Michigan's QB Search Hits Major Snag

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Wright | Last updated Dec 16, 2024 2:15 PM ET

Michigan's hopes of quickly addressing their quarterback crisis took a hit Monday as transfer portal target Billy Edwards Jr. appears to be leaning toward Wisconsin instead of Ann Arbor.

The news comes at a particularly challenging time for the Wolverines, who desperately need to upgrade their passing attack after a dismal 2024 campaign. Michigan ranked 130th out of 134 FBS teams in passing yards, cycling through three quarterbacks (Davis Warren, Jack Tuttle, and Alex Orji) who combined for just 1,603 yards through the air.

That offensive inefficiency largely contributed to Michigan's stunning fall from national champions to a 7-5 record, with an overly predictable run-first approach hampering their ability to convert crucial third and fourth downs.

Edwards, who threw for 2,881 yards with 15 touchdowns at Maryland last season, initially seemed headed to Michigan. On3's Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos both predicted the Wolverines as his landing spot on Friday. However, after what sources called a "great" visit to Madison over the weekend, both experts have flipped their predictions to Wisconsin. Adding salt to the wound, Edwards has reportedly canceled his scheduled Monday visit to Michigan.

While the Wolverines have already secured five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and Chase Herbstreit for their 2025 class, head coach Sherrone Moore has been transparent about wanting an experienced transfer quarterback to help rebuild the position. With Edwards likely off the board, Michigan may need to restart their search as they look to avoid another one-dimensional offensive season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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