Name: Jayden Denegal
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Apple Valley (CA) Apple Valley
Position: Quarterback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #16
Last year: Denegal was a senior in high school. He completed 121/175 passes (69.1%) for 1,545 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions; he also ran 47 times for 281 yards and 8 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 61
Michigan seemed to have a tough time gaining footing with quarterbacks in the class of 2022. Perhaps it was because it was on the heels of landing J.J. McCarthy, a star of the 2021 class. Perhaps it was due to Michigan's poor play on the field in 2020. Regardless, Michigan threw out some offers to guys they really seemed to like and didn't get much mutual interest. Then at the beginning of summer, they extended an offer to Denegal, which he accepted immediately.
Denegal ended up as a 3-star, the #29 quarterback, and #455 overall in the 247 Composite. Considered by many to be the superior quarterback of the two Michigan landed in 2022, accounts from the spring had Alex Orji as the better thrower - which is saying something, because some people think Orji will end up playing a different position by the time his college career is over. Denegal did not see any action in the spring game, while Orji showed some nice running skills and threw the ball poorly. With that knowledge, I'm expecting Denegal to take a redshirt in 2022 behind Cade McNamara, McCarthy, Davis Warren, and Alan Bowman, if not Orji and others.
Prediction: Redshirt
He's a great player, and I like him. But #97 is so low. And it's probably the right spot. I thought when he came to Michigan he's going to transfer some day. I don't think he'll ever start, especially if Dante Moore or CJ Carr come to Michigan. I don't think he'll start at any P5 school, TBH.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you if Dante Moore comes. I think the job would go from McNamara to McCarthy to Moore. I'm not sure if there would be a window in between McCarthy to Carr (if Moore goes elsewhere).
DeleteIt's tough to predict with any certainty right now, but yeah, I don't think Denegal is a starter-quality quarterback at Michigan.
Of course, I didn't think McNamara would start, either, because I figured he would be blocked by McCaffrey and/or Milton. But I think/thought McNamara was a higher quality quarterback. I just figured McNamara would get tired of waiting and could go be successful elsewhere, whereas I'm not sure Denegal will be able to do that.
I was a big fan of McNamara from the beginning. I still am. I think he is still better than McCarthy. But he looks boring to many people. He isn't flashy, and doesn't go for the big play all the time. But he moves the ball, and Michigan wins with him. Like you said, if it ain't broke don't fix it. I think he's only going to be better than last year. He might still look boring in his play. But Michigan will still be moving the ball, and winning.
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