Michigan redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight is on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the nation's top player.

Speight played in 12 games last season, his first as a full-time starter. He completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,538 yards and 18 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. Speight carried a passing efficiency rating of 139.76, and became not only Michigan's Most Improved Player, as voted by U-M coaches, but a Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist.

He earned All-Big Ten third-team honors, guiding the Wolverines to wins in the first nine games of the season, prior to U-M dropping three of the final four by a total of five points.

Speight is working with a new crew of receivers this season, along with a new quarterback coach in Pep Hamilton. Those watching him on Michigan's trip to Rome this spring were impressed by his deep involvement with and leadership during the Wolverines' various team activities.

---

• Talk about this article inside The Fort

• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes

• Learn more about our print and digital publication, The Wolverine

• Follow us on Twitter: @TheWolverineMag, @BSB_Wolverine, @JB_ Wolverine,@AustinFox42and @Balas_Wolverine

• Like us on Facebook