ANN ARBOR -- A different John O'Korn came out in front of the media on Wednesday. He was confident, self-reflective and a tad cocky.

The fifth-year senior quarterback at Michigan seems to have figured something out -- which has apparently helped him leap-frog redshirt freshman gunslinger Brandon Peters for a shot at the starting job.

"I feel like I'm playing maybe the highest level I ever have right now," O'Korn said. "That's what it's going to take to lead this team to the things we want to do this year."

O'Korn is 22 now and staring down his final opportunity to get on the field and make a mark at Michigan. A real, lasting mark.

He was passed over for the starting job last season by Wilton Speight, the same guy who's shed 23 pounds and stands in his way again.

But this season is different, O'Korn claims. His confidence is back to where it was his freshman year at Houston, when he won AAC Freshman of the Year honors, and he has new Michigan passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton to thank.

"He's been a God-send for me," O'Korn said. "I think he's helped me evolve into the player and person that I always knew I could be."

Hamilton, who coached 11 seasons in the NFL, has added more pass-protections for the quarterbacks this season. In theory, that means more time in the pocket for whoever gets the job. And O'Korn believes that benefits him more.

"There were times last year where we didn't really know what was going on up front," he said. "I think a lot of times, you'd see me scrambling when I didn't need to -- and maybe that as my big flaw that everybody liked to point. I've really found confidence in just sitting in the pocket knowing what's going on up front."

O'Korn prefers to use his arm, evident by his first season at Houston in which he started 11 games at quarterback and threw for 3,117 yards. He set all kinds of freshman quarterback records at Houston, including completions (259) and touchdowns (28), and watched his stock rise nationally for 2014.

"You're getting talked about for a Heisman Trophy and Davey O'Brien, then a few weeks later you're benched," O'Korn said. "I felt at times I was the scapegoat at Houston, for a lot of things that were going on in the program. That'll shake an 18-year-old kid."

But now he realizes it's now or never. Hamilton and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh have preached in preseason camp about eliminating the big mistake. That means not throwing an errant pass into double-coverage. Or scampering out of the pocket when there's no room to run.

So far, O'Korn, who played in eight games last season, has obeyed orders. Now look where he's at.

"Right now, it's as if who's going to make a mistake?," O'Korn said. "It's like we're all playing so well, we really benefitted so much from Pep being here. He's really taken all of our games to the next level. They say a rising tide lifts all ships, and right now, Pep has been that rising tide."

With his confidence back, O'Korn has parlayed that into a better relationship with Speight. The two faked their way through camp last year, pretending to like each other for the media and fan base.Behind the scenes, though, it was a mess.

"It was the first time for both of us together," O'Korn. "So there were honestly times where we weren't maybe completely honest with each other. We say we're best of friends, but maybe last year there were times where that wasn't the case.

"I can't speak for Wilton, but for me personally -- having to swallow my pride and really support him and get behind him throughout the year, I think brought us a lot closer."

A date has not been determined, at least publicly, but a decision is expected soon on who will start the season opener Sept. 2 against Florida.

O'Korn says he's ready in case his number his called. And this time, he truly believes it.

"It's taken a little longer than I would have liked," O'Korn said. "I would have obviously liked to be at this point last year. But everything has its course and I couldn't be happier with the way things are right now."