Less-known Michigan football quarterback may finally get his chance

Tomorrow, the 2nd-ranked Wolverines take the field for the third time this season; this time, they face Bowling Green football (1-1 overall) under the lights at Michigan Stadium. After waiting patiently for weeks, less-known Michigan football quarterback Jayden Denegal may finally be in line for his big shot — the QB2 role is still up for grabs, and who knows which quarterback will be the starter in 2024? Here is the latest buzz from Ann Arbor.

Michigan football quarterback may finally get his chance this weekend

Earlier this week, Jim Harbaugh addressed the media  — there, he made it clear that Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji (both sophomores) are next in line for in-game reps. This weekend, for the Wolverines’ final “tune-up” game of the season, it is widely believed that JJ McCarthy will be taken out of the game early, just as he has over the past two weekends. If that is the case, this less-known Michigan football quarterback is poised to finally get his chance.

Last weekend, Harbaugh says there was a mix-up — it was supposed to be Denegal in the game when Davis Warren came in following Jack Tuttle’s injury. “(Last week) Coach Hart put in Davis Warren ahead of (Jayden Denegal),” Harbaugh said on Monday. “This week, you’ll see — it’ll be JJ (McCarthy) — if we go to a backup quarterback, it’ll be Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji.”

“So, want to get that — want to get all those guys looked at in-game action,” the 9th-year Michigan football head coach continued. “You know, hopefully, in this next game, but if not, it’ll have to carry into the next one. You know that situation — you know, I mean, we practiced it, we planned it, we practiced it, and then we gotta go execute it. And (something great) was the way Jaden Denegal handled it. I mean, his poise and that situation, I could see it on TV.”

Jayden Denegal remains a major player for the QB2 role

Last week, Michigan football QB coach Kirk Campbell added that the QB2 competition is still anyone’s ball game. For the time being, Jayden Denegal remains firmly in the mix with the Wolverines’ other quarterbacks for the full-time backup role.

“We’re going to use the ‘Michigan method’ at the No. 2 spot at quarterback,” Campbell said of the Michigan football quarterback battle. “All of those guys — Davis (Warren), Jack Tuttle, Alex Orji, and Jayden Denegal — will hopefully get an opportunity to show what they can do on the game field. Davis got the first nod because he played a little bit better during fall. And he got that opportunity. We’ll see how the rest plays out, though.”

“Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji, we still consider them right there in the mix,” Jim Harbaugh added.

Less-known Michigan football could finally get his chance, so keep your eyes peeled

Jayden Denegal is a hard presence to miss — his massive 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame makes him a monster at quarterback. Tomorrow, if you see No. 4 enter the game at quarterback, keep your eyes peeled; Michigan’s QB2 battle remains up for grabs, and more importantly, the Wolverines may end up needing a new QB1 next fall if JJ McCarthy leaves for the NFL. So far, it sounds like the sophomore QB has been impressive, and he could finally get a chance to prove it tomorrow against Bowling Green football.

Denegal was a three-star prospect as a member of the 2022 recruiting cycle. So far, he has thrown one pass for the Wolverines — a 35-yard pick-up during last weekend’s game against UNLV.

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