Where Michigan stands in ESPN's future quarterback power rankings
Michigan Wolverines football has one of the nation’s top returning quarterbacks in junior J.J. McCarthy. There’s a ton of certainty at the position heading into the 2023 season, but who knows after that? McCarthy will be draft eligible next year and could depart early. How he plays this fall will factor into that decision, of course.
ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg performed his annual exercise of ranking the future of top teams’ quarterback situations.
“The challenge here is to project the top 25 quarterback groups in college football during the next three seasons — 2023, 2024 and 2025,” Rittenberg explained. “Assessments are based on current rosters and committed recruits, while taking into account the likelihood of transfers, both in and out of programs. Programs that have continuity and success with coaching quarterbacks also received special consideration.”
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Michigan checked in No. 6 after slotting 10th last season. In order, the top five are USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Georgia and Alabama. Penn State at No. 15 is the only other Big Ten team to appear in the top 25.
McCarthy and his talent prop the Wolverines up.
“The McCarthy era began a year earlier than some expected, but coach Jim Harbaugh‘s bold move to pick him over returning starter Cade McNamara paid off,” Rittenberg wrote. “McCarthy at first operated a safe passing game, completing at least 69 percent of his passes in his first six starts with nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
“His accuracy fell off in the second half of the season, but he also displayed big-play ability, especially when star running back Blake Corum went out with a knee injury. McCarthy had six touchdown passes and only one interception in wins over Ohio State in the regular-season finale and Purdue in the Big Ten title game. His game needs refinement, especially after he threw two pick-sixes against TCU in Michigan’s CFP semifinal loss, but the upside is extremely exciting, if Michigan is willing to turn him loose.”
Believe it or not, McCarthy was Michigan’s last top-300 quarterback signee, all the way back in 2021. There’s no heir apparent for when he moves on, which gives Rittenberg some pause about what the future will look like. At the same time, the Maize and Blue are close to potentially landing a signal-caller in 2024, with four-star Jadyn Davis set to decide this Friday, which would go a long way.
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“The question is whether McCarthy plays one or two more years at Michigan,” Rittenberg wrote. “If he departs after 2023, Michigan faces uncertainty. The team hasn’t landed another recent quarterback recruit rated anywhere near McCarthy (ESPN’s No. 25 overall).
“Michigan is pushing for Jadyn Davis, ESPN’s No. 3 dual-threat quarterback and No. 35 overall prospect in the 2024 class. Isaac Wilson, an ESPN 300 junior, is another option.
“But Michigan would benefit from two more years of McCarthy. The team also could look to the portal, where it has had success at other positions.”
Overall, while the long-term outlook looks a bit unclear — it could come into focus much more by the end of this week — there are plenty of teams that would love to be in Michigan’s spot.
