Wolverines overflowing with top quarterbacks
Just a month ago, Michigan's future at quarterback appeared incomplete.
The Wolverines are fully comfortable with potential All-America Chad Henne this season, but little-used backup Jason Forcier transferred to Stanford.
That means star freshman Ryan Mallett (rated the No. 2 incoming quarterback by rivals.com) is expected to pass on a redshirt year and play as Henne's No. 2 this season.
But after Henne and Ryan Mallett, the situation was uncertain. So U-M set out to find some quarterback depth.
On July 1, the Wolverines grabbed an oral commitment from three-star recruit John Wienke of Tuscola, Ill., for the 2008 season. He seemed content to back up Ryan Mallett and be prepared if the starter got injured.
But the formula got a little more interesting last week, when Steven Threet, an all-state quarterback from Adrian, transferred from Georgia Tech before even starting his freshman year. He'll enroll at Michigan and, given his reputation, he might challenge Ryan Mallett for the starting job in 2008 after sitting out this season because of NCAA transfer rules.
Threet was rated the nation's No. 9 pro-style quarterback last year, giving Michigan two elite QBs for next season, plus Wienke, who still plans to sign in February.
"It's not too much of a big deal to me," Wienke said Saturday. "He's a year older than me. I talked to (U-M) coach (Scot) Loeffler, and I think it's just one more quarterback to compete with. I know what I have to do."
Wienke could redshirt during his first season to put each quarterback in a different year of eligibility.
Either way, it's clear that given its track record of producing NFL quarterbacks and Loeffler's strong reputation nationally, Michigan is quickly overflowing with quarterback riches.
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