Top 5 Big Ten Position Battles Heading Into Spring Practice

Sep 27, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Shane Morris (7) passes the ball in the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

4. Michigan Wolverines-Quarterback

Jim Harbaugh, a former NFL quarterback and coach entering his alma mater with more hype than ever, also enters with the most basic project: his first quarterback battle. That’s right, with Devin Gardner gone, Harbaugh’s first year involves finding a new starter at the most important position on the field.

And he is probably perfectly fine with that.

As far as who to start, Shane Morris has the most experience, but his experience is all terrible. Try 14 of 40 with 0 interceptions terrible. Morris will be a junior this year and showed no promise under Brady Hoke, but maybe Jim Harbaugh will be different.

Redshirt freshman Wilton Speight could also take the job as a pro-style quarterback from Virginia, and highly recruited prospect Alex Malzone also joins the battle in the Spring.

Harbaugh will certainly make the decision best for the long-term future of the program, which puts Morris at a disadvantage given how bad he is and being the most experienced player.

But spring practice will show us if he has developed at all.

Next: No. 3 Ranked Big Ten Position Battle