2020 Season Countdown: #65 Cade McNamara

2020 Season Countdown: #65 Cade McNamara


July 10, 2020
Cade McNamara

Name: Cade McNamara
Height:
6’1″
Weight:
205 lbs.
High school:
Reno (NV) Damonte Ranch
Position:
Quarterback
Class:
Redshirt freshman
Jersey number:
#12
Last year:
I ranked McNamara #84 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating:
65

McNamara took the expected route in 2019 of redshirting. That’s what the vast majority of freshman quarterbacks should do, and Michigan was able to accommodate that by having a senior quarterback in Shea Patterson, a redshirt sophomore in Dylan McCaffrey, and a redshirt freshman in Joe Milton. For the first time in a while, it seemed like Michigan had a pretty decent succession of quarterbacks lined up.

Now Patterson is off to the NFL, while the other guys remain and true freshman Dan Villari joins the QB room. Presumably, McNamara will take over the #3 role that was held by Joe Milton. On the plus side, I have heard some people throw out that McNamara is a dark horse candidate to win the starting job, and one point in his favor is that he fits the mold of a Penn State-style QB (shorter, quick release, somewhat mobile) a little better than McCaffrey, Milton, or Villari. I don’t think that will end up mattering much, so I expect McNamara to be the third guy in, with minimal opportunities to make his mark this season.

Prediction: Backup quarterback

12 comments

  1. Comments: 79
    Joined: 10/3/2015
    UM2013
    Jul 10, 2020 at 4:49 PM

    “On the plus side, I have heard some people throw out that McNamara is a dark horse candidate to win the starting job”

    Curious if you’ve heard this from any legitimate sources, or just the usual “we’ve never seen him play so he has a chance” scuttlebutt?

    • Comments: 3844
      Joined: 7/13/2015
      Jul 10, 2020 at 4:57 PM

      I heard that from one person who is not necessarily prone to unreasonable hype. He didn’t say McNamara would win the job, but said that he has a better chance than a lot of people are giving him credit for.

      • Comments: 79
        Joined: 10/3/2015
        UM2013
        Jul 10, 2020 at 6:05 PM

        Interesting. I think you previously made the point that McCaffrey has a bit of a longer release and Milton is obviously not incredibly accurate (at least he wasn’t in high school) so I suppose it’s not insane to think that McNamara has a chance. This will probably not inspire a ton of confidence among most Michigan fans, but he does have a Shea Patterson style to him.

        • Comments: 1863
          Joined: 1/19/2016
          je93
          Jul 10, 2020 at 11:34 PM

          Macnamara was injured for a significant portion of last year. He might as well be an early enrolled class of 2020 kid

          • Comments: 6285
            Joined: 8/11/2015
            Lanknows
            Jul 15, 2020 at 1:59 AM

            Rashan Gary was injured for a good deal of 2018, he might as well be a 2020 senior.

  2. Comments: 1863
    Joined: 1/19/2016
    je93
    Jul 10, 2020 at 5:42 PM

    I don’t think he will win it, but would understand him being ranked higher:
    – one of Milton/Mac may transfer if not named starter
    – Mac is already injury prone, placing Macnamara close to backup
    – Milton is turnover prone, so same
    – the Rona itself can make Macnamara backup (or starter) real quick

    • Comments: 6285
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Lanknows
      Jul 14, 2020 at 9:47 PM

      Joe Milton has a lower TO percentage through 2 years than Tom Brady.

      I would bet the farm against a transfer anytime in 2020.

      • Comments: 1863
        Joined: 1/19/2016
        je93
        Jul 15, 2020 at 12:00 AM

        Comparing Milton to Brady. What a good time you’re having!

        • Comments: 6285
          Joined: 8/11/2015
          Lanknows
          Jul 15, 2020 at 1:57 AM

          Are they different?

  3. Comments: 1
    jeewhiz
    Jul 13, 2020 at 2:48 PM

    It’d be great if he didn’t spend his time as a career backup before transferring to a MAC or Mtn West school and maybe see some non garbage time, but he seems like a bit of a stop gap so that the cupboards aren’t bare in case Milton or Dylan does transfer. Either way glad to see a local athlete make it to UM.

    P.S. his high school is Damonte Ranch – close to the spanish spelling of diamond.

    • Comments: 8
      Joined: 7/14/2020
      Moonraker
      Jul 14, 2020 at 12:16 PM

      the kid was #1 target on Alabama’s board…so I doubt he goes the route you’re implying.

  4. Comments: 8
    Joined: 7/14/2020
    Moonraker
    Jul 14, 2020 at 10:57 AM

    This is a surprising rating…. supposedly he was #1 also on Alabamas board, and they’ve scouted QB well lately.

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