Michigan transfer QB Jayden Denegal named starter for San Diego State

Jayden Denegal has won the starting quarterback job at San Diego State, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. A transfer from Michigan, Denegal beat out Central Michigan transfer Bert Emmanuel Jr.

Denegal spent the past three years in Ann Arbor and played seven games during that span. This will be the first time in his college career that he has been a starting quarterback.

Denegal played high school football at Apple Valley (CA), where he was a three-star recruit in the 2022 cycle. He ranked as the No. 489 overall player and No. 27 quarterback according to the On3 | Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services.

With five-star freshman Bryce Underwood and transfers Mikey Keene and Jake Garcia entering the mix for Michigan this offseason, Denegal figured the best move for his career was a change of scenery. It certainly worked out for him and he’ll have Wolverines fans cheering him on from afar this year.

Michigan, on the other hand, is still in an ongoing competition to figure out its starting quarterback. Coach Sherrone Moore revealed recently that he plans to announce a starter during game week of the team’s season opener against New Mexico on Aug. 30.

Jayden Denegal will make his debut as the San Diego State starter when the Aztecs face Stony Brook on Aug. 28. That could potentially be a matchup that draws some eyeballs from Michigan faithful as they look to see how he does with his new school. Kirk D Kenney of the San Diego Union-Tribune first reported Denegal had won the job.

Michigan QB battle: Sherrone Moore lays out expectations for starter

Sherrone Moore didn’t name a starting quarterback at his presser, but he laid out the expectations for the eventual winner of the battle. Bryce Underwood, Mikey Keene, Jadyn Davis, and Jake Garcia were all still mentioned by name as part of this competition while he met with the media this morning.

“Whoever the starting quarterback is, is to raise the level of the team, you know. And for (Underwood), for Jadyn Davis, for Jake Garcia, Mikey Keene, to make sure that they put themselves in position to make that they’re the best quarterback version, or best version of what they can be for Michigan Football and be leaders of the offense,” Moore said. “Obviously, we’ve always talked about the offense is led by and the team is led by the offensive line. But the quarterback has to be the captain that room, that offense. So, you know, whoever that is, that’s what I want them to be.”

On3’ss Sam Gillenwater contributed to this report.