ANN ARBOR, Michigan – Jim Harbaugh remains shy about how tight the quarterback situation really is in Michigan, but nothing seems to have changed, just three weeks to go.
Outside Schembechler Hall, Harbaugh said Friday after the Wolverines completed their first week of preseason camp with helmet-only training, Harbaugh said redshirt freshman Cade McNamara remained the front runner in the Sept. 4 start against Western Michigan.
McNamara finished the spring on Michigan’s depth chart with quarterback, ahead of real newbie JJ McCarthy and redshirt newbie Dan Villari.
“Cade is ahead of the game – and he has so many of those competitive traits and the ability to do all the throws,” said Harbaugh. “But also the ability to put the ball into the hands of others, to make others better. That’s probably a quarterback’s # 1 job when it comes to being that point guard. “
McNamara has the most experience on the team, having appeared in four games last season and dethroned Joe Milton for the starting job. The Reno, Nevada native led Michigan to a triple overtime street win over Rutgers last November, a formidable feat that saw McNamara throwing 260 yards and four touchdowns. A week later he earned his first college start.
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“He’s in,” said Harbaugh. “He goes into every detail. He is in every facet of the position – leadership, etc.
“I don’t see him kneeling or taking a breath.”
Behind him, however, is McCarthy – the former five-star recruit who signed up in January and quickly became a fan favorite. The La Grange Park, Illinois native was a decorated high school quarterback who threw 7,905 yards and 94 touchdowns while setting a 36-2 record as a starter.
McCarthy is the senior quarterback contender coming to Michigan under Harbaugh.
“He’s got a quick start and he’s playing really well,” said Harbaugh. “And improve too.”
Harbaugh suggested that the lights go on slowly for McCarthy. He tried to get the point across that McCarthy doesn’t have to win the game himself every time. And that he has playmakers around him when it comes to running back and receiver.
“He’s not in high school where he has to carry the whole team,” said Harbaugh. “He’s got used to it, and it’s growing exponentially. It’s good.”
More: UM trainers like the experience Alan Bowman brings to QBs
New to the scene this month is Alan Bowman, a Texas Tech graduate transfer who is possibly the biggest joker in Michigan’s quarterback space. Bowman has played more college games than the other three combined (19), a number that includes 16 starts and over 5,060 passing yards. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he set records during his freshman season at Texas Tech where he excelled in Kliff Kingsbury’s air raid offense.
But coach changes and injuries put Bowman back and led to a mid-year transfer. He didn’t arrive in Ann Arbor until the summer.
“We didn’t see him at the jumping ball so you don’t know,” Harbaugh said of possible rust. “It all looked pretty good (so far). He has a lot of time for his tasks. He has a lot of experience – and it shows. “
Harbaugh declined to say if any of the other quarterbacks have enough time to overtake McNamara. The team has two weeks of camp before they start preparing for the Broncos. But until then, he’ll be enjoying the competition.
“Throughout the years, the quarterback game has been really sharp right from the start; really good, ”said Harbaugh. “Both Cade and JJ started really quickly. There was really no peace at the gates. “
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