Jim Harbaugh: Cade McNamara to get starters' reps to open camp

INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh started Big Ten Media Days by saying both Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy will be “really tough to beat” in a quarterback competition. But the Wolverines headman sure was careful with his words.

During his afternoon press conference, a reporter asked Harbaugh how McNamara responded when he found out he wasn’t the starter heading into fall camp. Harbaugh answered with a question.

“Who said he wasn’t the starter entering fall camp?” he said.

“Cade’s the starting quarterback,” Harbaugh clarified after a follow-up. “We line up first practice, it’s going to be him with the first team.”

So it’s settled, right? Well, kind of.

“Now, eventually, over the training camp, JJ will get the same opportunity. … They’re both going to get a ton of reps,” Harbaugh said. “There’ll be time for them to have that competition and determine who the starting quarterback is for the first game.”

One thing’s for sure. The quarterback is going to be a big topic of discussion as training camp goes on.

McNamara and McCarthy split time at the position last season as Michigan made a run to the College Football Playoff. McNamara saw most of the snaps last year, throwing for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns. But McCarthy also threw for 516 yards and five scores while proving he could get the job done with his legs, rushing for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

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Despite being in the middle of another quarterback competition, McNamara said he’s getting better off the field.

“No matter what position you’re in, I think if you become complacent, you become vulnerable,” McNamara told reporters. “I think this whole entire situation has really helped me in that sense in that I have zero complacency as to what my situation is and where I am on the depth chart. If anything, I’m getting better faster than me sitting in a quarterback room comfortably.”

One of Michigan’s top targets also weighed in on the competition. Tight end Erick All could be in for a big year no matter who’s under center, and he thinks the Wolverines will be fine regardless of the direction coach Jim Harbaugh decides to go.

“The best man is going to get the job,” All said. “It’s going to be tough. They’re both great quarterbacks.”

Both quarterbacks bring different skillsets, but All argued McNamara and McCarthy are similar. It just might not show up in the stat sheet.

“Obviously, JJ’s more mobile,” All said. “But Cade’s mobile, too. Cade’s flying, too. I think he just ran about 20 miles per hour in one of the runs we were doing. Cade flies around. JJ does, too. They both have strong arms.”