The Michigan Wolverines entered the spring game without a clear-cut starting quarterback, and no glorified scrimmage was going to provide the difference.
During the next five months, however, head coach Jim Harbaugh won't be able to escape what will likely be a repetitive question.
Can Michigan—a preseason favorite for the national championship—excel in 2016 despite uncertainty under center?
Every program would prefer an indisputable No. 1 option right now, but that's a luxury the Wolverines haven't possessed for a couple of years. Instead, they've advanced through spring practice, summer workouts and full camp trying to identify that guy.
Friday offered the conclusion to the first segment of the Maize and Blue's competition.
Wilton Speight completed 5-of-6 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown, adding 19 rushing yards and another score. While his favorite target was Grant Perry, Jake Butt reeled in a 13-yard touchdown.
Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press shared Speight's opinion of spring practice. The sophomore quarterback didn't lack confidence in himself.
Speight was certainly the top performer, but John O'Korn wasn't far behind—especially given the abbreviated personnel at wide receiver.
The Houston transfer attempted a game-high 14 passes, connecting with his receivers six times for 93 yards. O'Korn twice picked on Kenneth Sloss vertically, hitting Drake Harris for a 30-yard gain and Jack Wangler for 26.
Beyond the commendable touch and timing on those throws, O'Korn's running ability stood out the most. He didn't hesitate to scramble, scampering for 28 yards and scoring an impressive late touchdown.
O'Korn's numbers weren't as aesthetically pleasing as Speight's, but the former also worked behind a backup-heavy offensive line against the first-string secondary.
At worst, the spring game showed O'Korn and Speight have an obvious edge on fourth-year senior Shane Morris. Harbaugh planned to redshirt Morris last season, and he lost the backup job to Speight midway through the campaign anyway.
Morris' best play was a 25-yard reception on a drag route. He finished the night 4-of-9 for 31 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Morris manipulated the pocket well multiple times, but his accuracy was simply a disaster.
The southpaw forced a dreadful ball into double coverage at the line of scrimmage, badly overshot both Wangler and Joe Hewlett and tossed a questionable interception shortly before halftime.
Granted, that opinion will fall on several deaf ears. Sam Webb of Scout noted Harbaugh's view on critiques of Michigan's gunslingers.
The only relation that matters with the quarterback is myself and the quarterback and what our relationship is. Everything is white noise and irrelevant. ... All that other stuff you put it aside, it's irrelevant. It means nothing. Whether they're maligned or built up by public opinion, it's inconsequential or irrelevant. It's just the team.
It's just the team.
Well, fortunately for the Wolverines, they're destined to be a good one—largely thanks to new D-coordinator Don Brown and his unit.
Bryan Mone and Matt Godin performed well on Friday, furthering the idea that Michigan's defensive line will be among the nation's best. No. 1 overall recruit Rashan Gary, who attended the spring game, could become a key contributor up front.
Ben Gedeon, Mike McCray and the linebackers looked faster than last year's unit. Swiss Army knife Jabrill Peppers bounced around the second level. Additionally, no starting-caliber defensive back surrendered a big gain.
Few will argue the notion Michigan's defense is built to carry the 2016 squad.
Still, the hopes of a national championship depend on a quarterback. Whether that's O'Korn or Speight will remain unknown for months, and the only thing college football fans can do is track what coaches and players say.
"Wilton has definitely impressed this spring," senior running back De'Veon Smith said after the game, per the school.
"All of the quarterbacks have."
Perhaps nobody would share the leader anyway. But the concern for Michigan is that sometime before the season opener, there actually needs to be one.
Otherwise, the offseason praise may amount to nothing more than unrealized potential and unmatched expectations.
Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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