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The ‘worldwide leader’ was apparently quite bullish on the Wolverines under Shea Patterson a year ago.
ESPN doesn’t just do traditional team power rankings, but also a quarterback power ranking (honestly, this is the first we’ve heard of it — we would think it’s new if there wasn’t a ‘last year’s ranking’ attached), denoting the top 25 best situations in all of college football.
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Given the depth on the roster — perhaps Michigan’s best situation in recent memory — the Wolverines made the top 25, but whereas last year the maize and blue were just outside the top 10, now they’re down near the bottom.
Understandable given that whoever is under center is relatively inexperienced.
ESPN: ($)
24. Michigan Wolverines
2019 ranking: 12
Returning starter: NoScouting the Wolverines: A good-but-not-good-enough stretch under coach Jim Harbaugh underscores Michigan’s glaring need for an elite quarterback. While Ohio State and Penn State are producing record-setting players, Michigan is still searching for a superstar under center.
Perhaps it will be Dylan McCaffrey or Joe Milton, who will compete for the top job after Shea Patterson’s departure. Both have a year of experience with coordinator Josh Gattis, although McCaffrey saw more game action in 2019. McCaffrey has two more seasons of eligibility and brings a true dual threat to the backfield. Milton boasts a huge arm, though, and some both within and outside the program peg him as the quarterback with the highest ceiling. He has three years of eligibility left.
If neither player pans out, Michigan has a commitment from J.J. McCarthy, ESPN’s No. 2 junior quarterback and No. 23 overall player.
We second the notion about Milton’s upside — countless people have indicated such to us ever since he got on campus.
But, that’s the exciting part of this upcoming season: whoever takes that first snap at Washington, whether it be McCaffrey, Milton or McNamara, they’ll have earned it over the others. Michigan’s QB situation will certainly rise up those power rankings as a result of the competition.
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