transfers
wilton speight

Goodbye: Wilton Speight (Will Grad Transfer) Comment Count

Seth

Speight announced on Instagram tonight that he plans to transfer elsewhere for his 5th year

Thank you, Michigan. These past 4 years have been nothing short of spectacular. Enrolling in January of 2014 as a kid from Virginia i didn’t know what to expect. Four years later i leave a Michigan Man. The amazing memories with my teammates, playing under the best coaches in America, and enjoying everything that this wonderful university and town have to offer- what a ride. To the fans that stuck with us through thick and thin— thank you. To Coach Hoke for giving a kid with no offers a chance— thank you. To Coach Harbaugh for coming in and making me a better man and a better quarterback. For understanding this decision of mine and always having my back no matter what— thank you. I don’t know where next will be, and I’ll use these next four weeks to figure that out. i’m excited to keep pursuing my dreams in a new jersey, but will forever root for the boys wearing the winged helmet. Go blue!

A post shared by Wilton Speight (@wiltonspeight_3) on

Speight went from afterthought to quarterbacking the best Michigan team in a decade, toughing out a shoulder injury that couldn’t have been healed in time for Ohio State last year. His 2016 performance against Maryland stands as the best half by a quarterback in program history. Since Michigan fans live all over the country, once his eligibility expires I imagine Wilton will have a hard time ever buying a beer for himself again. We’ll be rooting for him wherever he goes.

Michigan also graduates John O’Korn but returns Brandon Peters and will have redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey plus two freshmen, and may look to add one more in the transfer market.

Comments

BlueGoM

November 26th, 2017 at 8:04 PM ^

This is not good, IMO.   This means a full season with a QB with what - 3 games experience?  Backed up by RS Fr with zero game experience.

Hope Speight does well in the future and everything, but this isn't good for UM.

 

Joined: 08/25/2009

MGoPoints: 7990

Yessir

November 26th, 2017 at 8:17 PM ^

Class act!

I honestly think the move is best for Wilton Speight and the program. 

Good luck, young man! I will be following.

Joined: 12/22/2015

MGoPoints: 7270

Alumnus93

November 26th, 2017 at 8:19 PM ^

Geez I don't like this. Barring injury he beats Msu And OSU this year. And he had OSU nearly beat last year. We need veteran play, and now, if Peters goes down we will be screwed again. And we play our rivals on road both. Was he given a handshake? Or is he leaving on own accord? Because we need him.

Joined: 09/10/2009

MGoPoints: 9684

Go Blue Rosie

November 26th, 2017 at 10:17 PM ^

His mom tweeted to someone that she appreciated Harbaugh respecting/supporting his decision even though he wanted him to stay. So I don’t think Harbaugh showed him to door, although he likely wouldn’t commit to having him start. My gut feeling is that Wilton wanted more of a chance/guarantee to be a starter. Can’t blame him.

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 2761

MileHighWolverine

November 26th, 2017 at 10:55 PM ^

He struggled to move the ball against some seriously bad teams earlier this year...I'm not sure you can say he had MSU and OSU barring injury. It's good to have experience but it's also good to hve clarity at the position and now we know who's going to start next year. 

Joined: 09/02/2008

MGoPoints: 7749

Alumnus93

November 26th, 2017 at 8:30 PM ^

To whoever it was a few months ago,who said this transfer would happen, that WS would get a firm handshake.... I doubted it, and I apologise. YOU WERE RIGHT. BRAVO.

Joined: 09/10/2009

MGoPoints: 9684

uminks

November 26th, 2017 at 9:22 PM ^

Head to CMU to keep the string of Michigan graduate transfer QBs going! He must of seen the writing on the wall that he would be the 2nd or 3rd string QB. Best of luck to him.

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 31973

You Only Live Twice

November 26th, 2017 at 9:55 PM ^

still happy for you, that you are able to decide what's best for your future, together with the people that care for you - your family, friends and coaches.  I have never stopped feeling sick about the injury you had, and wish for you a happy and healthy future.  

Thanks for all you did - as others have said here, True Warrior!

You're going to do great things in life.

