Michigan captain Cade McNamara — playing 'best football of my life’
Michigan is just over a week away from the opener against Colorado State, and position battles continue. New captain and senior Cade McNamara is competing with sophomore J.J. McCarthy for the starting job, and he’s approached it like a leader should.
His captaincy, voted upon by his team, doesn’t guarantee anything, to be clear. But he speaks as though he expects to be the starter, and he insists he’s upped his game dramatically.
Several practice observers have said the same.
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“I think I’m by far playing my best football that I ever have in my life right now,” McNamara said. “I’m pushing the ball downfield. I’m throwing the ball with accuracy. My mechanics seem very clean right now. I’m not missing very often. My recognition of the defense right now seems very clean.
“The more time we’ve spent with the receivers over camp, I’ve been able to gain even more chemistry with them. Just finding zones, whether it’s man coverage, zone coverage, and how we’re dealing with those in our concepts and everything. This team is really ready. We’ve done a lot of situational preparation of work together. Not just myself, but I feel like this offense and this team is extremely prepared for the season.”
There’s a faction of Michigan fans that would like to see more of McCarthy. McNamara has undoubtedly seen it, but it doesn’t seem to faze him. If anything, he said, it’s made him stronger.
How he’s prepared and played through it was obviously not lost on his teammates.
“Really, this is a representation of that. No matter what’s my perception or how people have viewed me or whatever the case may be, whatever it is, I take a lot pride in that fact that they were able to recognize me for who I am … for what I bring to this team,” he said. “For them to choose me as their captain is just a great representation of my relationship with my teammates and what they believe in me as a member of this team. I’m really honored.
“I feel like the level of play I’m playing at is really high right now in terms of where I’ve been in my career. I’ve for sure gotten much better than I was at this time last year, or even the end of the season last year. I recognize that, and obviously my teammates have, as well.”
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As for the noise that maybe McNamara shouldn’t be the starter …
“It’s fuel,” McNamara added. “Being able to continue to deal with adversity is just something that just makes people better. Your ability to handle it will define you. And really not just for me, but for this team, as well. When this team faces adversity this season, how we react will define us. We’re well aware of that and we have really pushed that message, as the captains and the other leaders on the team, we’ve pushed that message, as well.”
Including in the address to his teammates following this afternoon’s vote. McNamara, senior defensive tackle Mazi Smith, senior WR/DB Mike Sainristil, senior tight end Erick All and grad student Ronnie Bell all had their say in front of the 2022 squad.
“I just told them the truth. I’m extremely honored to be elected captain,” McNamara said. “For a player only vote, for your teammates to recognize you as a leader of the team, there’s no greater accomplishment at this level.
“My message is how honored I am, the [potential, and I think where we are as a team, how fired up we are for the season. How blessed I am to be recognized by them, and I love them.”
