With Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s departure for the NFL, now comes the hard part for the coaching staff – determining how to replace him.
McCarthy was 27-1 as starter the last two seasons, led Michigan to the national championship last Monday, two Big Ten championships and two national semifinal appearances, won the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year award in 2023 and was most valuable offensive player of the Rose Bowl national semifinal.
During the team media day before the national title game in Houston, Michigan quarterback coach Kirk Campbell, who just completed his first season in the role, was asked how he has seen the rest of his quarterback room, not including McCarthy, improve in 2023.
Every single one in that room has taken a step way in the positive direction,” Campbell said. “Jack Tuttle, he’s a veteran guy, came from this spread offense (at Indiana) and coming into more of an under-center, play-action, pro-style offense. So just learning a lot there. Alex Orji, his fundamentals, footwork, timing is insane in his development. Jayden Denegal might be the most improved player on the entire roster. Great accuracy, huge future for him. Then you throw in Davis Warren. He went through some injuries this year, but his footwork, cleaning up some of that stuff and he’s playing on time and playing as confident and fast as you can.
“So summarizing that all, it would be the confidence of the group. Understanding pre-snap what we’re going to probably get post-snap and be able to execute once that ball is snapped.
” But is there a quarterback in that group ready to take over in McCarthy’s absence? Freshman Jadyn Davis, a four-start out of Charlotte (North Carolina) Providence Day, was with the team during the CFP run as an early enrollee, but with the Wolverines’ 2024 schedule, it seems likely they will want to roll with an experienced quarterback.
Michigan plays Texas in Game 2, USC two games later. The Wolverines will travel to Washington next season, they’ll face Oregon and are at Ohio State for the final regular-season games. There’s a strong possibility they will pull a quarterback from the transfer portal. The spring portal dates are April 15-April 30.
A couple of possibilities for Michigan are Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa, who is hoping for a waiver for a sixth season, and Will Rogers, the former Mississippi State quarterback who transferred to Washington and entered the portal after coach Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama.
Here’s a look at the quarterbacks already at Michigan:
– Jack Tuttle: He was 15-of-17 for 130 yards and a touchdown last season at Michigan. The 6-4, 210-pound Tuttle told The Detroit News before the championship game that he has filed paperwork for a sixth season. “It’s in process,” Tuttle said.
But if he doesn’t have the option to play another season, he would like to be a coach. “Basically, my goal has always been to be a player or coach at the highest level possible and reach a championship in college and a championship in pros,” he said. “Whatever that means for me, whether I get to play another year here or I get to coach, I’m excited to do it. I’m going to attack whatever I get to do and have opportunity to do.”
– Davis Warren: The 6-2, 195-pound backup has been dealing with a shoulder injury, but helped the defense prepare for Washington in the national title game by simulating Huskies’ quarterback Michael Penix Jr.”It’s been fun just being able to throw it as far as I can sometimes,” Warren said of trying to duplicate Penix. “There’s nothing wrong with that. I’ve been doing whatever I can (to help). It’s fun to be able to cut it loose and play football.”
– Alex Orji: Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has called Orji, a 6-3, 236-pound junior-to-be, the Wolverines’ “scariest, most athletic player.” Orji had 15 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown this season and, ahead of the national semifinal against Alabama, Orji gave the defense a look as Bama QB Jalen Milroe.
– Jayden Denegal: Denegal, 6-5, 235, was 4-of-5 for 50 yards last season. He will be entering his third season at Michigan.
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