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On the bright side, Wilton Speight’s injury gives Michigan a QB who can run

By Brandon Knapp

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 23: John O'Korn #8 of the Michigan Wolverines throws a pass in the first quarter of a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 23, 2017 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 23: John O'Korn #8 of the Michigan Wolverines throws a pass in the first quarter of a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 23, 2017 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Changes are coming to the quarterback position at Michigan: With Wilton Speight injured, John O’Korn will start Saturday against MSU.

As reported by Nick Baumgardner of the Detroit Free Press, Jim Harbaugh announced Monday that John O’Korn would start against Michigan State this week now that Wilton Speight is out with an undisclosed injury.

While injuries are never something to wish on a player, this one could turn into a positive for the Wolverines in 2017.

Speight first came to Michigan in 2014 and was redshirted. In 2015, he competed for and lost the starting spot to Jake Rudock. When Rudock left, it opened the door for Speight to start in 2016, but O’Korn transferred from Houston that same year and made Speight fight once again for the starting job.

Speight won and had a good 2016 season, finishing with 2,538 yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Coming into 2017, Harbaugh still wouldn’t give Speight the starting job right away, but he earned it again. However, things are different in 2017.

So far this season, Speight has thrown for 581 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. And now, he’s injured.

On Saturday, Speight was hurt in a game against Purdue during a play — which you can watch below — that Jim Harbaugh called an “egregious hit.” John O’Korn came in and finished 18/26 for 270 yards with a touchdown and interception, surprising Michigan fans around the world.

Even before Speight’s injury, the Wolverines offense overall seemed to have taken a step back from 2016. Michigan’s veteran receivers departed for the NFL in April, leaving Speight to work with loads of young receivers. And that’s where John O’Korn is well-suited to come in and fix things.

Before transferring to Michigan, John O’Korn played at Houston for two seasons, finishing with 4,068 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions before getting benched. O’Korn, unlike Speight, has the legs to rush for yards and escape pressure. While Speight can rush if needed, his speed is what kills him as defenders can easily catch up to him.

O’Korn has never had a season with negative rushing yards, Speight did in 2016 and already had -41 yards this season. Now, this doesn’t mean O’Korn is the next Denard Robinson, playing the option and running plays designed for the quarterback, but if O’Korn gets in a pinch he can escape the defenders quickly and gain yards on a play the secondary shutdown.

O’Korn also seems to have a better presence for when pressure is coming and he doesn’t force throws down the field like Speight does.

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After Harbaugh’s Monday announcement, Speight is officially out “this week [and] for multiple weeks,” O’Korn is the starter and Brandon Peters moves up to the backup role. Freshman Dylan McCaffrey will be the third string.

O’Korn will lead the Michigan Wolverines as they take on their in-state rival, Michigan State, on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 7:30. The Big House will be under the lights for the fourth time in school history and a win against Sparty could mark a new beginning for the 2017 season.

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