Top candidates to win the backup quarterback position

This offseason, the Michigan football quarterback room saw a few shakeups from the transfer portal. Most notably, former starting quarterback Cade McNamara transferred to Iowa, leaving the second-string quarterback position open for the 2023 season.

Here is an updated look at the Wolverines quarterback room, and a few candidates who could fill the gap as the second string.

Transfer portal changes to the Michigan football quarterback room

In addition to McNamara leaving, Alan Bowman transferred to Oklahoma State this offseason. Bowman would have been another top candidate for the second-string position because of his experience.

Michigan football didn’t just lose quarterbacks in the transfer portal though, it also gained one. Former Indiana Hoosier Jack Tuttle transferred to Michigan for his final season of eligibility.

Top candidates to win the backup quarterback position

1. Davis Warren

Last year, Davis Warren emerged out of nowhere as one of the top quarterbacks on the Michigan football roster. Warren joined the Wolverines as a walk-on and didn’t see any game action in his freshman year.

However, in his sophomore season, he took over as the backup quarterback when Cade McNamara suffered a season-ending injury. Warren already has experience backing up J.J. McCarthy, making him a prime candidate to be QB2 again in 2023.

2. Jack Tuttle

If Jack Tuttle has one advantage over all of his competition, it’s experience. Tuttle is entering his sixth season of college football and has already seen action in Big Ten games before.

Tuttle could very well take the second-string position and make a perfect number two for J.J. McCarthy in the event of an injury. At Indiana, Tuttle never played an entire season as a starting quarterback. However, in his limited action, Tuttle carries a passing efficiency rating of 101.2.

3. Alex Orji

This one is definitely a long shot, but Orji showed his potential in his brief playing time in 2022. Orji committed to Michigan as the No. 30 ranked quarterback according to 247 Sports Composite.

In his freshman year with the Wolverines, Orji saw limited game time but managed to score two rushing touchdowns. While Orji certainly isn’t expected to be QB2 this year, crazier things have happened.

Orji carries a lot of athleticism and could have a standout summer ball performance. If Orji impresses Harbaugh enough, he could climb the depth chart and take the backup position.

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