Jim Harbaugh on why Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara is starter

Michigan will start Cade McNamara at quarterback in its season opener against Western Michigan on Saturday, coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed. Many expected this as Harbaugh named him the starter prior to preseason camp.

“Cade McNamara is our starter,” Harbaugh said. “He’s shown constant improvement in a lot of different areas. The biggest one is consistency. Consistency of doing his job. He also makes everyone around him better and that’s maybe the most important job of our quarterback.”

McNamara started just one game during the 2020 season. A junior out of Reno, Nevada, he was ranked the No. 1 prospect in the state in 2018, according to 247Sports. Joe Milton III, who was named starter at Tennessee on Monday after transferring in the offseaosn, was No. 1 for the Wolverines this past season.

McNamara was impressive for Michigan in limited action last year. The quarterback completed 43 of 71 passes, accumulating 425 yards and five touchdowns.

Freshman J.J. McCarthy and Texas Tech transfer Alan Bowman were battling McNamara for the job in camp. Asked whether he would consider playing either Saturday, Harbaugh didn’t rule it out.

“All options will be open,” the coach said.

McCarthy, a true freshman, is the No. 149 overall prospect in On3’s class of 2021 rankings. He committed to the Wolverines over offers from Ohio State, LSU and Texas A&M, among others.

Michigan is coming off its worst season in the Harbaugh era, a 2-4 finish. The Wolverines canceled their final two games of last year’s pandemic-shortened season. The coach said this offseason he feels lucky to still be here.

“Personally, a lot of gratitude,” Harbaugh said. “How am I feeling? Attacking. Attacking each day with tremendous enthusiasm.”

In six years at Michigan, Harbaugh has compiled a 71-49 record. However, he is just 1-4 in bowl games. Still, thanks to his history with the program and track record as a coach, the team remains behind him.

“I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves,” defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale said. “So, we’re going to go out there and prove people wrong.”

If Jim Harbaugh is to turn things around this season, Cade McNamara will play a big part.