TAMPA — In the immediate aftermath of Michigan’s sixth consecutive loss to Ohio State, quarterback John O’Korn broke down in tears during the post-game press conference.
It was a window not only into O’Korn’s heartache, but also the collective emotions of the team. The Wolverines led 14-0 early and had an opportunity to win the game in the fourth quarter. Instead, it was more of the same, with scrutiny coming following yet another loss to their arch rival.
“The game meant so much to not just me but all of us, our entire senior class,” O’Korn said Wednesday after UM’s Outback Bowl practice. “It took a few days to get over that loss. There were a lot of sleepless nights, running plays through your head. Every time you lose a game, you have moments like that. But because we put so much work into it, because it meant so much to us, because we hadn't beaten them as a senior class, that's why I responded the way I did after the game.”
O’Korn’s three-year stay at Michigan hasn’t come without hiccups. The Houston transfer was expected by many to seize the starting quarterback position in 2016, but it was Wilton Speight who took the reins and led Michigan to within inches of a possible College Football Playoff berth. When O’Korn did get his shot this season, it included several turbulent moments.
The Wolverines were 2-3 in games he started, losing to Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State. O’Korn did engineer a come-from-behind victory at Purdue after Speight suffered a season-ending back injury.
Brandon Peters replaced O’Korn during the first half of the Rutgers game Oct. 28.
O’Korn completed 83 of 156 pass attempts during the regular season for 956 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions. In 16 career games at Michigan, he’s completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,129 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions.
“I started as a skinny sophomore kid in Pennsylvania, and my parents saw something in me and decided to move me to Florida close to family at a great high school,” said O’Korn, who graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas, a national powerhouse. “My junior year I had no offers and was third-string and continued to battle. I was able to get some scholarship offers, went to Houston, I end up starting 11 or 12 games, got benched the next year, came here, expecting to play and not playing, getting a chance. It’s been a rollercoaster.
“I’ve grown so much as a person through those experiences. It’s really hard to put into words. It’s definitely prepared me for whatever is next, whether it’s a long NFL career, a career in business or politics. All those experiences will definitely pay huge dividends in the long run.”
The football dream isn’t dead yet. O’Korn will play in the NFLPA Bowl Jan. 20 and continue to train for a future in football, which will likely result in signing as an undrafted free agent. Then, it’s about performing and not allowing coaches to forget about you.
“I’m going to give everything I have,” O’Korn said. “I think it’ll be clear whenever its time to hang it up, whether that’s eight or nine months from now or 15 to 20 years now. I’m going to continue to work until the writing is on the wall to be done. I think it’ll be clear.”
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Michigan’s practice headquarters in Tampa is Berkeley Preparatory School, a palatial campus that feels like a small college.
It’s also home to five-star offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. He’s one of the top remaining targets for the Wolverines during the current recruiting cycle.
The 6-foot-6, 272-pound Petit-Frere is considering Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, and Florida. He took an official visit to UM in September.
This isn’t the first time Harbaugh has gotten creative at bowl sites. At the Citrus Bowl two years ago, the Wolverines practiced at West Orange High School, which was Eddie McDoom’s alma mater.
“I thought it was pretty cool to see them and be able to go watch them play,” said McDoom, who was committed to Oregon before de-committing. “I thought it was a good experience to see the older guys and the guys I might be playing with. The fact that they came to my school and looked out for me and talked to me, I felt special.”
It’s currently a dead period in recruiting, so Michigan cannot have in-person contact with Petit-Frere. But there are not rules preventing him from watching Michigan’s practices.
Berkeley Prep occupies 86 acres, which includes a 19,000-square-foot student center, a 75,000-square-foot arts and sciences center, two research libraries with over 40,000 titles, an 11,000-square-foot cafe, and athletic facilities that would make Division I colleges jealous.
BRAGGING RIGHTS: The Outback Bowl isn’t until New Year’s Day, but that didn’t stop Michigan and South Carolina from an intense competition Wednesday — on the bowling lanes.
The two teams took part in an event at Splitsville at Channelside in downtown Tampa. Michigan’s team of Grant Perry, Jared Char, Jared Wangler, Drake Harris, Josh Ross, and Mike McCray lost to a six-man team of South Carolina players.
The event ended with dozens of players from both teams jawing before bowl officials and Florida State Highway Patrolmen restored order.
Contact Kyle Rowland at krowland@theblade.com, 419-724-6110 or on Twitter @KyleRowland.
First Published December 28, 2017, 1:08 a.m.
