Michigan football has a battle brewing at QB - MLive.com

Note: This is the first in a multi-part series from MLive examining each of the position groups on the Michigan football team entering spring 2020.

ANN ARBOR — It’s been two years, but Michigan football has a quarterback competition again.

The departure of Shea Patterson, who exhausted his collegiate eligibility with the 2019 season, has left — leaving the Wolverines’ quarterback position up for grabs in 2020.

And much like Jim Harbaugh’s second and third seasons in Ann Arbor, it could one of several candidates.

“I’m not starting anything off with any kind of announcement or comparison,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said earlier this month, after speaking at the Michigan High School Coaches Association clinic.

“Just let ‘em have at it. Just go have it."

Dylan McCaffrey leads the list by nature of his place on the depth chart each of the last two seasons, second, with the soon-to-be redshirt junior seemingly next in line. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound McCaffrey, the younger brother of NFL running back Christian McCaffrey, has the most game experience. He’s played in 13 games over the past two seasons, completed 18 of his 35 pass attempts for 242 yards and three touchdowns (with no interceptions) and rushed for 166 yards and two more touchdowns.

McCaffrey certainly presents those dual-threat capabilities that could flourish in Josh Gattis’ RPO-focused offense.

His chief competition, Joe Milton, also presents a unique skill set with an unproven track record. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Pahokee, Fla., native appeared in eight games over the course of his first two seasons at Michigan, including four in 2018, his freshman season.

RELATED: Joe Milton is here to stay, and win the starting job

Milton’s attempted just 11 passes — completing six of them for 117 yards and a touchdown, while two of them have been intercepted. He’s also run 12 times for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

How Michigan plans to replace Patterson, who threw for 3,061 yards and 23 touchdowns (with eight interceptions) in 2019, remains unclear. But it has options.

“This period of time is an important time, winter conditioning,” Harbaugh said. “You get a chance to show you’re the hardest-working guy on the team. You’ve got a chance to lead. You’ve got a chance to show your teammates just how bad you want it."

Michigan quarterback Dylan McCaffrey (10) runs up the field during their college football game against Middle Tennessee at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, on Saturday, August 31, 2019. Michigan won the game, 40-21. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

Roll call —

Departed: Shea Patterson

Returning: Dylan McCaffrey (r-jr.), Joe Milton (r-soph.), Cade McNamara (r-frosh.)

Coming in: Dan Villari (frosh.)

MORE: Five burning Qs facing Michigan this winter

Analysis —

— On the surface, this job is McCaffrey’s to lose. He’s been the backup to Shea Patterson each of the past two seasons, indicating an extra layer of comfort and confidence from the coaching staff. McCaffrey’s been fairly careful with the football (he has no intercepted passes in 35 attempts), though his completion percentage isn’t something to write home about. The jury is still out on his ability to throw the long ball, too.

— Key here will be McCaffrey’s durability. He’s had to miss games each of the last two seasons due to injury — a broken collarbone in 2018 and a concussion in 2019. Both came on running plays in which McCaffrey was trying to pick up extra yardage. If Michigan decides on McCaffrey as the starter in 2020, he will have to be more conscious with his decision-making when it comes to taking off.

— Milton is the more intriguing prospect. His arm is undoubtedly the strongest on the team but lacks accuracy. The Michigan coaching staff worked with Milton, a former four-star prospect, in 2019 to add touch to his throw. If he can implement that with confidence this spring and fall, Milton could very well overpower McCaffrey for the starting job. He has the frame and skill set to thrive in Michigan’s new offense — can he rein the arm?

— Don’t rule out Michigan utilizing both quarterbacks, either. Harbaugh and Gattis showed a willingness to try it with Patterson and McCaffrey early in the 2019 season, rather unsuccessfully. Even if Milton’s arm is a wildcard, he could still be valuable in the run-game.

— Expect Cade McNamara, the former four-star recruit from Reno, Nev., to get a look this spring — but I’d be surprised if he entered fall camp as a viable contender for the starting job. McNamara appeared in one game in 2019, his freshman season, but did not attempt a pass.

Projected spring depth chart

1. Dylan McCaffrey

2. Joe Milton

3. Cade McNamara

Read more on Michigan football:

Shea Patterson throws 75-yard TD, INT at Senior Bowl

ESPN writer calls Michigan a 'second-tier program’ heading into 2020

Patterson battles through tough week at Senior Bowl

Latest mock drafts have no U-M players going in first round

Michigan adds Fresno State to 2024 schedule

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