The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
football recruiting quarterback Wilton Speight hasn't turned too much of his attention to the on-field product in Ann Arbor. Instead, the nation's No. 21 pro-style quarterback is focused on his own development as a player, his high school team's improvement, and Michigan's future, rather than its present. Still, he expects a very good season from the Maize and Blue this fall. "I know the guys there now ,and I know they're going to do a great job," the 6-6, 225-pound three-star signal-caller said. "I don't look into it too much because I'm not there yet, but I think they're going to have a great shot at winning the Big Ten." Pallante takes the opposite approach when it comes to analyzing his future squad. He has paid close attention to Michigan's team and knows they'll be able to excel on the gridiron this fall. His visit to a spring practice in Ann Arbor — at which time he committed to the team — gave him a good feel for this year's prospects. "When I was up there for spring practice, I saw they have a good squad," Pallante said. "I talked to Coach Hoke, just out of my curiosity, and he loves his team this year. All those guys in the senior class with Taylor Lewan, Devin Gardner, [Fitzgerald] Toussaint the running back coming back, they're going to be really good. They have a really good '13 class coming in, and the chemistry on their team is really good." Many commits give generally positive vibes, but are careful not to provide any bulletin board material for opposing teams. Specific predictions can be risky in the age when information travels fast. Some, however, can't help but remain confident in U-M's chances of success this fall. Hoke has emphasized in his three years on campus that the Big Ten championship is the goal. If a shot to win a national title follows, so be it. The commitments echo that mission, and two of the incoming wide receivers believe that the goal is attainable on the field for the 2013 edition of the Wolverines. Ways and Canteen think Michigan is on pace for big things. "I think Michigan should have a great year," Ways said. "I'm looking through their schedule, and they could go 12-0. Beside Ohio, I don't see a team that is really scary. College football is the type of game where anybody could win any weekend, of course. A Big Ten title, the Rose Bowl, an undefeated season are all possible." "I expect them to do the best," Canteen concurred. "I expect them to win the national or Big Ten championship. That's the goal every year, and that's what I expect." Visit Plans With the Wolverines' commitments looking forward to not only their high school seasons but also the onfield exploits of their future program, many are planning to make multiple visits to Ann Arbor. They'll see U‑M