ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For the first time in a long time, Michigan football has a true quarterback battle in fall camp. Since former head coach Jim Harbaugh arrived in 2015, that hasn’t always been the case.
Perhaps in his first year it was a battle. Jake Rudock beat out Shane Morris and Alex Malzone that year. But in 2016 and 2017, Wilton Speight essentially had the job won in spring (though there was the illusion that John O’Korn and Brandon Peters were in the running). In 2018, Shea Patterson had the job won early and continued to hold it entering 2019. Joe Milton was his heir apparent and started in 2020, but he departed prior to 2021 when Cade McNamara took over the job at the tail end of the COVID-19 year. 2022 was perhaps the last real battle. McNamara attempted to retain command, but upstart J.J. McCarthy won the job in a live audition in Week 2 against Hawaii.
On Monday, junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant gave his perspective as Michigan looks to decide between a slew of candidates. Alex Orji is the expected winner, but Jack Tuttle (who is banged up), Davis Warren, Jayden Denegal and freshman Jadyn Davis are having their say.
“All the quarterbacks are doing a pretty good job,” Grant said. “I wouldn’t say a quarterback has given us a tough time, but I mean, Alex Orji, is he’s doing a pretty good job. Tuttle and Davis Warren — Davis threw a beautiful deep ball yesterday, that was pretty good. Jayden Denegal — they’re all doing pretty good. It’s all about getting reps, just trying to get better every day.”
There’s no one who has more stake in the game here than the wide receivers, and as far as sophomore Semaj Morgan sees it, it’s far too close to call with just under three weeks until the season opener against Fresno State.
Morgan doesn’t discriminate. Whoever can get the ball to him is a winner in his book. Thus far, that means the battle is essentially even. All have shown command of the offense.
“Our quarterback room is actually like a true battle,” Morgan said. “Last year, we had J.J. going into camp. He played the year before. But this year, we actually have a true battle. It’s so pure and it’s so good to watch.
“I caught great balls from 16 (Warren), 10 (Orji), 13 (Tuttle), 2 (Davis), 4 (Denegal) — everybody. Each as a quarterback — every quarterback always brings something different to the table. With our quarterbacks, man, I feel like they are ready, whichever one they throw in that position Aug. 31. Whoever they throw in that position on Aug. 31 I feel like they can be ready. And I feel like they get prepared to go in the fire. And whoever we go in the fire with me I trust and I’m truly behind them.
“We got a young cat in there. We got some older guys in there, which is … it don’t matter who it is, whatever number’s called. That’s what I love about our quarterbacks.”
But is there a difference between each? Of course, we know Orji is the dual-threat, Tuttle is the seasoned vet with a high floor, Warren has the big arm and deep ball, and so on. But as Morgan puts it, none of them lob the ball in there to the receivers. All throw with purpose and velocity, but what’s more, they all have remained close teammates, despite them battling it out against each other in fall camp.
No matter who wins, Morgan is confident that the Michigan football quarterback of the future will enjoy similar success on the field to that of their predecessor in national champion and first-round NFL draft pick J.J. McCarthy.
“They all got that fastball,” Morgan said. “That got that (woosh sound). Every time I catch it (woosh sound). Orji, Davis, Denny, Davis — the younger Davis — man, they all be throwing at me, zipping it — I’m telling you! Whoever we got, it’s just gonna be great to watch. It’s a true, pure battle. And they’re really battling it out right now.
“I love them guys because they all come in here every day with the same great attitude, same great footballs they throw, they all got that quarterback moxie about them, that aura about them. I’ll be ready to follow any one of them into the fight, just like we did J.J. last year.”