From the Michigan insider at The Victors Club
QB Needs (prep or Transfer Portal)
Michigan’s needs are pretty low here, even if quarterback is by far the most popular position to pick up transfer portal players. The Wolverines have a quarterback they love in JJ McCarthy. While his sophomore stats — 2,378 passing yards, 65.3-percent completion rate, 155.4 passer efficiency rating — aren’t landing him on any All-American lists this season, the Wolverines love his blend of leadership that brings out the best in his teammates, and dynamic skill set that keeps defenders on their heels. Even if Michigan doesn’t fully cater the offense around throwing the ball next fall, he will be one of the nation’s 10 most talented quarterbacks next season. More importantly, he’s an undisputed leader of the team and agent of Michigan’s thriving culture.
Behind him, there is room for Michigan to add a backup quarterback if the right candidate emerged. Davis Warren is the expected No. 2, and reports from within the team seem encouraging, but he has just nine career pass attempts. Behind him, it’s Alex Orji and Jayden Denegal in terms of scholarship players, and they combined for one pass attempt as true freshmen this fall. If Michigan likes how those three progressed this offseason and is content standing pat, more power to the Wolverines. But history suggests that backup quarterback is quietly a very important position, and without a 2023 quarterback commitment, we wouldn’t question the Wolverines one bit if they sought out a backup.
The two likely categories of options would be an academic-minded veteran not offended playing behind McCarthy while they get a master’s degree, and an experienced leader if needed (such as what Alan Bowman in 2021-22), or an underclassman good enough to win some big games in case of emergency, as well as contend for a starting job after McCarthy’s departure.
This isn’t a dire need in our eyes, and may not be worth rocking the boat and losing another quarterback to the portal over. But if we were viewing Michigan as a championship-caliber NFL team, we would vouch for a pursuit of a backup quarterback with either meaningful experience or future-starter potential.
Need Rating: 3 out of 10.