Could Michigan Football Freshman Quarterback Make An Impact?

For the first time since JJ McCarthy and Cade McNamara battled it out for the QB1 role in 2022, the Wolverines’ quarterback position is a major question mark heading into the 2024 season. While Alex Orji and Jayden Denegal remain the top contenders right now, many suspect that Michigan football freshman signee Jadyn Davis, a four-star out of North Carolina, could make a splash.

Could this Michigan football freshman quarterback make a difference in 2024?

When Jadyn Davis first committed to the Maize and Blue back in March of 2023, he was a five-star quarterback who ranked among the nation’s finest. While he has since dropped down to four-star status, he is still a top-10 QB nationally and is still among the most-hyped players in the 2024 signing class for the Wolverines.

With JJ McCarthy leaving for the NFL Draft, Alex Orji and Jayden Denegal are expected to duke it out for the starting quarterback job, perhaps even leading one to transfer come spring ball; however, there is a chance that Jadyn Davis throws his hat into the ring for the QB1 role after developing throughout spring and fall camps.

Jadyn Davis likely won’t start, but he could still make a splash

While we don’t expect Jadyn Davis to start for Michigan football this fall, though he could still see some valuable reps for the Wolverines when the season gets into full swing. One example of how Michigan could use Davis is how Sherrone Moore used JJ McCarthy in 2021 — Cade McNamara was the bona fide starter, though McCarthy was brought in regularly throughout the year. By Week 2 of the 2022 season, McCarthy beat McNamara for the starting job and the rest is history.

Of course, if one of Michigan’s current quarterbacks — both rising juniors — is to develop into a top talent, things could get more complicated seeing as they both have a few years of eligibility remaining. Still, if Davis pans out similar to JJ McCarthy did during his freshman year, we could see a more competitive quarterback battle heading into 2025.

Jadyn Davis likely isn’t about to start for Michigan this year, but that doesn’t mean that he won’t make a splash and turn some heads as a true freshman in the Maize and Blue. Davis threw for 3,370 yards, 43 touchdowns, and nine interceptions last year, earning honors for North Carolina’s top high school football player heading into his first year of college ball.

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