Evaluating the top transfer portal options for Michigan at quarterback

J.J. McCarthy’s time at Michigan came to an end today with his decision to enter the 2024 NFL Draft. That choice will have the Wolverines having to consider what options they can find, specifically in the transfer portal.

On3’s Andy Staples assessed the quarterback options for the blue & maize during his show on Sunday. He started with a former conference and divisional foe that could find his way to Ann Arbor if he can sort his matter out with the NCAA.

“Speaking of waivers for another year, there is a guy in the portal that Michigan is very, very familiar with. That’s Taulia Tagovailoa, brother of Tua Tagovailoa,” said Staples. “Taulia played for four years at Maryland. He’s the Big Ten’s all-time leading passer now. Because he only played five games at Alabama in 2019 before he transferred, he is trying to get a waiver from the NCAA to play another year. The question is whether he’s going to get that.”

“It’s pretty obvious that Taulia is a more valuable college quarterback, probably, than he is going into the draft,” Staples explained. “So, I would imagine, if he can get that waiver, there are quite a few teams who would be very interested having him be their starting quarterback next year. Michigan probably would be one of those.”

Tagovailoa would be a top option for several programs if he were to be eligible. He has thrown for over 10,200 yards and has accounted for 80 total touchdowns over the last three seasons at Maryland. That makes him one of the best available transfers as the No. 8 QB in On3’s Portal Rankings.

However, as far another route, Michigan could look to Will Rogers. After initially committing to Washington earlier in this cycle, the change of circumstances in Seattle could make him someone that the Wolverines could look to.

“Will Rogers is back in the portal. We actually saw him on Monday night before Washington played Michigan for the national title,” said Staples. “Will Rogers starts for four years at Mississippi State, enters the portal, decides he’s going to play for Washington. He’s throwing passes to his former Mississippi State teammate in Dillon Johnson, who’s a Washington running back, before the game. He’s wearing the jersey. But then Kalen DeBoer leaves to become the head coach at Alabama. So Will Rogers is back in the portal.”

“Does he go follow Kalen DeBoer and, probably, OC Ryan Grubb to Alabama?” Staples asked. “Does he go back to Mississippi State, does he go somewhere else? We don’t know.”

Rogers, similar to Tagovailoa, is an accomplished quarterback from his previous stop. While in Starkville, he threw for over 12,300 yards and 94 touchdowns with most of that coming during his final two seasons under Mike Leach. That was enough to make him the No. 21 QB transfer per On3.

Finally, with few options left, Staples went with one more in former Arizona QB Jayden de Laura. While it might not be their top choice, a former connection with the Wolverine offense could lead to them to connect with the No. 26 QB in the portal.

“Jayden de Laura, who started at Washington State and Arizona? He was beaten out by Noah Fifita this year at Arizona,” Staples explained. “Basically, de Laura was the opening day starter, he got hurt, Fifita came in and never gave the job back. So de Laura is back in the portal.”

“Now, what’s the connection here? De Laura was a high school teammate of Roman Wilson at Michigan.”

Again, McCarthy’s decision, although his own to make, hamstrings the Wolverines a bit considering how few quality quarterbacks are currently left in the portal. Still, with these three amongst others, Michigan will have to find their next starter with these as Staples’ very early guesses.