The quarterback question at Michigan is over, at least for now. Kyle Whittingham told reporters on Monday that Tommy Carr will start this weekend against Michigan State and, as he put it, for the foreseeable future.
That decision had been building for a while, really since halftime of Michigan’s 21-18 win over Penn State on October 17. With the Wolverines trailing 3-0, Bryce Underwood had already thrown two interceptions, and Jason Beck and Whittingham made the switch. Carr took over for the second half and steadied things enough to get Michigan through.
He wasn’t flashy, but he did enough. Carr completed five of seven passes for 47 yards and added 36 rushing yards, including the game-clinching touchdown late. That performance earned him his first start the following week against Indiana.
The assignment was brutal. Carr’s first start came against the defending national champions, and he looked every bit like a true freshman early on, turning it over twice.
But he settled in as the game wore on, showed some toughness, and nearly pulled off the upset. If his kicker had made one of the two missed field goals, Carr might have walked away with a win.
He got another chance against Rutgers, and this time he looked like the best player on the field. Michigan needed the offense to keep rolling against a Rutgers defense that had been one of the worst in the country coming in, and Carr delivered. The game included explosive plays that put Michigan in tough spots defensively, including an 80-yard touchdown that brought Rutgers back into it after Michigan had looked ready to pull away.
Carr still led six scoring drives, with four touchdowns and two missed field goals mixed in. The key sequence came after Rutgers tied the game at 21. Michigan needed a response, and Carr gave it to them, finishing a game-winning drive with a rushing touchdown even though every one of his offensive linemen was beaten in protection on the play.
That kind of outing made the decision unavoidable. Carr has earned the job, and Whittingham no longer has any reason to keep the opponent guessing.
Underwood’s benching has also been handled the right way. His play has deserved criticism, but his response has been mature. He has stayed supportive of Carr and the team, continued to handle his captain duties, and has tried to help Carr and other struggling teammates however he can.
Whether Underwood is back next year is a separate question. For now, though, he has carried himself well through a tough situation, and that matters.
At this point, the move at quarterback is the only one Whittingham could make. Once a decorated recruit and captain like Underwood gets benched, that door is basically closed. With Carr having held his own against Indiana and then played so well against Rutgers, there just isn’t a football reason to change course now.
In Other News...
Michigans Kicking Battle Just Got A Surprise Twist
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Kerry Coombs appears to have played a real part in the decision, encouraging Jung to come in early and fight for a roster spot instead of waiting another year. For Michigan, that adds a fresh layer to a battle that already mattered, because kicking has a way of turning into a season-long storyline when it is not settled. Jungs timeline may have changed, but the bigger question is whether the early arrival can help the Wolverines find the kind of consistency they have been chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Knows Exactly What Could Decide The Michigan State Rivalry
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Both offenses have had trouble getting much going on the ground this season, which makes short-yardage consistency even more important than usual. Michigans defense has done a strong job of limiting opponents rushing yards, and if that holds up again, it could tilt the game in the Wolverines favor before the bigger rivalry swings even have a chance to take over. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Opener Forced An Early Frontcourt Test Before UConn
Michigans season opener against Oakland turned into an early frontcourt test when junior center Moustapha Thiam was held out because of illness shortly before tipoff. Coach Mike Boynton Jr. had to adjust on the fly, turning to redshirt sophomore Oscar Goodman in the starting lineup and mixing in smaller looks as the game unfolded.
For a team that expects Thiam to matter in the middle, the timing was less than ideal with Connecticut next on the schedule. The good news for Michigan is that Thiam is expected back for that one, but the opener still offered a reminder that the Wolverines may need a few different answers inside if the rotation gets stretched again. [Read more 🡒]