Analyst: Future of Michigan quarterback room one of the brightest in the country

ESPN.com national writer Adam Rittenberg ranked the top 25 quarterback rooms in the country based on how bright of a future they have, and Michigan‘s checked in at No. 10. That slotted second among Big Ten teams, behind only No. 1 Ohio State. The others ahead of the Wolverines were No. 2 USC, No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Texas A&M, No. 5 Georgia, No. 6 Miami, No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 8 Texas and No. 9 NC State.

The rankings are based on the next three seasons — 2022, 2023 and 2024.

“For the quarterback rankings, a returning starter matters but a returning starter with multiple years of eligibility might be even more valuable,” Rittenberg explained. “Depth is also significant, although often fleeting at quarterback. The lists are primarily based on personnel, but coaching is a factor.”

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Which puts Michigan in a good spot. The Wolverines return redshirt sophomore Cade McNamara, who started last season and led the Maize and Blue to their first Big Ten title since 2004 and first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. He completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns against just six interceptions.

He and sophomore J.J. McCarthy both have two years of eligibility remaining, which helps Michigan’s cause for the sake of these rankings (and the future of the program, of course, which is much more important). McCarthy was McNamara’s backup last season but intends on pushing him for the starting job ahead of the 2022 campaign. He didn’t throw much during the spring due to lingering shoulder soreness but is nearing a return to 100 percent.

“Improved quarterback play wasn’t the biggest reason for Michigan’s turnaround from 2-4 in 2020 to a Big Ten title and the CFP in 2021, but it certainly helped,” Rittenberg wrote. “McNamara, who played a bit in 2020, led a run-oriented offense with solid numbers (2,576 yards, 25 touchdowns, six interceptions). He has multiple years of eligibility left in a system that shouldn’t change too much under co-coordinators Matt Weiss (quarterbacks coach in 2021) and Sherrone Moore.

“The bigger question is whether McNamara, an unheralded recruit, can keep the top job over J.J. McCarthy, used mostly in a situational role last season. McCarthy, ESPN’s No. 2 dual-threat quarterback and No. 25 overall player in the 2020 recruiting class, is the highest-rated quarterback prospect in coach Jim Harbaugh‘s tenure.”

Many believe McCarthy will be the guy at some point and put together a fantastic college career. He has the physical tools, and there’s a belief he has a bright future in the NFL. Michigan also has some other young talent behind him, too, and another veteran with experience.

“If McCarthy wins the job and reaches his potential as a playmaker, Michigan should be set for at least the next two seasons,” Rittenberg wrote. “McNamara also could guide the team through 2023. The Wolverines have some short-term insurance with Alan Bowman, who had 5,060 pass yards and 33 touchdowns at Texas Tech before transferring. Michigan also added Alex Orji, an ESPN 300 prospect, and three-star recruit Jayden Denegal.”

We’d add Davis Warren, a redshirt freshman walk-on who impressed in the Michigan spring game, to that list. He’s already third on the depth chart ahead of Bowman, and the leukemia survivor could’ve had more options out of high school had he stayed healthy and played in more games.