The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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"The whole recruiting process is crazy, but once Michigan came about, I knew it was the right place," he said. "Once I committed there, it was much easier every day to go about my workouts, my school, and all of that, and just live a happy life." Through it all, he maintains a chip on his shoulder. Still ranked just a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, the 6-6, 243-pounder is not to be doubted. "I think in college," Palyo opined, "Wilton is going to work hard, he's going to study hard, and he'll try to be the starting quarterback and lead the team to a high level of success. That's what he loves to do." — Tim Sullivan PERSONAL Robert Wilton Speight III was born Dec. 6, 1994 … Reports a maximum squat of 315 pounds … Timed at 4.72 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Grandfather, Bob Speight, was an All-American basketball player at NC State, as was aunt Elizabeth Cooley. Maternal grandfather Tim Timmerman was a swimmer at Clemson. Great-grandfather played football at Clemson. … Attended the same high school as Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson … Enrolled in Janu- ary at Michigan and will be able to participate in spring practice. STATISTICS Career Totals: Five-year varsity player and 35-game starter for a team that went 33-18 during his career (was 22-13 as a starter), winning a state title as a freshman … Completed 537 of 1064 passes (50.4 percent) for 8,605 yards (8.1 yards per attempt) with 87 touchdowns and 55 interceptions … Rushed 261 times for 688 yards (2.6 yards per carry) and 23 touchdowns … Three-year starter at punter, kicking 53 times for an average of 39.8 yards a punt. Senior Season: Starter at quarterback and punter for a team that went 9-2 and lost in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association state cham- pionship game … Completed 182 of 349 passes (52.1 percent) for 2,845 yards (8.2 yards per attempt) with 33 touchdowns and 14 interceptions … Rushed 78 times for 292 yards (3.7 yards per carry) with six touchdowns … Punted 31 times for a 42.2-yard average. Second Junior Season: Reclassified as a junior … Starter at quarterback and punter for a team that went 6-4 and lost in the first round of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association state playoffs … Completed 149 of WILSON SPEIGHT QUARTERBACK 6-6 • 243 THE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL RICHMOND, VA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — — 27 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 257 13 8 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 23 16 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 30 20