There’s plenty of speculation going around about Michigan football’s quarterback situation and Joe Milton should be the guy to lead the offense.
We are in the midst of the offseason that’s lasting a lifetime and for Big Ten fans, it might just last until next fall in the worst-case scenario world.
Michigan fans are hoping that isn’t the case because they have a team that could cause some problems for the rest of the league and potentially push Ohio State for that top spot in the Big Ten East. No, the Wolverines don’t stack up talent-wise with the Buckeyes, but they have to win a game in the rivalry eventually, right?
One position that can be brought closer to even with the right choice could be quarterback. While Justin Fields is easily the best quarterback on either team, this will be his last season in Columbus, almost certainly, and Joe Milton could push for that spot next year.
If that’s the case, Milton needs to earn the starting job over Dylan McCaffrey, who was named as a Heisman darkhorse by some preseason publications, this year.
Milton is entering his junior year while McCaffrey will be a senior. If the staff wants the best future outlook, they start Milton without hesitation.
No, this isn’t a knock on McCaffrey who comes from an athletic family and has what it takes to be a solid starting quarterback at the collegiate level, but he’s never truly proven he can pass the ball. He’s completed just 18-of-35 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns over his career in Ann Arbor while Milton was 3-for-7 with 59 yards and a touchdown last year.
What Milton has that McCaffrey doesn’t is an NFL body. McCaffrey is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds but he looks like he’s 210 pounds soaking wet while Milton is the same height and a muscular 243 pounds. He also has a rocket for an arm and reminds me a lot of Cam Newton.
Milton could afford to work on his accuracy and decision-making as he has one career touchdown pass and two interceptions, but the arm talent and legs are there.
If Michigan wants to build for the future and have a chance at beating Ohio State this season, it’ll need to go with Milton as QB1.