Junior quarterback Cade McNamara will be the starter when Michigan opens the season Saturday against Western Michigan.
Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh announced his decision Monday, saying McNamara had shown both improvement and consistency throughout preseason practices. He competed for the job with Texas Tech transfer Alan Bowman, five-star freshman recruit J.J. McCarthy and sophomore Dan Villari.
The 6-foot-1, 212-pound McNamara played in four games last season, completing 43 of 71 passes for 425 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. He added one rushing touchdown.
Joe Milton started the abbreviated 2020 season at quarterback for the Wolverines but was replaced by McNamara in the Nov. 21 game against Rutgers. He was 27-of-36 passing for 260 yards with four touchdowns in a 48-42 triple-overtime win against the Scarlet Knights.
Milton transferred to Tennessee after the season, and on Monday was named the Volunteers’ starter for Thursday’s season opener against Bowling Green.
McNamara, a native of Nevada, didn’t see any game action in 2019.
