Cade McNamara: I'm a Big Ten championship winning starting quarterback
Michigan football’s quarterback competition is going to be heated this fall, assuming J.J. McCarthy’s shoulder heals as expected. But redshirt sophomore Cade McNamara made it clear Thursday he’s not going anywhere, planning on winning the job again.
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McNamara threw for 2,500 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago in a run heavy offense. It was his ability to manage a game and avoid big mistakes that made him the best bet at the position last year, and he’s off to a good start this spring, too.
He also made it clear his confidence won’t wane despite a faction of the fan base considered ‘Team J.J.’
“I mean — I’m a Big Ten championship winning starting quarterback,” he said when asked how he sees himself as a starter and how he views the competition. “And that’s how I see it.”
And he’s right, of course. McCarthy played in spots, but McNamara was the guy who led the Wolverines to their first Big Ten title since 2004. He was a de facto leader as the starting quarterback, and he’ll play an even bigger role this year with several veterans having moved on.
“Last year … I was one of a group of really good leaders with me,” he said. “Andrew Vastardis, Josh Ross and Aidan Hutchinson … we were able to share our voices amongst the team. It’s my job now. I think I’ve established myself as a voice on this team.
“It’s going to be my job on this team to create leadership. I’ve already seen guys that are stepping up to the plate that are willing to take that role. It’s my job as a leader to get those guys more juice, more opportunities to step into that role, as well. No matter how good a leader is, there can’t always be one on one side of the ball. Someone has to be leading the defense, special teams. … we have a long way to go.
“I’m happy where we’re at right now, but think it can get better.”
He’s put in the work in the offseason to make himself better, too. He’s changed his diet and sleeping patterns, watching it more closely. He worked with his trainer in Los Angeles over spring break and watched film of every snap, talked with physical therapists, etc.
When this fall comes, he expects to pick up where he left off — helping prepare a team for another title.
“I think that’s the challenge,” he said. “Repeating a championship is even harder than winning a championship the first time. Half the team was not here. I think it’s my job as a leader to ensure that we don’t become complacent. Obviously, we’re still a super young team, and we have a long way to go until we play. Especially with the leadership on the team with the coaching staff, that’s something we’re going to have to fight. We know there’s going to be a target on our back, and we’re going to have to make sure our mindset is clean.”
But he’s been there before, something no returning starting quarterback has felt since Chade Henne in 2004 heading into 2005. That’s one of the reasons he’s so confident.
“I know what it takes; what a team has to look like,” McNamara said. “I know what I have to do in order for us to do that. I know the level I think we have to be executing in, and also really the critical moments we have to excuting in.
“Our Big Ten Championship [hopes] could have stopped at Penn State. Then there were four games to play the rest of the season. I think it’s going to take [more of that mindset]. Obviously, our goal is to recreate that and do more.”
They’ve already made strides this spring, and there are still months to go before the opener with Colorado State.
