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With JJ McCarthy's ascension to the NFL, the biggest concern surrounding Michigan football is the quarterback position. As of now, there's no news on who'll be calling the shots behind center. The team's first game is just three months away, and the Wolverines fandom is definitely itching for a major update on the matter. They might have to keep waiting, however, based on Sherrone Moore's latest comments.
The newly-promoted head coach was asked about Ann Arbor's QB situation during the SMSB National College Showcase on Thursday. All Moore said was that he was “very comfortable” in waiting to name the team's starting play-caller.
“I’m not going to answer any questions about the quarterback situation,” he then added, per On3's Sam Gillenwater.
Five candidates compete for the QB1 spot
There are currently five names vying for for the position: Alex Orji, Jack Tuttle, Jayden Denegal, Davis Warren and Jadyn Davis.
At present, many analysts predict that Orji will be the one to succeed McCarthy. An incoming third-year player, Orji's versatility is his biggest asset. His ability to run the ball is seen in the stat sheet, as Orji has tallied more carries than pass attempts through his first two years with the Wolverines. He even managed to put up three rushing touchdowns in nine games played.
Then there's Tuttle. The most experienced out of all the candidates, Tuttle spent four years with Indiana before transferring to Michigan for the 2023 season. He saw action in six games last year and had the most amount of passing yards behind McCarthy.
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Moving on, Denegal is also a viable option. An incoming junior like Orji, Denegal played six games last year and managed to score a touchdown against Nebraska.
As for Warren, he's an incoming fourth-year player who's seen action in eight games over the past two seasons. He has experience, and he recently showed out in Michigan's spring game to lead the Maize team over the Blue.
Lastly, there's Davis, an incoming freshman with plenty of upside. Davis was a four-star prospect and the ninth-best quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class, per 247 sports.
A new-look Michigan football squad will defend the crown
It's going to be a very different Michigan squad this coming season. Besides McCarthy, many of last year's stars decided to depart to the NFL following the Wolverines' National Championship victory. Among those who turned pro were running back Blake Corum, wideout Roman Wilson, offensive lineman Zak Zinter, linebacker Junior Colson, and defensive back Mike Sainristil. All in all, a total of 13 Michigan players from last year's squad were drafted to the big league.
Additionally, questions linger on how Sherrone Moore will perform as a first-year head coach. It won't be easy to replicate Jim Harbaugh's achievements, but on the positive side, Moore already knows the ins and outs of Michigan's system; He's been part of the program since 2018, and even served as an interim head coach for a short while last year. The team still has plenty of returning talent (Donovan Edwards, Will Johnson, etc.), so one can argue that Moore and Michigan football will be top contenders once again.
