If the season started tomorrow for Michigan football, junior Cade McNamara would be under center for the Wolverines. Jim Harbaugh said Thursday at Big Ten media days that McNamara is "our No. 1 quarterback going into fall camp" based off his play last season and throughout spring practice.
But don't rule out five-star freshman J.J. McCarthy.
"Cade McNamara has done a tremendous job," Harbaugh said. "You talk about taking the reins and leadership, that’s something he has done. He has been that guy throughout the entire spring and the training cycle in the summer, by example and also by puling other guys along with him. He’s a fiery competitor. He’s got that gene that he must win, must give it his best at all times."
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A four-star recruit in 2018, McNamara took over for Joe Milton midway through last season and completed 63 percent of his passes for 425 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in Michigan's final three games. Most of his production came in the Wolverines' triple overtime win against Rutgers.
But the hype surrounds McCarthy, the highest-ranked QB recruit of the Harbaugh era who enrolled at Michigan in the winter. Harbaugh raised his hands almost level when describing the battle between McCarthy and McNamara and said the 6'3 true freshman "did an excellent job in spring practice."
"He’s fighting, and he’s got the athletic ability and the arm talent to get it done," said Harbaugh. "But Cade McNamara is not letting him take it away. And that’s probably the best thing for our team, for J.J. and for all of us. So that’s where we stand as I see it at quarterback."