michigan as the nation's No. 3 pro-style quarterback prospect in 2013. In two seasons, the 6'3", 209-pounder has completed just 43 of his 87 pass attempts, a stat line that also includes five interceptions and no touchdowns.

Nevertheless, Morris remains confident that he'll be the Wolverines' starting quarterback come the start of the season.

"I think I can win the starting job because I have the mentality to do so," he said. "It's my job to lose. I'm just going to keep working hard and fend off any competitors that are trying to take it away from me."

That may be easier said than done against Rudock, a fifth-year senior who has a stronger track record at this point in his college career than Morris. In two seasons as the Hawkeyes' starter, Rudock completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 4,819 yards, 34 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, good for a combined quarterback rating of 130.0.

Having been recruited out of high school by Michigan quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Jedd Fisch, the 6'3", 208-pound Rudock cites his experience with a similar offense and familiarity with the Harbaugh staff as his advantages heading into this summer's competition.

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

"It's a pro-style offense, a little bit of West Coast. At Iowa, we ran a lot of pro sets," Rudock said at the A4 camp. "Just having done it before is definitely a lot of help."

Like any competition, both players have their respective strengths and weaknesses. Rudock will benefit from his safer style of play, while Morris' impressive arm strength and extra year of eligibility give him a potentially greater upside.

Those around the program insist there's a reason Harbaugh and Fisch recruited Rudock so heavily when he first announced he'd be leaving Iowa after losing his starting job to C.J. Beathard, but also admit Morris played better than expected throughout and since spring practice.

As for Morris' assertion that he's the front-runner in the race, most chalk that up to his personality, which stands in contrast to Rudock's quieter brand of confidence. Whether the difference in the players' approaches will mean anything to Harbaugh this summer remains to be seen, but right now, it's clear that Michigan's quarterback competition isn't as clear-cut as Morris would lead you to believe.

"I want to play. I think every guy in the locker room wants to go out there and play," Rudock said. "I'm not really focusing [on the competition] to be honest. I'm just focused on meshing with the guys, understanding them. Every guy responds differently. Some guys need a little encouragement, some need a kick in the butt."

Apparently, that holds true for quarterbacks as well.

Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Big Ten lead writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes were obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.