Jim Harbaugh says Wilton Speight is still QB No. 1, but there will be competition

Wilton Speight is still the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart, but that can always change.

After a marvelous performance in the Spring Game on Saturday, redshirt freshman Brandon Peters has undoubtedly entered himself into the running for the starting spot.

“It'll always be (a competition). Wilton's still, over the course of the whole spring practice, Wilton is on our depth chart at No. 1,” Harbaugh said to the Detroit Free Press. “But it's a meritocracy. By your effort and by your talent, you will be known. That's a good thing for our football team.”

Two years ago, Jake Rudock beat out Shane Morris and Wilton Speight to win the 2015 starting job. He ended up throwing for upstairs of 3,000 yards that season. One year ago, Speight took the 2016 season starting job over John O’Korn and Shane Morris. Speight ended up tossing for over 2,500 yards and 18 touchdowns.

During Saturday’s Spring Game, Peters won the game and finished 9-of-17 through the air with a passing touchdown, rushing touchdown, and interception.

All in all, Saturday was a colossal step for Peters.

“I thought he did extremely well. I think this gives him confidence. It should anyway with the way he was able to perform. Really asserting himself as a leader and a quarterback,” Harbaugh said. “Really, John O'Korn has done that the best of anybody on our team this spring. Someone who has to win in practice, games and drills. Someone who leads the team, is assertive, decisive. All of that is still generating right now. The quarterback who will do anything for his teammates to help win a ball game. I'm looking for that. That's an area Brandon is (growing in). I think the (spring game) will help with that. We've got three good guys and they'll be battling.”

Speight, on the other hand, completed just 9-of-26 passes with two interceptions in the Spring Game.

If Peters goes through spring and fall camp as the better quarterback, then he will be the starter for the Wolverines to start the 2017 season.

“When we get into camp, when we go through camp -- (we want) somebody to stand out and it's undeniable. That's what we're looking for,” Harbaugh added. “Probably eight, nine, 10 or 11 practices there is about the range where you make up your mind on something like that. But it's always going to be a meritocracy on our football team.”