What's the dynamic like between Michigan quarterbacks Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy?
Michigan Wolverines football will have a quarterback battle during fall camp, which begins Aug. 3. It’s a complicated one for a multitude of reasons, though. Senior Cade McNamara is a top team leader and likely captain, while sophomore J.J. McCarthy also has the respects of his teammates (and quite a bit of talent, too).
McNamara started all 14 games in 2021, leading Michigan to the Big Ten title and College Football Playoff. He complated 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions. So if McCarthy, who racked up 516 yards and five scores through the air in 2021, does win the job, which is entirely possible, he’s going to have to surpass an already high bar. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said both guys will be tough to beat out but that McNamara is the “starting quarterback” heading into training camp.
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Harbaugh has insisted all offseason the battle with be “competitive, but not combative,” and the Michigan coach reiterated his expectation at Big Ten Media Days. One of their teammates, senior tight end Erick All, said the two are cordial, perhaps even friendly.
“They’re not like rivals or anything,” All explained. “They’re teammates. They’re not really worried about the media or what people say.
“It’s a competitive sport. Like, me and [graduate tight end Luke] ‘Schoony’ [Schoonmaker] are competitive with each other, but we love each other. We all love each other. Cade and J.J. act normal, just how anyone would act toward each other on the team.
“It’s kind of like one big friend group when we’re off the field or when we’re not in the game or when we’re not doing football, if we’re lifting. We’re one and we don’t even think about that.”
While McNamara and McCarthy weren’t spotted at many offseason NIL or community events together, they did ride in a helicopter over The Big House together during a recent event with the Michigan Army National Guard.
McNamara said he has good relationships with all of his teammates, never specifically referring to McCarthy by name during his hour-long session at Big Ten Media Days. He added that he and the rest of the quarterbacks, from his view, are all about winning, but that he wants to be the man taking every snap behind center for Michigan.
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“I think we’re going to find out what the best arrangement for that is, but as a competitor you always want to be on the field,” Harbaugh said. “If I think anyone doesn’t have that mindset, then they shouldn’t be on the field.”
Michigan will find its identity in camp
Michigan’s identity was simple yet effective last season: The Wolverines were incredibly physical and leaned on their run game. This year, the physicality is still a goal, and will be each season under Harbaugh. But the rest could look different. McNamara said the squad will determine the overall identity over the next several weeks.
“Our identity last year wasn’t discovered in spring ball, it wasn’t discovered in player-led practices — as to what kind of physicality that we were going to bring,” the Michigan quarterback said of last season. “Over the course of the next month, we’re going to have a pretty damn good idea of what that’s going to look like, and as we continue through non-conference play, we’re going to really fine tune that.”
McNamara said what Michigan built last season from a culture standpoint was “special,” and he and other teams leaders are attempting to keep that intact.
“Whatever it is, we’re well aware that this team is different,” McNamara continued. “This team is maybe going to do things better or we’re going to have a different identity than last season. But whatever that is, our culture will remain the same. I just think it’s a little early for that right now, but I’m excited to see what it is.”
