Wilton Speight: The Journey Intensifies


    Wilton Speight’s rite of passage is under way, and it’s moving at breakneck speed.

    Wednesday will be his final day as a student at Collegiate after 13-and-a-half years.
    The next morning, he heads off to the University of Michigan where he’ll continue his education in the classroom and on the football field.
    Then, it’s on to Los Angeles where he’ll resume his training with quarterback guru Steve Clarkson.
    He’ll return to Richmond for Christmas with his family, then depart for Orlando, FL, where, at 6-6, 225 and the No. 3-ranked pocket passer in his class, he’ll compete for the East squad in the Under Armour All-America game.
    The day after the nationally televised contest (4 p.m., January 2, ESPN), it’s back to Richmond, then to Ann Arbor to begin classes and take part in the Wolverines’ off-season conditioning program.
    That’s heady stuff, even for a guy who led the Cougars to a 16-6 record the past two falls (10-2 and Prep League offensive player-of-the-year honors in ’13) while completing 331 of 662 passes for 62 touchdowns (against 32 interceptions) and a 139.1 quarterback efficiency rating.
    Recently, we talked of his time at Collegiate, his plans for college, and his hopes and dreams for the future.

    Why Michigan?

    Every Saturday, there’re 110,000 people in the stands.  It’s the winningest program in the history of college football.
    Then, you get up to Ann Arbor, you see how special a place it is, how nice the people are, how great the coaching staff and the players are. 

    Then, you look even further into the academic side.  It’s ranked in the top 20 schools in the world.  I’m looking to major in business. It’s the third-ranked business school in the country.  It pretty much all the things I was looking for.
    Obviously, I want to play in the NFL.  If I go there and do what I need to do, I’ll set myself up well to be a high draft choice.

    Will you expect to play as a true freshman or will you red-shirt?

    The quarterback depth chart right now is a little bit thin.  I’ll be one of four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. They’ve told me that if red-shirting if what needs to happen, they’ll do that.  They also said that they’re very confident that if I do what I need to do, I’ll put myself in position to start as a true freshman.  They’ll have no hesitation to play the best guy.  Hopefully, I’ll be that guy. 

    What made you so attractive to Michigan?

    To get their attention, you have to show intangibles on film.  In offering a scholarship, you have to look into the situation a lot more than that.  A quarterback is someone who represents not only your football team but the community, the entire school. 
    They do a huge background check. They made sure my grades were OK.  They made sure I was a high character guy who was genuine and would lead the program in the right direction, not just on the field.

How much did the experience of (Seattle Seahawks quarterback) Russell Wilson (a 2007 Collegiate graduate who played for Wisconsin) influence you?

    I worked out with Russell before I even committed to Michigan. He always said that Big 10 teams are so pro-style, and I was able to see his success at Wisconsin and his transition to the pros. That definitely was in the back of my mind, but it was really what was best for my family and me.  That’s why Michigan was the place.

    You reclassified during your junior year after injuries curtailed your 2011 season.  What did you learn with your extra year?

    More than I can explain. Not so much things like progression reads and leadership abilities on the field, but more so in the hallways, relationships with teachers, the bonds I’ve been able to make with people I wouldn’t have been able to make otherwise. 
    The grade I’m in now, the group of guys and girls…it’s an incredible relationship that I’ve been able to make.  I’ve learned a lot as a person, not only as a quarterback.

    What have you learned from an x’s-and-o’s standpoint?

    The game really slowed down for me this year.  The defense was much slower developing and wasn’t flying all over the place in my mind. The biggest thing was truly learning how to watch film and break down coverages, the mental side of the game, not just relying on arm strength and athletic ability, the Monday through Thursday, Monday through Friday preparation for what’s coming at me on game days.

    Who has helped you most along the way?

    Definitely Coach (Mark) Palyo, my head coach. I consider him one of my greatest friends.  Coach (Trip) Featherston has had me since 5th grade in P.E. when I was maybe not the nicest kid.  I was a little bit of a bully.  He really fixed me for the better.  We’d butt heads sometimes in practice.  We knew we had each other’s backs and always will.
    Someone off the football field is Coach (Alex) Peavey.  He was my basketball coach, but I call him my life coach.  Whenever anything is going poorly for me, I know I have his office to go sit in and figure things out.  He’s an amazing guy who always seems to know what to do.

    Describe your emotions as you undergo this rite of passage.

    It’s so exciting to have such a tremendous and memorable career at Collegiate, the relationships I’ve been able to make…knowing that I’m going to the highest level I can play in college football.  Running out of a tunnel in front of a hundred thousand people. Playing with guys I already know pretty well and have good relationships with.  I’m just so lucky to have a chance to continue to play this special game.

    Like Russell and Jake (McGee, who plays for the University of Virginia), you’ve been the go-to-guy, the center of attention. How have you kept your composure?

    You know, I struggled with that early on.  There’s no denying that.  In the past couple of years, I’ve really gotten a grasp on all that’s going on around me.  I know that with any decision I make, there’ll be many people watching me.  At this small school, I’m part of the fishbowl.  I may be a big fish here, but I’m getting ready to go into something much bigger.  It has been tough, but with the help of many, many people including my parents, I’ve been able to handle it OK and do the best I can.

    How do you want people to remember you?

     As a leader on and off the field.  Someone who’s always active in the community, who always has a smile on his face.  I’ve enjoyed every moment of my 13-and-a-half years here.  I want people to have nothing but positive things to say.  
     I hope I’ve done enough to leave that mark on the school.  I want to keep doing my best.

                                                                      -- Weldon Bradshaw
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