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

Ghost of Fritz…

November 26th, 2017 at 6:27 PM ^

see Speight leave with one more year of eligibility.  Would have liked to see him compete for the starting job again (which he won twice). 

He left many great memories for Michigan fans.

 

Joined: 10/04/2014

MGoPoints: 23880

abertain

November 26th, 2017 at 6:32 PM ^

I'm sorry to see him go. I was hoping he'd compete for the job next year. I know this year was not his best, but he was a part of the most fun Michigan team I've watched in a long time prior to that. The team, other than that tough one against Wisconsin, was a hell of a lot of fun to watch play last year until Iowa and Speight was a big part of that. Anyway, I hope he's succesful wherever he goes next. He will be missed. 

Joined: 10/24/2009

MGoPoints: 4912

tybert

November 26th, 2017 at 6:39 PM ^

He took some hits and shots and then delivered a nice TD to Darboh. Wasn't his greatest day but was a win.

We had a lot of problems against Iowa - the whole O missed some plays that day, including a couple of catches I thought we'd make. Run blocking stunk, etc.

Don't forget the rally at Minn either.

As a starter 12-3 - with the 3 by a total of 5 points.

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 8453

tybert

November 26th, 2017 at 6:35 PM ^

MSU, Iowa, NW, Wisky, etc. have survived this year with one starter.

Other than MSU, I don't even know the back-ups names at the other schools.

I expect the pass blocking to be better next year - we aren't expecting our guy to run as often as Denard, Pat White, etc.

The challenge is any 5th year transfer WANTS TO START - and unless somehow he's an incredible talent, I don't think team chemistry would be served. 2015 was obvious because we didn't have an obvious QB choice so Jake was the perfect fit.

Peter and Dylan give us two quality QBs (assuming Dylan has learned a lot this year). 

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 8453

funkywolve

November 26th, 2017 at 11:44 PM ^

UM has yet to make it through a season under Harbaugh without the QB getting hurt.  Ruddock wasn't able to finish the Minnesota and OSU games in 2015.  In 2016 Speight couldn't finish the Iowa game and missed the IU game.  This year both Speight and Peters got hurt and had to miss games.

Joined: 10/08/2008

MGoPoints: 20232

M-Dog

November 26th, 2017 at 6:40 PM ^

People forget that 2 days before the Ohio State game last year, we all thought that Speight would not be able to go.  

Seeing him warm up on the sidelines before that game was a lighthouse in a hurricane.

He took it to the wire before the refs took it from him.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257507

socalwolverine1

November 26th, 2017 at 6:51 PM ^

Grad transfers are a good idea when the cupboard is bare, like when we nabbed Rudock for a very good year. But we no longer have that situation, we're well stocked with excellent talent that needs to see the field to fully develop. I just hope they don't bring in a grad transfer with promises of getting to compete for the starting job. In our situation going forward, a grad transfer should have expectations of leading the taxi squad or only getting plugged in if Peters and/or McCaffrey are unable to go. We saw how Peters' presence on the field completely changed our chances to win games; and this needs to continue to be tapped into.

Joined: 10/08/2012

MGoPoints: 1235

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

November 26th, 2017 at 6:53 PM ^

Hope he finds a great landing spot and has a big year to set up a pro career. He carried the UM water when no one else was capable last year. Thanks for battling the injuries and dealing with the fans with poise and class.

Joined: 11/01/2012

MGoPoints: 18049

Seth

November 26th, 2017 at 7:18 PM ^

Not out of nowhere, not something we wanted to see. No Michigan fan needs a reminder of why having more than one good quarterback is important. For Speight though he has one year of eligibility left, and will have to win back the job from a sophomore Peters coming off the bowl game (I hope) or a redshirt freshman McCaffrey. Speight would have to win that really going away because if they're equal Michigan will go with the guy with more upside whom they can get three years out of.

Joined: 10/14/2008

MGoPoints: 149219

Blumami

November 26th, 2017 at 7:08 PM ^

I am sad to see Wilton move on but will be rooting for him in his future endeavors, whatever they may be. I had been holding out hope (fueled in part by Karsh's comments on 97.1) that he would be healthy in time to lead us to victory against Wiscy and OSU. Alas, he was not healed in time -- which leads me to this question: could he have been "medical'd" by UM? (not unlike what happened with one of our linemen not long ago). I have absolutely no insider (or outsider for that matter) knowledge of this, purely speculating) Speight: 'but coach, the Doc says I am good to go.' Harbaugh: 'I don't care kid -- there is no way you are leaving that field paralyzed, on a stretcher as long as I am in charge. I just can't take that chance.'

Joined: 07/09/2016

MGoPoints: 578

Blumami

November 26th, 2017 at 9:19 PM ^

Sometimes the medical staff and the football staff are not in agreement. I'm not suggesting that they would do this for scholarship limit motivations but rather to protect the player and the program. Without knowing the details of the injury, it would be difficult to argue with Michigan if indeed that were the case -- as one of the other responders to this comment suggested.

Joined: 07/09/2016

MGoPoints: 578

ca_prophet

November 26th, 2017 at 7:27 PM ^

I would selfishly like him to come back, because he can be good, and we need good QB play.

But it's his last year, he's already graduated, and I hope he's going some place good for him.

Good luck, sir!  We have some fun wins to remember you by.

 

Joined: 09/07/2010

MGoPoints: 7083

Nickel

November 26th, 2017 at 7:34 PM ^

I didn't see that coming. I hope everyone is right about this being because Peters and McCaffrey are looking amazing but I'm a little worried. When Speight played the cupcakes last year he looked like a Heisman contender. When Peters played his first three cupcakes he definitely wasn't at that level.

Best of luck to Wilton and thanks for all he did at UM. Definitel a class act.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 2740

The Man Down T…

November 26th, 2017 at 7:37 PM ^

his only offer??  Wow.  He's a very talented athlete, that's hard to believe.  Thank you Mr. Speight for all you did.  Every blood, sweat and tear dropped for the team.  Best of luck to you.

Joined: 12/04/2008

MGoPoints: 20133

Eye of the Tiger

November 26th, 2017 at 7:46 PM ^

...not a great outcome for us. Given the injuries we've suffered at the QB position this year, it would be very helpful to have an experienced QB as the #2 option. 

But I guess he was looking at being #2 on the depth chart, and felt that wasn't his best option. Best of luck to the kid. 

Joined: 09/14/2009

MGoPoints: 7827

GhostofJermain…

November 26th, 2017 at 8:04 PM ^

Malzone is gone as well.  

There will be one more added to Milton, Doyle, Dmac, & Peters.  Much of this depends on the staff and any potential shakeup.  Peters will start bowl game.  They will challenge Brandon in this game to show up as well as in the offseason.  He has it all in front of him, needs to continue to put the work in.  

Never again will JH be stung by not having a qb, never. 

Joined: 07/20/2015

MGoPoints: 7772