McCaffrey is one of four quarterbacks in the running to start this fall, Harbaugh says.
As Michigan enters fall camp on Friday with a decision to make at quarterback, one player in particular continues to draw praise from Jim Harbaugh.
And no, it’s not Shea Patterson.
The Michigan head coach was asked about his quarterbacks last week during Big Ten media days, and while he went down the line like he usually does, listing Patterson and returning starter Brandon Peters, it was redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey who received the warmest praise.
« (He) probably made the most improvement of any quarterback on our roster, » Harbaugh said on the podium, in front a room full of reporters and Big Ten Network TV cameras capturing his live comments.
Jim Harbaugh really likes Michigan’s QB room this year
It wasn’t the first time Harbaugh has said this about the 6-foot-5,199-pound McCaffrey — he went on his weekly podcast in May and, with the endorsement of his father, Jack Harbaugh, said the same thing.
Later on in the day at Big Ten media days, Harbaugh was asked again about McCaffrey, a Colorado native and son of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, and what made him most improved.
« He’s got a lot of that ‘it’ factor to him, » Harbaugh said. « That winning factor. It shows up in two-minute drives. »
Harbaugh praised McCaffrey for just that back in May, telling the story in which McCaffrey lead the first-team offense down the field 70 yards for a touchdown in under two minutes.
While details about the drives are lacking (reporters aren’t allowed in to practices), it’s clear Harbaugh came away impressed. We haven’t heard him speak with that type of detail about Patterson or Peters since the start of 2018.
« Dylan gets in there and leads the team down for touchdowns, » Harbaugh said. « That’s what was happening in spring, and that’s a great quality to have. »
Dylan McCaffrey feels comfortable in the Michigan offense now
McCaffrey told reporters in early May, during Michigan’s team trip to France, that he was beginning to feel comfortable with the playbook. He arrived last summer as a true freshman, a four-star prospect who recruiting website 247Sports ranked as the sixth-best quarterback in the 2017 class.
But he also a bit on the slim side and lacking experience in a quarterback room with a fifth-year senior (John O’Korn) and returning starter (Wilton Speight). The decision was made to redshirt him, place him on the scout team and let him learn.
« It was awesome, » McCaffrey said in May. « You’ve got to take advantage and get as many reps as you can against the best defense in the country. I think it was great. Guys were making quick decisions. It got you alert at how fast college football is, especially against our defense. »
With Michigan set to begin fall camp this week, McCaffrey will get an opportunity to compete for playing time. He has a tough hill to climb — both Patterson and Peters both have multiple starts at the Division I level under their belts, and true freshman Joe Milton has received rave reviews for his arm — but it’s clear from Harbaugh that he is on an upward trajectory.
And with three years of eligibility still left, that’s a good direction to be headed in.
« Very athletic, very heady, » Harbaugh said. « He’s got that ‘it’ thing.
« He’s got that 6-5 frame and he’s getting strong so he can really get everything coordinated with the throwing motion. He’s working hard on that. He’s on that path. You like everything about him. »
