ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Even before the 2016 season began, the college football world knew Michigan had the makings of a special defense. The question was if the Wolverines offense could develop into a formidable unit to complement the championship-worthy group on the other side.
Wilton Speight would like a word.
The redshirt sophomore continues to perform like a quarterback capable of leading Michigan to the College Football Playoff. During a 59-3 battering of the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, Speight set a school record with 292 passing yards in the first half.
"That's the best half of football I've ever seen a Michigan quarterback play," head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game.
Speight played three quarters, completing 19 of his 24 attempts and finishing with a career-best 362 yards while Michigan jumped to 9-0.
Impressive showings have become commonplace for the first-year starter. This season, he's accounted for 16 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions, and Speight hasn't recorded a single-game rating lower than 118.2.
The most important aspect for Michigan is how Speight looks better every week, as MLive Media Group's Nick Baumgardner noted:
To begin the 2016 campaign, Speight largely spent time in the pocket making quick, low-risk throws to move the ball. Recently, however, Speight has started to shake the "game manager" label. For the Wolverines to make a run at the CFP, that was a necessity.
He's refusing to fall at first contact, a la Ben Roethlisberger, and evading free blitzers off the edge like a healthy Tony Romo.
Neither of those comparisons are meant to suggest Speight is already a quarterback of that caliber, but he's doing more than standing in the pocket and hoping Michigan's receivers break open. You can see an example in the clip below:
"Extending plays, breaking tackles, then finding guys downfield. He's doing a hell of a job for us," said Jake Butt, who on Saturday broke the program record for most career receiving yards by a tight end.
Harbaugh—who suggested Speight should be mentioned in the Heisman Trophy discussion—echoed the All-American target.
"Moving and throwing and accuracy and extending plays, all of the above," he said of Speight. "I don't know how you play better."
Speight will never be confused with a dual-threat quarterback, but he's mobile enough to atone for a missed block from the offensive line or excellent coverage downfield. That adds another element to Michigan's well-rounded offense.
He scored his first rushing touchdown of the season on a 10-yard scramble up the middle:
On the opening possession, Speight sidestepped an unblocked Jarrett Ross and eluded two more Maryland defenders, turning an eight-yard loss into a seven-yard gain.
While the play won't make the highlight reel, it's the kind of individual effort that is praised in the meeting room. That 15-yard difference can be tracked as "hidden yards," and it's been a more regular sight since Michigan throttled Rutgers on Oct. 8.
It's not a coincidence the Wolverines faced just five third downs and only needed to gain an average of 5.2 yards when Speight was under center. He kept the Wolverines moving forward.
Harbaugh deserves credit for developing yet another quarterback. Last year, he helped Jake Rudock morph from a mediocre Iowa quarterback into a reliable Michigan signal-caller. But Speight is well beyond Rudock because of the critical element the Wolverines lacked in 2015: throwing downfield.
Saturday provided more evidence.
Former Michigan receiver Devin Funchess will be slanted toward his alma mater, but the tape—not just from Saturday's win—will reinforce this assessment:
No matter if it's Butt, Amara Darboh or Jehu Chesson on the receiving end, Speight has consistently thrown a catchable pass. His best ball against Maryland was to Drake Harris, a seldom-used wideout.
He is hitting everyone, and the Wolverines need that version of Speight during the final three weeks.
Iowa has a stout defense, and the home crowd will be behind the Hawkeyes. Indiana is inconsistent, but the Hoosiers have the offensive talent to test Michigan. And winning on the road against Ohio State will be the biggest challenge of the year.
After watching Speight through nine games, though, there should be no concern he's capable of carrying the Wolverines to three wins. While that doesn't mean it will happen, Speight has proved he isn't dependent on everyone else.
We've known about the defense. But Speight's blossoming playmaking ability may be the most underrated reason Michigan could earn a place in the College Football Playoff instead of watching it from the couch.
Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
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