Texas QB transfer Maalik Murphy could be in play for Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines have a bit of an uncertain future at quarterback with J.J. McCarthy potentially having the NFL Draft on the table in 2024. An intriguing option officially emerged on Thursday in Texas’ Maalik Murphy, who officially threw his name into the transfer porta.
Murphy (6-5, 238) redshirted last season before moving into the backup role in 2023 to Quinn Ewers and started a pair of games as Ewers’ injury replacement. In a 35-6 win over BYU, he completed 16-of-25 passes for 170 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
The next week against Kansas State, he went 19-for-37 for 248 yards with a touchdown and two picks. He finished the season with 477 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel mentioned Michigan as a team to keep an eye on if McCarthy decides to go pro.
“Preliminary list, it’s very early still, a couple of schools that have indicated interest are both USCs — Southern California and South Carolina — Baylor, Georgia, Oregon State, Syracuse and Duke,” Thamel said. “Those are basically what doubles as a list of quarterback-needy schools, and there’s going to be plenty of interest for Maalik Murphy.
He later said: “If J.J. McCarthy leaves Michigan, that could be another potential landing spot down the line.”
Before enrolling at Texas, Murphy was a four-star prospect and the No. 205 overall recruit in the nation in the 2022 recruiting class. He also ranked as the No. 12 quarterback and the No. 15 overall player from the state of California, hailing from Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra.
“Big-bodied pocket passer with a bunch of arm strength,” his On3 scouting report says. “Among the bigger quarterback prospects in the 2022 cycle. Entered his senior year with little varsity experience, not starting until his junior season which was shortened due to the COVID-19 rescheduling. Has a plus arm with the ability to drive the ball downfield without strain. Showed some continued improvement as a senior. Still undeveloped in terms of live game reps. Does not offer much of a run threat but will need to improve his mobility at the next level as he can tend to be stationary at times.”
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There has been no reported contact between Murphy and Michigan to this point, but the Wolverines did have ties with him on the recruiting trail.
The Wolverines seem likely to add an arm at some point this offseason regardless of whether or not McCarthy elects to go pro. A known option at this point is former UCLA quarterback and Detroit native Dante Moore, whom the staff made quick contact with after entering the portal early last week. Moore has not set up a visit to Michigan yet and appears to be set to see Oregon soon despite the Ducks bringing in Dillon Gabriel as their likely starter for next season.
No indication has been given one way or another as to which way McCarthy may be leaning. Draft analysts are all over the place on his stock. Some believe he has a chance to be the first quarterback taken after USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye, while others have him as low as the seventh-ranked QB in the class. The College Football Playoff spotlight will go a long way in potentially determining which way it goes.
As of now, Michigan enters 2024 with McCarthy retaining eligibility, backed up by classmate Davis Warren, third-year options in Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji and true freshman Jadyn Davis.
