Spring practice is in the books, and that means we can begin to assess what transpired over the course of those 15 practice sessions. Some position battles have been solidified, while others will remain in flux until fall camp opens this August.
This week on the Big Ten blog, we're taking a look at each team and what we've learned. Up next: Michigan.
1. Wilton Speight could enter fall camp as the QB to beat.
Some initially viewed Speight as an afterthought in Michigan's three-man quarterback competition, which includes John O’Korn and Shane Morris. But over the final week of spring practice, Speight demonstrated his progression, as he took the most reps with the first-team offense. In the spring game, he completed 5 of 6 passes for 46 yards with a touchdown. He added a rushing touchdown for good measure.
Of course, Speight also could give back whatever advantage he's established once fall camp arrives because coach Jim Harbaugh hasn't named a starting quarterback yet. O'Korn has the most starting experience, as he helped guide Houston to an 8-5 record as a freshman in 2013. But Speight can bank on the experience he gained in leading Michigan to a second-half victory at Minnesota last October. He filled in for injured quarterback Jake Rudock and threw a key touchdown pass to receiver Jehu Chesson.
Quarterback competitions will be front and center for several programs in the fall, but few will be as scrutinized as the one taking shape in Ann Arbor. With so many pieces in place, it's the one position that remains the biggest question mark on the Wolverines' path to a potential Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff berth.
2. Intrigue surrounding Jabrill Peppers continues to grow.
Peppers' versatility on the football field is so rare that everyone should take time to truly appreciate it. He caught eight passes last season, scored two rushing touchdowns and had explosive speed on kick and punt returns. And by the way, he was a heck of a defensive player, too. The reigning Big Ten freshman of the year will try to take his game to the next level as a sophomore, and first-year Wolverines defensive coordinator Don Brown is going to give him every opportunity to do so.
Peppers played safety last season, and much has been made about his move to linebacker in 2016. Peppers acknowledged following Michigan's spring game that there are elements to his position change under Brown that will still be the same as a year ago.
“It’s not really a new position,” he told reporters in early April. “Just in his defense the nickel plays more kind of like a linebacker. But I’m definitely in the box a lot more and I’m definitely blitzing a lot more. I guess he’s just trying to get me around the ball, just let my instinct and my awareness take over.”
Brown, meanwhile, is particularly excited about all the possibilities he has with Peppers.
"The minute you put him out there, is he the SAM? What is he?" Brown told the Detroit Free Press. "Is he a third safety? Is a he a third corner? What is he? Those are the things you're looking to try to accomplish."
One thing is for sure: the college football viewing public can't wait to see what's in store.
3. Ty Isaac’s improvement helps to solidify Michigan's tailback depth.
De’Veon Smith had the starting running back job on lockdown before spring even began. He rushed 180 times last season for 753 yards and six touchdowns, but nobody else on the team carried more than 54 times. Isaac appeared in only seven games and carried 30 times. If spring practice performance is any indication, Isaac could be a much bigger part of the Wolverines' offense.
Isaac carried 10 times for 78 yards in the spring game and produced big runs of 30 and 29 yards. He also garnered praise this spring from Harbaugh, who called him "a harder, rougher guy."
Isaac lost 14 pounds this offseason, dropped his body fat to 5 percent and appears ready to be the type of player many expected him to be when he initially enrolled at USC as a highly touted high school tailback. He'll compete for playing time in the fall with a talented group that includes Drake Johnson and freshmen Kareem Walker and Kingston Davis.