Jake Rudock won Michigan's quarterback competition this offseason, and head coach Jim Harbaugh has shown no signs of wavering on that decision, so backup Shane Morris should indeed take a redshirt in 2015.
Earlier this week, Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit News noted Harbaugh mentioned the possibility Morris would be held out of action throughout the year:
Harbaugh's actions have suggested that's his plan, too. At the end of Michigan's blowout victory over Oregon State last Saturday, redshirt freshman Wilton Speight handled the final snaps.
Per MLive.com's Nick Baumgardner, however, Harbaugh said Morris remains the No. 2. The moral of the story is barring an injury to Rudock, the senior's job is safe throughout the year. Even if Rudock again struggles like he did against Utah, it's reasonable for Harbaugh to hesitate inserting a less-proven quarterback.
After all, Morris' potential availability for 2016 and 2017 is more important than Harbaugh making a panic-induced move in 2015 that doesn't really change the course of Michigan's season.
He struggled in limited action during his first two years with the Wolverines, and Harbaugh wasn't ready to tab Morris as the starter even after seven months of offseason work. That won't change now.
Nevertheless, Morris has always provided a reminder or two about his potential—just enough to keep him in the conversation.
Rudock is considered a stop-gap, and Morris—likely—is the second version of that for next season. Harbaugh is waiting for his quarterback, and that's probably a 6'5", 205-pound 4-star gunslinger from Avon, Indiana.
Brandon Peters, who committed to Michigan in April, is widely considered the program's quarterback of the future. Though Morris was once heralded similarly, he certainly didn't have Harbaugh and Jedd Fisch as coaches on arrival.
Barton Simmons of 247Sports noted (via Baumgardner) that Peters doesn't work with a personal quarterbacks coach throughout the year. Consequently, Harbaugh can fine-tune Peters' promising skills to his liking.
Additionally, Harbaugh has a specific trend concerning his quarterback.
While at San Diego, he plucked Josh Johnson from the high school ranks, sat him for a season, then Johnson racked up 130 total touchdowns as a three-year starter. Then at Stanford, Harbaugh signed Andrew Luck, who took a redshirt, assumed the No. 1 role a year later and the rest is history.
If Harbaugh typically only takes one season to utilize that prospect and Morris has another year of eligibility anyway, why bother with the redshirt?
Again, Morris' availability is the most important point. Should something go wrong with Peters' development—or perhaps a setback due to injury—Morris is a respectable fall-back option. Besides, Morris has the tools to become a starting-caliber player next year, so 2017 definitely shouldn't be an issue.
By redshirting Morris, Harbaugh is taking advantage of a benefit that is open to every college football player. Since Morris isn't the starter in 2015, wasting his available redshirt so he can receive a few snaps and hand off in garbage time is silly. Save Morris for the future, if needed.
However, not every case has such a happy ending.
What if Peters arrives on campus next year and takes the quarterback battle by storm? Peters plans to enroll early, so he'll spend the winter months working out with the team, participate in spring practice and enter fall camp looking to earn the starting nod.
If Morris doesn't transfer, battles for the job and ultimately loses, he'd be stuck as the backup in 2016, too. There'd be little reason to stick around in 2017, especially if Morris has graduated. He could use the transfer rule Rudock did and head to any interested Football Bowl Subdivision program.
Undoubtedly, Morris would have suitors at that point, and it would be disappointing to watch such a promising college career end without him being a full-time starting quarterback somewhere.
On the other hand, perhaps Morris solidifies himself as the No. 1 quarterback during the next two years, which then allows Peters to redshirt and gain some experience in 2017 before taking over in 2018. The Wolverines would have the position locked down for five years.
Maybe Morris' story does have a happy ending at Michigan. But if it doesn't, without a redshirt season, Morris—if he so chooses—won't be able to write his own somewhere else.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from cfbstats.com. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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