Michigan’s quarterback battle is down to two, and incumbent and redshirt junior Wilton Speight probably holds the upper hand. Fifth-year senior John O’Korn, however, has reportedly made huge strides in camp.
He didn't hesitate when giving credit.
“Pep Hamilton, 100 percent,” he said of Michigan’s first-year passing game coordinator. “He’s been a Godsend for me. I think he’s helped me evolve into the player and leader and person I always knew I could be.
“He’s helped me get my confidence back. I feel like I’m playing maybe the highest level I ever have right now. That’s what it’s going to take to lead this team to the things we want to do this year.”
Knowledge of the offense has helped O’Korn up his game. Hamilton has been all business since arriving in the spring, more drill instructor than buddy, and he made it clear that was how it would be from day one.
Speight said he wasn’t all that different from Jedd Fisch in his teachings, but O’Korn cited one as having been key.
“The biggest thing I would says is we is he’s given us a lot more responsibility with protections as quarterbacks this year,” he said. “There were times last year where we didn’t really know what was going on up front.
“A lot of times you’d see me scrambling when I didn’t need to, and that would be my big flaw that everybody liked to point out last year. I’ve really found confidence in sitting in the pocket and knowing what was going on up front.”
Losing his confidence at Houston, where he was once considered one of the top up and coming young quarterbacks in the country, was human nature, he said.
“I felt like a scapegoat for all the things going on. That will shake an 18-year-old,” he said.
“You go through some things; you get benched. You’re at the top of the college football landscape, you’re getting talked about for the Hiesman, Davey O’Brien awards, a few weeks later you’re getting benched. It’s part of being human.
“It’s a process [getting it back]. I think day by day from the moment I got here, started out working with the scout team … started making a few throws. You start to day by day get your confidence back. Last year was the same thing, building on it. In spring ball Pep gets here, same thing. Just building more confidence. It’s taking a little longer than I would have liked, but everything has its course. I couldn’t be happier where things are right now.”
His recognition of the offense is at an all time guy, and it’s helped with his command and his leadership. If he’s No. 2 on the depth chart, he doesn’t act like it, and he won’t let it deter him from becoming a great teammate.
He never considered leaving, noting he loves the university.
“I’m ready if my number’s called,” he said. “I’m sure Wilton will tell you the same thing. We’ve both been competing our butts off, Brandon Peters and Dylan McCaffrey, too. Everybody has really been competing really hard.”
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