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Report: Joe Milton to the Portal
Well that was the worst spring position battle ever. Days before spring ball was set to begin, Joe Milton, Michigan’s starter last season until Cade McNamara’s virtuoso performance against Rutgers, will be putting his name in the portal soon, as first broken by Rivals’ Chris Balas($).
if it hasn't happened yet, it will soon — quarterback Joe Milton will be entering the transfer portal. The decision has been made, so barring a change of heart (which is not expected), it will be Cade McNamara and freshman JJ McCarthy battling for the starting job this spring.
…and echoed by numerous sources hence [UPDATE: Including the man himself].
I want to thank Coach Harbaugh for giving me that opportunity to come play for a program with lots of tradition. I have bonds with my brothers that will last forever, I have decided to enter the transfer portal As a Grad transfer with three years of eligibility. pic.twitter.com/PeANE2vWmD
— Joe milton #5 (@Qbjayy7) February 18, 2021
Milton, always a major X-factor, looked poised to finally deliver as a redshirt sophomore going into last year, and through the Minnesota game. But the rawness that made him a long-term project showed up as injuries to his offensive tackles, less explicable offensive breakdowns, and scoring holes put him in a lot of long positions. A lack of option reads in the offense also suggested Milton wasn’t making the right ones in practice. As mixed success turned into gigantic errors, backup McNamara got a few chances and capitalized, albeit mostly against Rutgers. Both were trying to play injured against Penn State, and neither was expected to be available if Michigan had been able to play a game after that.
Michigan will enter spring ball with two guys in contention, both with freshman eligibility, though McNamara has been on campus two years while 5-star challenger J.J. McCarthy was in high school last year. That high school was IMG Academy, so McCarthy should be ahead of most high schoolers, but no more familiar with the playbook or the speed and complexity of the college level. Since late 2020 pickup Dan Villari is the only other scholarship QB on the roster, Michigan will probably try to find some help in the transfer portal to bolster the depth chart.
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February 18th, 2021 at 11:23 AM ^
Well, shoot.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:26 AM ^
well now. sign of the times, i guess.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:27 AM ^
Well, damn.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:35 AM ^
Remember the thread about tempering our expectations by comparing Joe Milton to Vince Young instead of Cam Newton...
February 18th, 2021 at 12:10 PM ^
Yeah, that thread is quite a trip in retrospect. We were all so naive and innocent back then.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:17 PM ^
Hadn't seen this one before. HOF of bad takes - the only thing missing is Valenti's apology.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:10 PM ^
That's accurate if it was referring to the NFL Vince Young...
February 18th, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
All Ace's fault...dude declared him god in the podcast post Minnesota game.
Jk Ace, we all did. Oh well....best of luck to the young man.
February 18th, 2021 at 8:10 PM ^
I will never not upvote this.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:36 AM ^
Just in case you were getting optimistic about Harbaugh's tenure recently, a friendly reminder why you should not
February 18th, 2021 at 11:42 AM ^
yes, because quarterbacks that might be blocked in from playing time ONLY transfer from ann arbor. never athens, or birmingham, or columbus, or...
February 18th, 2021 at 12:30 PM ^
Of Michigan vs. the places you mentioned, who would you trust on QB retention and development? I'm thinking Milton is not the cause of pessimism, just a symptom.
February 18th, 2021 at 1:04 PM ^
retention? they're literally all equal. all four programs have recently lost highly-regarded quarterbacks to transfers, and we're not talking about over the decades. we're talking about the last three years.
February 18th, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
Some guy named Burrow transferred out of columbus
February 18th, 2021 at 6:38 PM ^
This is a knock on Harbaugh, or at least his former staff. How does this program repeatedly miss on prospects? Average at best qbs and rbs is 100% on Harbaugh. I know most are back to "being in JH corner", but the fact is he should have been fired and more excuses will be made for him and this program.
February 18th, 2021 at 7:40 PM ^
Georgia has one gaping hole at the quarterback position on their roster taking them from a natty contender to a 10-2 type team. And every single shitty Georgia QB who single handedly tanks their championship dreams has played better than any Michigan QB recruit under Harbaugh.
Ohio State and Alabama have guys transfer because the guy in front of them on the depth chart is going to throw for 5000 yards and 50 touchdowns. Michigan would do backflips if they got half those numbers from a guy.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:02 PM ^
This is a GREAT sign for optimism for Harbaugh's future. Did you see Milton against MSU? How did you feel about him being outplayed by Rocki Lombardi who transferred to a local community college to play! Milton would not start at Hillsdale College
February 18th, 2021 at 12:27 PM ^
Milton seemed like a talented athlete...but was a crappy QB. I am hopeful for the team...but still am pissed at the Dylan McCaffrey situation...especially now.
February 18th, 2021 at 1:09 PM ^
Milton didn't strike me as all that great of an athlete. He had some elusiveness in the pocket but wasn't too likely to convert a third and long with his feet.
The McCaffrey situation is frustrating. I'll always wonder what would have been if he hadn't been concussed in the 2019 UW game.
February 18th, 2021 at 7:07 PM ^
I'm right there with you. I think we would have started the next game (which was Rutgers I believe) and he would have balled and been the starter from that point forward. Two dirty hits he took in that Wisconsin game changed the trajectory of that team in a big way IMO.
