College notebook: Michigan plans to start QB McNamara, McCarthy in opening games

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Jim Harbaugh has decided to start Big Ten championship-winning quarterback Cade McNamara when No. 8 Michigan opens its season Saturday at home against Colorado State.

When the Wolverines host Hawaii next week, Harbaugh has opted to give JJ McCarthy his first snap.

Harbaugh said no one can be sure who will be the team’s starting quarterback after the first two games.

“No one knows what the future holds,” he said Monday. “The process will be based on performance.”

McNamara started every game last season as a junior, leading Michigan to a victory over rival Ohio State for the first time in a decade and its first Big Ten title since 2004.

The third-team All-Ten player from Reno, Nevada completed 64% of his passes for an average of 184 yards per game with 15 passing yards, one rushing score and six interceptions. This summer, he was voted team captain.

McCarthy, from La Grange Park, Illinois, played in 11 games last year as a highly touted freshman. He connected on 58% of his 59 passes for a total of 516 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He also had 124 rushing yards and two scores.

KENTUCKY: RDisappointing quarterback Chris Rodriguez Jr. will not play in Saturday night’s opener against Miami of Ohio, and coach Mark Stoops expects multiple suspensions for the No. 1 rushing leader. 20 of the Wildcats and other players.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty this summer to driving under the influence and other charges following his arrest in May. Neither the senior nor linebacker Jordan Wright were listed on the depth chart released Monday, but Stoops said they were “unavailable” and not suspended. He gave no other details during a press conference.

WISCONSIN: Wisconsin’s quarterback depth has taken a hit in the 18th-ranked Badgers’ start to the season.

Backup quarterback Chase Wolf hurt his right leg and is out indefinitely. That leaves starter Graham Mertz as Wisconsin’s only available quarterback who has taken a snap in a college game.

Coach Paul Chryst said the injury occurred last week and indicated he doesn’t know how much time Wolf will miss. The Badgers open their season Saturday hosting the Football Championship Subdivision program Illinois State.

KANSAS: Kansas suspended freshman Trevor Wilson and reserve Tanaka Scott indefinitely for the season opener against Tennessee Tech after the pair were arrested last week near campus.

Wilson was charged on suspicion of aggravated assault and use of a deadly weapon for the incident Thursday, when a Lawrence police spokesman said a man pointed a gun at another car before fleeing the scene.

Wilson was released from the Douglas County Jail on a $5,000 bond and is due back in court Tuesday. Those same charges against Tanaka were dismissed Friday for lack of probable cause.

ALABAMA: TCameron Latu’s final status is uncertain for the opener against Utah State with an undisclosed injury.

Top-ranked Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Latu would resume practice Monday.

“I don’t think anybody can make a prediction about that right now,” Saban said. “He’s been on the treadmill and all that stuff this past week. He never had a problem, never had a problem. So the next thing he does is start working on the ground, doing individually, seeing what he can do in practice. It’s kind of everyday with him.”

Latu is a preseason second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by media covering the league. His eight touchdown catches last season were an Alabama record for a tight end.

He was not among the four tight ends listed on the depth chart released Monday.

OUR LADY: Coach Marcus Freeman said forward Jarrett Patterson was questionable for the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish’s opener against state No. 2 of Ohio.

Patterson has been dealing with a right leg injury for about two weeks. Freeman said he expected the fifth-year senior to practice this week.

TEXAS A&M: Haynes King will start for the sixth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies in their opener against Sam Houston State on Saturday.

Coach Jimbo Fisher announced that King had won the job after competing with Max Johnson and Conner Weigman during camp.

VANDERBILT: Vanderbilt Stadium will be called FirstBank Stadium starting this season under a 10-year naming rights deal announced.

Athletics director Candice Lee called the deal a historic collaboration. Financial terms were not disclosed by the Southeastern Conference’s only private university.

AUBURN: Center Nick Brahms is calling it quits on his playing career due to ongoing knee problems.

Coach Bryan Harsin announced the veteran starter’s decision five days before Auburn’s opener against Mercer. Brahms, a sixth-year senior, started 33 games over the past four seasons.

Brahms missed the Birmingham Bowl game after knee surgery.

” Previous

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *