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Jim Harbaugh discusses what he expects from Michigan's upcoming quarterback competition

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•06/03/22•

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Michigan football Cade McNamara
Michigan quarterbacks will continue to compete through summer and fall for the starting job. (Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has a big decision to make this season at the quarterback position. Will it be Cade McNamara once again or will JJ McCarthy take the full-time starter role?

This week, the Wolverines headman said all options are on the table.

McNamara started last season but McCarthy, a true freshman, split time with him and looked solid in the process. McNamara completed 62.4% of his passes for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns, while McCarthy threw for 516 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

It could make for an interesting quarterback competition this year — and Harbaugh thinks it’ll be a good one.

“It’ll be competitive,” Harbaugh said. “The dynamic, I would say, would be competitive. I’ll tell you the exact same thing I’d tell Cade or JJ or any other player on our team that’s competing for a position. Who’s going to play? The best player. How are we going to figure out who the best player is? They’re the ones that play the best.”

Harbaugh laid out the potential plans at the position depending on what happens between McCarthy and McNamara. It could be a similar plan as last season, but Harbaugh isn’t ruling anything out. He added one thing’s for sure, though. Both quarterbacks have been supportive of each other throughout the offseason, and that’s why Harbaugh thinks it’ll be a healthy competition.

“Those are the options: One guy, full-time or a combination of two guys playing,” Harbaugh said. “Evidenced by last year, we’ve done that. That’s possible. The possibilities will be the same for this year. It could be one starter, it could be one starter [and] one backup, it could be two guys that contribute and play, as well. We’ll see. No crystal ball on what takes place, but excited to throw the balls out there and let the guys compete.

“The cool thing about it, though, here’s the cool thing with JJ and Cade. It’s competitive, but it’s not combative. Two guys that play the same position that are on the same team. Everything that I’ve noticed is they’ve got each other’s backs and they’ve got the teams’ back.”