Joined: 09/14/2013

MGoPoints: 9615

Solecismic

November 26th, 2017 at 10:48 PM ^

I'm really sorry to hear this. He's become such an important part of Michigan football and I doubt Harbaugh wouldn't have loved to have him battling Peters and McCaffrey this spring and late summer. He might have even won that battle. I'm guessing he won't transfer to Purdue, but I hope he isn't considering any school within the conference. I'd say why can't he play in the bowl game, but the timing of this announcement likely means his injuries prevent him from practicing with contact for another month or so. Anyway, best of luck to him.

Joined: 11/27/2016

MGoPoints: 6918

Ecky Pting

November 26th, 2017 at 11:05 PM ^

Everyone presumes that WS would not beat out BP for the starting job in 2018. It's moot now of course, but that wouldn't necessarily have been a foregone conclusion. Nonetheless, it's understandable from Will's perspective that if the starting position doesn't return to him once he's healthy again, then the path of least resistance to a starting position is probably elsewhere. That said, whatever program lands WS is getting a real steal. A competent, experienced and savvy QB with 3 solid years of Harbaugh tutelage, including 2 cycles as a starter. As such he will be ready to go immediately and won't require any coaching up. Even Rudock needed time to work himself into the Harbaughffense. 

Wherever he goes, I just hope it's not to a team M will be playing!

Godspeed, Wilton Speight.

Joined: 09/06/2013

MGoPoints: 4655

Rufus X

November 27th, 2017 at 8:25 AM ^

Yes, WS may have won the job, but it I am guessing that he would be looking over his shoulder the entire time he had the job - essentially the same thing he was dealing with the entire time he was our starter.

He can start over a la Shane Morris and take his Michigan degree with him to the next phase of his life, whatever that may be. 

Godspeed, Wilton Speight - Forever a Michigan Man.

Joined: 10/29/2010

MGoPoints: 3993

Erik_in_Dayton

November 26th, 2017 at 11:33 PM ^

Selfishly, I’d love to have him back. Michigan was 14-3 in games he started (this includes this year’s Purdue game but not the 2015 Minnesota game he closed out). I know he struggled this year, but we’re losing a quality quarterback who appears to be a good citizen. I would have loved to have him in the mix with the younger guys next year.

Joined: 12/03/2008

MGoPoints: 58983

Sten Carlson

November 26th, 2017 at 11:48 PM ^

Good luck WIlt, and thanks for all your hard work and dedication.  You'll always be a Michigan Man!

No need to worry about this, it's going to be the best thing for the long term healthy of the QB depth chart.  Yeah, it would have been nice to have a 5th year guy coming back to help groom the younger guys, etc.  But, as much as I respect WS and defended him against those that wanted him replaced, let's not pretend that he was a world-beater QB.  He was good at a few things that are important for being a good QB, but his arm and timing had seemingly regressed and he seemed to have the yips.  Would he have worked it out?  We'll never know.

Michigan needs to get into a good developmental rhythm with super talented guys coming in, redshirting, and then moving into a starting position.  I'm not saying Wilt isn't talented, but I think he is very clear about his ceiling (which many in here claim he'd reached) and wasn't wanting to go through another fall camp against an experienced BP, a surging DM, and potentially another talented transfer.  I don't really blame him for not wanting to (potentially) play the old back-up role with his last year of eligibility.

Frankly, I don't want the clutter on the depth chart.  I don't mean that as a slight against WS -- I've been a big fan of his.  But, as coach said, it's time.  It's time to let Harbaugh's QB recruits take over the ship and see where they can take it with no muddy waters to deal with.

This is a good thing.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: -56

BoFan

November 27th, 2017 at 1:45 AM ^

“Since Michigan fans live all over the country, once his eligibility expires I imagine Wilton will have a hard time ever buying a beer for himself again. We’ll be rooting for him wherever he goes.”

Joined: 03/09/2012

MGoPoints: 19903

Jonesy

November 27th, 2017 at 6:51 PM ^

Good luck to Wilton Speight, I hope he does well wherever he goes like Shane has done. Now the crass part. I'm glad he's leaving. I was dismayed when he was the starter this year and my greatest football dread for next year is him being named the starter again. He wasn't very good last season and he was worse this season.

Joined: 03/14/2012

MGoPoints: 10517