With historically bad QB play this season, Michigan will likely be looking elsewhere in 2025. Where should the Wolverines turn? Is an incoming freshman the answer, or would a grad transfer be better suited? Discuss with us here:
Michigan football’s historically bad quarterback play has been discussed ad nauseum on Maize n Brew, on TV broadcasts, in person, and everywhere else in the Michigan universe. Barely passing better than several service academies, Sherrone Moore and company have been through three quarterbacks, but none have proved to be the answer.
It’s tough not to already look to the 2025 season because of it.
It’s fairly safe to say none of the three quarterbacks we’ve seen in Davis Warren, Alex Orji or Jack Tuttle will be Michigan’s starter in 2025. However, there are several different routes the program could go in finding a new starter — the rest of the existing roster, an incoming freshman, or the transfer portal.
The only quarterbacks we haven’t yet seen on the current roster are Jayden Denegal and Jadyn Davis. Given the lack of public discussion about Denegal during this brutal stretch of quarterback play, I believe it’s safe to say he won’t be taking over any time soon.
Davis is a much more interesting case study. A highly-touted recruit, Davis was once a five-star before falling to the mid-four star territory. Whether we see him down the stretch this year or not, Davis should be a factor in the quarterback battle next fall. The Michigan fanbase has begun to grow restless because he hasn’t played yet. Let’s hope that’s the coaching staff making the right choice to not shatter his confidence rather than an indictment on his talent or lack thereof.
From a high school recruiting standpoint, Michigan has one quarterback committed in the class of 2025 in Carter Smith, a four-star prospect and the No. 14 ranked quarterback in the class on 247Sports’ composite. Hailing from Fort Myers, Florida, he is a true dual-threat and is lethal with his legs.
It’s also worth noting there have been unconfirmed rumblings of Michigan attempting to flip No. 1 overall prospect Bryce Underwood from LSU . A Belleville native, Underwood has been committed to the Tigers since January and is the longest of long shots to flip to Michigan. But if that were to happen, it would drastically change the equation for 2025 should he decide to do so.
Michigan has a quarterback commit in the class of 2026 in Brady Hart, and while he is a fantastic prospect for down the road, he doesn’t help solve the 2025 conundrum.
Lastly, and most importantly in my opinion, is the transfer portal. If the Michigan coaching staff doesn’t have faith in Davis or Smith, it is essential they eye the transfer portal. Trying to pick out names at this point is like shooting fish in a barrel, but if the past is any indication, there will be plenty of options to choose from.
So where do you think Michigan’s starting quarterback in 2025 will come from? Could it be a player out of the transfer portal? Will Davis live up to the hype and take the reigns? Should Michigan put all its eggs into getting Underwood to flip?
Which do you think is the most likely? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.