The moment Michiganfootball coach Jim Harbaugh concluded his answer to a question about whether Cade McNamara had won the starting quarterback job, an inquiry about true freshman J.J. McCarthy immediately followed.
“Do you plan to play J.J. as well?” a reporter asked during Harbaugh’s first Monday press conference of the new season.
“Well, I mean all options will be open,” Harbaugh said. “All options will be open about playing J.J. or anybody else on our roster.”
Because Michigan held the entirety of spring practice and fall camp behind closed doors, the public was left wondering what exactly McNamara had done to separate himself from McCarthy, the former five-star recruit, and to a lesser extent Alan Bowman, the transfer from Texas Tech who had 5,260 yards and 33 touchdowns in three seasons with the Red Raiders.