The chain of uncommon events that led Michigan to its bleak QB reality: Wolverines have few answers for 2024

Had you polled a few Michigan faithful in the swirl of maize-and-blue confetti the night of the national championship game as to who would line up under center for the Wolverines in 2024, you would have gotten a variety of answers.

“Come back, J.J.!,” the most hopeful of Michigan supporters would have pleaded. McCarthy would not, instead becoming a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings.

“Orji time,” most would have said, referring to then-backup Alex Orji. 

“Maybe a transfer,” a handful might have wondered, though the pool of available talent was running dry. 

Nobody would have guessed “Davis Warren,” though as we know now, Warren would indeed be the quarterback to take Michigan’s first snap as reigning national champions. He started again the next week in a top 10 showdown against Texas. 

The former walk-on, who has an incredible story as a cancer survivor, has thrown for 322 yards and two touchdowns against three interceptions. Michigan is 1-1 following a blowout loss to the Longhorns with an offense that ranks 111th nationally in yards per play. Its lack of a passing attack has bogged down a running game that used to be fierce; the Wolverines do not have a rushing score through two games. 

So, how did Michigan get here? How are the Wolverines, one of the biggest brands in the game and winners of three straight Big Ten titles, stuck with such an uninspiring quarterback room in an era in which 60-plus percent of Power Four starters have transferred at least once in their careers? 

Talking to sources in and around the program, this is the series of events that led to a quarterback quandary that shows little sign of resolution as Michigan crawls toward Big Ten play: 

Winter transfer portal window

Were Michigan to have gone…

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Author : Chris Hummer

Publish date : 2024-09-10 13:40:08

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