Quarterback
Depth chart
| 1. | Cade McNamara |
| 2. | J.J. McCarthy |
| 3. | Alan Bowman (or) |
| 3. | Davis Warren |
| 5. | Alex Orji |
Analysis
There could have been an ‘or’ designation between McNamara and McCarthy at No. 1 had McCarthy been able to participate fully in spring ball, but a shoulder injury precluded him from truly taking part, aside from essentially a series of walkthroughs. As Jim Harbaugh said at Big Ten media days: ‘Gosh, Cade is gonna be tough to beat out for the starting job. J.J. — it’s gonna be tough for Cade to beat J.J. out. It’s gonna be tough for J.J. to beat Cade out. But, put the balls out there on August 3 and then they’ll they’ll have at it.’ However, he also added: ‘Yeah, Cade is the starting quarterback. He’s gonna be lining up, first practice, he’s gonna be taking the — be with the first team. Now, eventually over the training camp J.J. will get the same opportunity, he’ll get the same opportunity that Cade will. They’re both gonna get a ton of reps. And, you know, there’ll be time to for to have that competition and determine who will be the starting quarterback for the first game.’
Of course, given McCarthy’s talent level, this will be upsetting for some fans, but McNamara did lead the Wolverines to their first Big Ten championship since 2004, and he’s much more capable than much of the fan consensus appears to be — hence he was the starter throughout the year last year. That said, McCarthy does have next-level talent — which isn’t a knock on McNamara, solely an acknowledgement that McCarthy has the potential to be one of the best in the country — and this will be a battle. McNamara enters camp with the lead, but it’s going to take everything he has in him to keep the No. 1 spot and to retain it throughout the season.
Behind them, we put Bowman and Warren at No. 3 with an ‘or’ designation, because they seemed essentially at par with each other at the spring game. Bowman has loads more experience, but Warren may be more talented and refined overall, despite having missed much of his high school career.
We put Orji, the true freshman, at No. 5, as he provides a running element none of the other players have, and we feel he’s ahead of fellow freshman Jayden Denegal.
Up next, the running backs, and the conundrum of a third back.