Wolverine Digest

From Big Ten to Southern Conference QB, Cade McNamara's football journey continues

It has been a long, strange injury filled journey for the one-time champion of the Big Ten
Jerred Johnson|
Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, center, quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss, right, and quarterback Cade McNamara during warmups before action against the Indiana Hoosiers, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 at Michigan Stadium.
Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, center, quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss, right, and quarterback Cade McNamara during warmups before action against the Indiana Hoosiers, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 at Michigan Stadium. | Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cade McNamara went from a 3-star recruit to leading a college football blue blood from obscurity into national relevance and Big Ten dominance. He was an unlikely hero for a program that was reeling following a 2-4 COVID shortened season. Highly promising quarterback Joe Milton had imploded, and the quarterback room was in turmoil with no leader in sight.

Searching for a leader, McNamara stepped up in the 2021 season and fended off freshman quarterback JJ McCarthy to lead the Wolverines on an epic turnaround season - defeating Ohio State, securing a Big Ten championship, and making their first ever College Football Playoff. He was riding high, but all of that winning was not enough to overcome the talent that was JJ McCarthy. The following season McNamara ultimately lost the starting job to McCarthy and sadly hurt his knee during some mop up duty. He rehabbed and transferred to Iowa following the season.

Iowa was no safe haven for McNamara. He struggled to get the offense going and the fanbase was rabid for scoring to help their elite defense. The former Michigan QB was clearly not the answer in Iowa City. Then the injury bug struck again, and he was sidelined for another season.

His final move has taken him from the Big Ten mountaintops to the relative obscurity of the Southern Conference, playing for East Tennessee State. Regardless of how his career ends, he will always be a Big Ten Champion, and he will always deserve a slice of the credit for turning the Michigan program around.

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Michigan Wolverines quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy (9) and Cade McNamara (12) on the sidelines during action against the Colorado State Rams, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022 at Michigan Stadium. Michigan | Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Jerred Johnson
JERRED JOHNSON

Jerred Johnson has served in the United States military for over 23 years. He has a Bachelors in Marketing, a Masters in Management and is in the final phases of completing his Doctorate in Business Administration.

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