Storylines to watch as Michigan football begins spring practices
All eyes on the quarterback position
For the fifth time under Jim Harbaugh, Michigan enters spring ball with no guess as to who its starting quarterback will be. Joe Milton thinned the crowd by hitting the transfer portal last week, but whether the Wolverines go with Cade McNamara or J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback is an open question.
Unlike the last few quarterback battles for the Wolverines, neither candidate has much experience. McNamara made one start and appeared in a three games as a backup, while McCarthy will be Michigan's first genuine candidate to start as a true freshman quarterback since Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier in 2009. That's not a lot of experience, though both quarterbacks put up impressive numbers in high school and carry some track record and ability already. McNamara was a four-star prospect who set every Nevada passing record, while McCarthy was nearly a wire-to-wire five-star recruit who led IMG Academy to an 8-0 record and national championship last fall.
McNamara's two seasons on campus make him the early favorite, but McCarthy's five-star talent — Michigan's first at quarterback since 2008 — can't be ignored. In the end, both quarterbacks were known for their accuracy, consistency, winning and touch as high school recruits more than having cannon arms, and are viewed as pro-style quarterbacks with enough athleticism to escape the pocket effectively.
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It's likely that the battle will continue into August, so we won't spend too much space discussing every detail before they even start facing off. But one area we're looking at in the spring is how the quarterbacks establish themselves as leaders in the locker room. Michigan looked rudderless at times last season, with McNamara corralling the team after an overtime win at Rutgers serving as one of few highlights. With similar athletic profiles and traits, one or both quarterbacks showcasing leadership abilities could make a big difference for how meaningful Michigan's spring practices are.
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