Offense Notes: QB John O’Korn Takes Advantage Of Opportunity
After Michigan’s offense started the game with three ineffective drives, the team was left holding its collective breath when redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight was drilled by Purdue junior defensive tackle (and Michigan native) Eddy Wilson with what appeared to be a late hit deep into the first quarter.
Speight stayed down for several minutes before being taken into the locker room and then to a nearby hospital to be examined.
His replacement, fifth-year senior John O’Korn, had a chance to shine.
O’Korn was ready.
He did what Speight hadn’t been able to do through three games — score in the red zone. In fact, Michigan went a perfect 3 for 3 inside the 20 with O’Korn, compared to the 1-for-10 mark Speight had posted on the year.
Michigan had three drives that went for 10 plays and 24 yards with Speight in the game. The Wolverines punted on all three possessions.
O’Korn played the rest of the game outside of the final possession, when redshirt freshman Brandon Peters saw action. Michigan totaled 388 yards of offense under O’Korn. The Wolverines had 423 yards on the day.
“I’ll be ready if my number is called,” O’Korn said. “Everybody knows me and Wilton are great friends. I hate that he had to get hurt for me to go in there.”
After the game, Harbaugh was vague, saying Speight has a soft tissue injury and that he didn't know if the starter would miss time. If he is able to play in two weeks when Michigan is back from its bye week, Harbaugh will have a big decision to make.
“I thought John really played great,” Harbaugh said. “He was seeing things really good right from the time he came into the ballgame. Ran the offense well, made the big plays. The throw that he hit to [redshirt sophomore Zach] Gentry on the seam route down the middle was a big-time throw.”
Getting The Last Laugh
Before transferring to Michigan, O’Korn was the starter at Houston under head coach Tony Levine.
After being benched in the 2014 season, he made the choice to leave, ending up with the Wolverines.
Levine didn’t last long at Houston either and was fired after the 2014 campaign. He was then hired by Jeff Brohm at Western Kentucky and followed the coach to Purdue this year as co-offensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. When O’Korn got the opportunity to step in Saturday, it was personal.
After leading Michigan down the field for its first touchdown, O’Korn yelled at the Purdue sideline — in the direction of Levine.
“I don’t even remember what I said,” O’Korn said. “It was an emotional day for me, just for things to come full circle, after everything I’ve been through. Him being the one responsible for making the decision to bench me at Houston, it was an emotional day.”
O’Korn completed 18 of 26 passes for 270 yards and one touchdown with one interception that bounced off his receiver in Michigan’s 28-10 victory.
The quarterback noted he is on good terms with Levine, that the two had been texting throughout the week and even hugged it out before and after the game — but that doesn’t diminish the joy in beating him.
“I’m a competitor, and it meant a lot to me,” O’Korn said. “If I don’t play again the rest of the year, to be able to go out and beat my former coach, it’s a big moment for me.”
O’Korn targeted Michigan’s tight ends frequently, one week after the group was targeted only once against Air Force. Gentry set career bests with three catches, 48 receiving yards and a touchdown, while sophomore Sean McKeon reeled in five passes for 82 yards — both led the team in the contest and set new career highs. Junior wide receiver Grant Perry was Michigan’s top wideout, catching three balls for 39 yards.
“John did a great job today, coming in and taking over for Wilton, making some outstanding plays, converting on third down, keeping the play alive, keeping the drive alive,” Gentry said.
Sophomore receiver Nate Schoenle caught the first passes of his career, nabbing two for 29 yards. Redshirt junior wideout Maurice Ways and fifth-year senior fullback Henry Poggi also recorded their first catches of the year.
Redshirt freshman running back Kareem Walker received his first career touches out of the backfield, carrying three times for seven yards on Michigan’s final drive.
Miscellaneous Notes
· Gentry’s touchdown catch was the first of his career.
· Purdue was one of just nine teams in the nation to allow one play or no plays of 30 yards or longer entering the game; Michigan had plays of 49 yards (rush by sophomore running back Chris Evans) and 34 yards (catch by McKeon).
· Peters completed his first career pass on the final play of the game. It went for four yards to Ways.
· Michigan outgained Purdue in the second half 292-10.
· Fifth-year senior running back Ty Isaac scored his first touchdown on the season.
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