Michigan Football: Ranking the Jim Harbaugh era quarterbacks
By Brady Back
4. Jake Ruddock (2015)
Iowa transfer Jake Ruddock was the first official quarterback of the Jim Harbaugh era. Ruddock played one season as a graduate transfer for the Wolverines and put up respectable numbers. Ruddock threw for 20 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and 3,017 passing yards.
While not flashy, Ruddock managed games and produced results in Harbaugh’s first season, leading the Wolverines to a 10-3 record. Had he been given more time in Ann Arbor, Ruddock might have developed more as a playmaker instead of just a game manager.
3. Wilton Speight (2015-2017)
Wilton Speight had quite the career at Michigan before transferring to UCLA in 2018. Speight was big, tall, and had a cannon of an arm. Speight played in 23 games for the Wolverines while starting in 16.
Ultimately, injuries to his back and collarbone derailed his career under Harbaugh. Speight broke his collarbone against Iowa and fractured three back vertebrae against Purdue.
While healthy, Speight put up 22 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and 3,192 passing yards. Despite his injuries, Speight played well enough to lead Michigan to 10 wins and the Orange Bowl in 2016.