Michigan coach Sherrone Moore might have the answer, but he’s not ready to share the identity of his starting quarterback for the first game of the season.
Moore plans to let others in on the plan the week of the Wolverines’ first game, which is Aug. 30 in Ann Arbor.
New Mexico visits the Big House that day, and the Lobos are anticipating — like many others — seeing a lot of No. 1 recruit Bryce Underwood, the top-ranked player in the incoming freshman class. Underwood is opening eyes in fall camp and arrived as a household name as a five-star recruit. On the flipside, he’s only 17 years old.
For now, Moore doesn’t want to discuss Underwood without talking about his competition for the job.
“Quarterbacks have been great,” Moore said. “Much improved, playing at a really good level. You know, we’ll see where it goes and how far we’ll go to that. As far as naming the quarterback, I know you guys want to know who the quarterback is. I’ll tell you on game week, before any questions come about that.”
At a position that stood out because of a lack of production last season, Underwood is the marquee name in Michigan camp. Veteran transfer Mikey Keene could get a chance to play given his background with offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, starting experience and the dicey early schedule that includes a trip to Norman to play Oklahoma on Sept. 6 and a trip to Nebraska two weeks later.
However, Keene has been dealing with an undisclosed health issue. He missed spring practice and was reportedly limited in Saturday’s closed scrimmage, though Moore seemed optimistic about Keene’s progress Tuesday.
“Yeah, he’s done a good bit. He’s participating at his rate that he can,” Moore said. “And we’ll see as far as how much he can do and what he’ll do as we go through. But he’s been doing a good job for us and managing everything he needs to do.”
Redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis and Jake Garcia, a well-traveled transfer with starting experience at Miami and East Carolina, are not eliminated from consideration.
“Whoever the starting quarterback is, is to raise the level of the team,” Moore said. “And for (Underwood), for Jadyn Davis, for Jake Garcia, Mikey Keene, to make sure that they put themselves in position to make — that they’re the best quarterback version, or best version of what they can be for Michigan football and be leaders of the offense.
“Obviously, we’ve always talked about the offense is led by and the team is led by the offensive line. But the quarterback has to be the captain of that room, that offense. Whoever that is, that’s who I want them to be.”
–Field Level Media
