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

go50blue

November 26th, 2017 at 5:51 PM ^

I'm honestly very surprised, he didn't lose his job to anyone he got replaced because he was hurt. I really thought he would come back and be the starter next year. But good luck to him I wish him all the best

Joined: 08/01/2010

MGoPoints: 481

creelymonk10

November 26th, 2017 at 5:51 PM ^

Good luck to Wilton, will cheer him on wherever he goes. Will now only have 2 scholarship QBs next year unless we burn a redshirt. Need better injury luck than this year. 

Joined: 12/04/2009

MGoPoints: 10678

TNBlue1977

November 26th, 2017 at 5:54 PM ^

He wasn't listed in the write up above. I heard rumors about him leaving but didn't think it was definite.

 

Bet Speight transfers to Virginia...pro style offense, close to home and their QB is set to graduate.

Joined: 12/03/2013

MGoPoints: 388

YaterSalad

November 26th, 2017 at 5:51 PM ^

I hope he does well wherever he goes. He kept positive in spite of injuries, fan dislike, junk o-lines, etc. OTOH, excited to see the QB battle royal of BP, McCaff, Milton, and (I guess fingers crossed) Shea Patterson.

Joined: 03/29/2010

MGoPoints: 1122

Broken Brilliance

November 26th, 2017 at 5:52 PM ^

I was very eager for a competition between wil and BP next spring/fall. I'm wondering if this was due to his injury history or a reflection of Peters standing as of now. M will be very young next year at QB.

Joined: 09/07/2010

MGoPoints: 7696

ghostofhoke

November 26th, 2017 at 5:53 PM ^

Happy trails Wilton, congrats on your graduation. Wish you all the best and hope you find a great situation for next season. You were a class act the entire way through, played some good football and proved yourself to be a strong leader. Chin up high for your legacy, you’ll be remembered fondly. Wish this season had gone differently for you.

Joined: 11/21/2014

MGoPoints: 8562

Harbaugh's Lef…

November 26th, 2017 at 6:23 PM ^

Best of luck to Wilton, whenever he ends up. Shame his Michigan career ended the way it did but I’ll always remember his time here, coming in looking bad but finding a way to win against Minnesota in relief to his evolution & leading Michigan to a memorable season, last year.

Joined: 08/22/2016

MGoPoints: 35839

BossHawgzGoinHam

November 26th, 2017 at 5:54 PM ^

It kind of sucks how the fans treatd Wilt. It also sucks all the bs people are saying to O'Korn on Twitter. I know we all wanna win and we all love Michigan Football but sometimes as fans we absolutely run these guys over when they are already at their lowest point. I know after watching Korny play sometimes it's difficult to find something positive to say but he is still a human being. O'Korn and Wilt both lost us some games we should have won but they also won us some games we could have easily lost. Most of all neither 1 of these guys ever quit on the field! Thanks guys for effort and passion.

 

On a positive note Pep Hamilton is being rumored for a HC job!

Joined: 02/07/2015

MGoPoints: 694

stephenrjking

November 26th, 2017 at 5:55 PM ^

Genuinely surprised at this. I thought he'd be back for another round. Unless this is a "he goes or I go" situation with Peters it sounds like the staff expects at least one of the two young guys to pass Speight before next year (given the McCaffrey chatter, maybe both). The timing makes sure Peters gets all the #1 snaps in Bowl practice, which may have been a factor in the decision. Regardless of reasons, best of luck. He came in and scored the go-ahead TD at Minnie in the game I took my girls to. We'll always have that moment.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143524

MGoStrength

November 26th, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^

It seemed like the writing was on the wall that Peters was our #1 QB.  It seems like the only question is was Speight willing to be the backup and groom Peters or did Harbaugh give him the firm handshake.

 

I had a feeling this could happen and I was hoping Speight would stick around as the backup, but good luck to him.  DM will have to be ready to start taking some live snaps while the two incoming freshman learn the system.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

Year of Revenge II

November 26th, 2017 at 6:19 PM ^

I have grown to love Speight, but this was the writing on the wall.  He was going to be the #3 qb next year at best.

No way he got the firm handshake; I am sure that he just decided he wants to play next year as the #1 qb. I am sure he will get the chance somewhere.  Good luck WS. I am pulling for you.

Joined: 11/12/2013

MGoPoints: 9188

wolverine1987

November 26th, 2017 at 7:01 PM ^

Harbaugh is a huge fan of WS, and beyond that, even if Wilton lost the battle for #1 next year, he would be probably the best #2 QB in the country. No way Harbaugh purposely encouraged him to go--it would be self-defeating. Far more likely is the scenario that says he guaranteed notthing to Speight and WS decided on his own to go to a program where the odds were better he starts his last year. And who can blame him?

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 18065

stephenrjking

November 26th, 2017 at 9:25 PM ^

I agree it's highly unlikely that Harbaugh is ushering him out, but it looks like he has the idea that he's probably not starting next year. Because if he were likely to start for a team that has a chance to compete for a title there's no way he leaves. I think part of the upshot here is that the DMac hype train is growing. I don't think Speight leaves if Peters is the only competition--too much chance for something to go wrong for Peters. But if DMac is also right there, Speight could be looking at a season of irrelevance. Whatever the reason, I wish him well. I think he could've been good (not great, but good) next season here. He'll be good somewhere else. I don't hold this against him at all.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143524

Michwolve21

November 26th, 2017 at 5:59 PM ^

Pep hinted at wanting to have an established QB going into the offseason in his presser last week. Makes me think they told Speight they wanted to roll with Peters going forward. If so, well-handled by both sides. Time to turn all focus to getting Peters ready for South Bend

Joined: 08/14/2016

MGoPoints: 2932

MGoStrength

November 26th, 2017 at 6:09 PM ^

It sure would be nice to have another offensive mind in there, whether it be replacing Pep and/or Drevno.  You know next season will be a high pressure one for Harbaugh to finally have almost all his guys in there and no longer freshman/sophomores with very little experience.  There won't be any excuses so he'll have to be ready for a season where the team looks together, has an identity, and has balance on both sides of the ball.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

MGoStrength

November 26th, 2017 at 5:58 PM ^

I was hoping Peters would be our starter, and it seems clear Harbaugh and Speight had a conversation that was the plan, but it would have been nice to have Speight around to help groom Peters and be our backup.  It's hard to keep our #1QB healthy and he's young.  But, I'm grateful to have had Speight last year to transition to Peters and I don't blame him for wanting to be the #1 guy somewhere else.  Good luck to him.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

NowTameInThe603

November 26th, 2017 at 6:00 PM ^

Shea Patterson come on down! If you think the was a peters/Speight decision you are missing something. Peters was 3rd,.. 3rd! On the depth chart behind O’Korn. You think Harbaugh decided after 2 games Peters was the guy over a returning Speight next year?????? Wake up. This all but confirms Patterson who will be a legit heisman contender.

Joined: 12/10/2014

MGoPoints: 5751