Michigan Football Should Still Target Transfer If JJ McCarthy Stays

All eyes in Ann Arbor are fixated on the coming Rose Bowl (CFP semi-final) matchup against No. 4 Alabama; however, with the transfer portal window opening, it’s clear that Jim Harbaugh’s coaching staff has some work to do in the portal ahead of the 2024 season. Seeing as Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy, a three-time Big Ten Champion and more, could leave for the NFL Draft after this season, UCLA QB Dante Moore has become a top target for the Wolverines. Still, even if JJ stays, Michigan should go all-in for Moore.

Michigan football should take a transfer portal quarterback in this cycle

It will be hard to replace JJ McCarthy in Ann Arbor — he has a trio of Big Ten titles, CFP appearances, wins over Ohio State, a 25-1 record as the starter, and more. That said, there is another former five-star quarterback in the transfer portal right now who has a lot of interest in joining the Wolverines: UCLA quarterback Dante Moore, a native of MI.

Moore struggled during his freshman year at UCLA, though an argument can be made that a lot of that was not on him. That said, as Michigan football looks to the future of the program, the Maize and Blue appear to have some keen interest in bringing him in, even if JJ McCarthy decides to stay.

Dante Moore could still choose Michigan if JJ McCarthy stays

Michigan’s pitfalls in recruiting quarterbacks right now: NIL money and the starting job. U-M will not pay for a player to come to Ann Arbor, and the Wolverines have an elite former five-star quarterback as it is. That said, new reports show that Dante Moore is still open to coming to Michigan; in fact, it almost feels like the Wolverines have the lead right now.

Per recruiting insider Chad Simmons, Dante Moore is mostly interested in going to a program that can develop him into an elite talent and win football games. What better place than Michigan football, which has the reigning Big Ten Quarterback of the Year? In fact, even if JJ McCarthy stays, Simmons’ report says that Moore is not demanding an immediate starting job, so he could have a year to sit behind McCarthy and develop alongside Alex Orji, Jayden Denegal, and Jadyn Davis.

Moore, McCarthy, and Davis would be Michigan’s best outcome

This would be ideal for Michigan football, too. By the time 2025 rolls around, Michigan could have Davis and Moore battle it out for the QB1 job when McCarthy leaves — again, this is in the circumstance that JJ decides to stick around.

But why would Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy, who was once projected as a first-rounder, stay at Michigan? Well, latest reports from NFL Draft insiders have McCarthy down to QB No. 7 — far below being a first-round pick. If McCarthy needs more development, coming back and mentoring the younger quarterbacks could be the ideal outcome for Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines, as well as McCarthy’s draft stock.

Rose Bowl remains top priority, but the transfer portal window is up there

For the time being, all of this remains to be seen. JJ McCarthy and Michigan football are locked in on the coming Rose Bowl game against Alabama, which could propel the Wolverines to their first-ever National Championship Game. Still, with transfer portal chaos ensuing, it looks like Michigan is eying Dante Moore as a potential option, regardless of if JJ McCarthy decides to stay or not.

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