Transferring from Michigan was the right decision, but these quarterbacks are not guaranteed any playing time with their new teams:
Long before the transfer portal, teams have been recruiting as many quarterbacks as possible to both collect as many dart throws as they can and to elevate the floor at the position. Of course, the ideal situation is having a clear starter and a clear next-man-up, but those situations are more idealistic than commonplace. Now with the portal (and NIL), setting up that perfect line of succession is near impossible.
The Michigan Wolverines are no stranger to quarterback movement, with players like Alan Bowman, Jack Tuttle, Mikey Keene, and Jake Garcia all arriving in Ann Arbor just over the last few years. This is only one side of the story, however; Michigan has seen just as many quarterbacks transfer out, including Bowman himself. Three such players find themselves on new rosters heading into the 2025 season.
Cade McNamara (ETSU)
Whether or not McNamara should have stayed at Michigan is irrelevant now, though it sure seems like both he and the team could have benefitted greatly from that in 2024. Instead, he spent two years at Iowa with minimal impact, getting injured in the first month of the 2023 season and throwing for just six touchdowns and 127 YPG last year.
As a result, McNamara is on the move again, this time to East Tennessee State. He is not the only newcomer at ETSU, with former UNC starter Jacolby Criswell also transferring in. McNamara has a real chance to start, but even if he does win the initial job, his leash will be short with an exciting option nipping at his heels. Surely this is not how he envisioned his career playing out, but he sealed his fate two offseasons ago.
Alex Orji (UNLV)
After months of speculation last summer, it was actually Davis Warren who took the QB1 role for the Wolverines, not Orji. The (theoretically) dual-threat weapon did get some starting reps, but ended up throwing just 47 passes on the season, failing to impress when given the chance. A lackluster performance against Alabama likely closed the book, and now Orji is off to UNLV.
There, he will have a chance to win the starting job, with the main competition coming from Anthony Colandrea, who never really looked the part at Virginia. It does feel like Michigan failed to use Orji in the most optimal way, with plenty of upside left on the table, though some of that might have been due to the quarterback failing to progress as desired. Still, a change of scenery can sometimes be what it takes, and there is every reason to root for Orji to succeed this season.
Jayden Denegal (SDSU)
Denegal arrived with Orji in Ann Arbor but never really had a chance to make a difference. Truth be told, his pathway to playing time was always going to be very narrow, so this is less of a failure and more of a break-glass situation that was never needed to be deployed. Transferring out was always going to be a likely outcome for Denegal, and he will look to finally earn some real playing time this fall at SDSU.
Like the previously mentioned players, Denegal will be going up against another transfer for the starting gig, which is how college football works in today’s world. He certainly should have a leg up on former Central Michigan quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr. and could thrive back home in California this season. Denegal is going to be a footnote in the Michigan history books, but it would be cool to see him find some opportunity in San Diego.
Bonus: J.J. McCarthy (Vikings)
Ok ok, not exactly a “transfer,” but the former Wolverine with the most attention this fall will certainly be McCarthy. Just like during his time at Michigan, there are plenty of doubters across the country, and the task in front of him will be difficult coming off of a big injury with no prior professional experience. However, McCarthy was nothing but exceptional in college and is well-deserving of the Vikings’ strong vote of confidence. Even Lions fans can hope for a great season by McCarthy to silence the haters.
One final shoutout: Joe Milton was traded to the Cowboys this offseason to back up Dak Prescott. Milton got limited reps with the Patriots but always someone fans dreamed on, just like when he left Michigan for Tennessee. His odds of significant playing time are low, but Prescott has missed time before…