February 18th, 2021 at 2:09 PM ^
Milton would not start at Hillsdale College
Only because he doesn't believe in supply-side economics.
February 18th, 2021 at 7:36 PM ^
Why would you bring up something about Harbaugh. Look Milton had his chance and was passed by Cade. If JJ is as good as advertised there is a good chance Milton would be third on the depth chart and he knows it. If Milton had a real chance to start next year he would not be leaving. He will probably end up on a non P5 team
February 18th, 2021 at 11:36 AM ^
Best of luck, no ill will. I was scared to death they'd give him another try. Spring practice starts MONDAY ...... timing isn't an accident. Guessing the QB's are getting together on their own and already throwing and working. He prob knows Cade's in front of him, and betting this is a sign that that it's clear, and that JJ is also already making it clear why he's a 5*.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:49 AM ^
Why wouldn't he at this pt just see how spring practice goes before transferring?
But it could be the staff essentially gave him the firm handshake.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:45 PM ^
There was probably no handshake, given the lack of QB depth. Another injury to McNamara and it's all on a true freshman.
February 18th, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^
I am thinking JJ starts. Maybe I am naive, but that kid has the right athleticism, attitude, and determination to beat out Cade.
What do you think?
February 18th, 2021 at 5:21 PM ^
If there is one thing to learn from Joe Milton last year, its that athleticism, attitude and determination can never fail ...
Such a startling and ironic lack of awareness to make such a post on this thread of all threads.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:08 PM ^
Not sure how you can look at Milton and JJ and assume those three characteristics are the same between the two.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:52 PM ^
I agree, Spring Ball is really early this year. Why not stick around and see how things shake out? By all accounts he is a hard worker, maybe some of that would have paid off and pushed him ahead of others given his tremendous underlying talent.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:37 AM ^
Hello Milton, whaaaaaaaaaat's happening
February 18th, 2021 at 2:03 PM ^
Someone took his stapler. It was a red Swingline. Boom, transfer.
February 19th, 2021 at 12:04 PM ^
Mr Harbaugh said he could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:37 AM ^
I for one am relieved. Grateful for Joe and had high hopes, but wasn't a fan of the three-man conversations we were going to be having over the next few months(now we're down to two!).
February 18th, 2021 at 11:48 AM ^
Unless the coaches are as bat-shit crazy as last spring, hopefully we are down to 1 as for 'real'competition.
Bring the young stud along, but don't throw him in the fire.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:59 AM ^
Do you guys really believe that Joe Milton would have led Michigan into the future? This ridiculous thought among a few in this fanbase that a freshman cannot be ready to play the position of QB at Michigan is absolutely the most stupid thing I have heard and frankly is embarrassing nationwide! What in the hell is your explanation for players like Trevor Lawrence at Clemson. JJ McCarthy is a 5 star rated QB playing his Senior season at IMG Academy in Florida tearing it up going 8-0 and he can't possibly start at Michigan? Milton transferring is great news for Michigan and maybe just maybe Harbaugh coaching the QB's he is FINALLY getting it. There is more news for you as well. Cade McNamra is NOT going to lead Michigan into the future either! He struggled to beat RUTGERS!! Did you watch that game? JJ McCarthy, backups of McNamara and Vallari are good enough.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:08 PM ^
Um, Cade didn't struggle to beat Rutgers. He came in late and saved the game. He only had a few drives.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
27/36 for 260 yards and 4 TDs in the air, another 1 on the ground in about a half of football doesn't strike me as "struggling" on McNamara's part. I do wonder if you actually watched that game, though.
February 18th, 2021 at 1:06 PM ^
Seriously! I don’t understand why there hasn’t been more excitement for Cade. Highly rated and seems to have moxy and the “IT” factor of just making plays and leading the team. Small sample size sure, but I don’t get the pessimism.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
Thanks, J.J's family group account. Expecting a true freshman to dominate at a power 5 school is still not anticipated, even if you really really think he's good.
February 18th, 2021 at 12:25 PM ^
And don't forget Rick Leach and Chad Henne at Michigan. Both started as true freshmen and started for four years.
February 18th, 2021 at 1:19 PM ^
thinking a true freshman might not be 100% ready to play qb right out of the gate is not even slightly ridiculous, and tossing out trevor lawrence - a possibly-generational talent - doesn't make the argument otherwise.
February 18th, 2021 at 2:01 PM ^
I aint no QB coach but Cade looks like he has "it". And when I say "it" I mean he can make the right read and throw an easy catchable pass...
February 18th, 2021 at 11:40 AM ^
So we can add QB to CB and DT as possible 2021 black holes, if we hadn’t already done that. Yikes.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:42 AM ^
How could anyone, after watching last season, think he was a viable starter? This is addition by subtraction. No reps for a guy who won't ever help the team.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
I’m going to miss all those lasers right between the numbers of the wide open defenders.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:44 AM ^
How much would you have bet, after the 2019 season, that McCaffrey and Milton would both be gone in a little over a year?
Me? Not much ...
Something on which I'd bet ... something: Cade finishes his degree in a similarly quick manner, transfers to what amounts to his hometown school (Nevada-Reno), lights up the MWC, and makes an NFL roster as a third-string QB for a couple of years.
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