The quarterback battle between Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy is undoubtedly the biggest story line surrounding Michigan Football heading into fall camp. The two quarterbacks will battle for the starting job in a Wolverine offense which many expect to be electric.
McNamara started all 14 games for the Wolverines last season, but true freshman JJ McCarthy also saw playing time in key moments throughout the year. McNamara's ability to avoid mistakes and manage the offense earned him the majority of the playing time.
McCarthy on the other hand, showed impressive flashes last season. He made many impressive throws, and his dual threat ability keeps defenses off balance. His superior arm strength and big-play ability have made him a fan favorite among many.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke on the quarterback competition on Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days.
"Cade McNamara's going to be really tough to beat out for the starting quarterback job," said Harbaugh. "JJ McCarthy's going to be really tough to beat out for the starting quarterback job," he added.
Despite the basic comment which lacks much depth, Harbaugh did share an interesting stat regarding last year's starter.
"A really cool stat on Cade McNamara is over 50% of his drives end in points," Harbaugh said. "I don't know exactly what the number is for JJ, but it seems like every time he got in there and led a drive it ended in points as well."
As fall camp approaches, Harbaugh ensures fans that the best players at every position will play.
"The best players are going to play," Harbaugh said. "We're going to know who the best player is by who plays the best."
---
Discuss this article with our community on our premium message boards
Not a subscriber to Maize & Blue Review? Sign up today to gain access to all the latest Michigan intel M&BR has to offer
Follow our staff on Twitter: @JoshHenschke, @BrandonJustice_, @ZachLibby, @TrevorMcCue, @DennisFithian, @BrockHeilig, @DanielDash_, @StephenToski, @Baird_CJ, @JimScarcelli
Subscribe to our podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify
Check out Maize & Blue Review's video content on YouTube!
Follow Maize & Blue Review on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram