Name: Davis Warren
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 195 lbs.
High school: Suffield (CT) Suffield Academy
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #16
Last year: I ranked Warren #64 and said he would be a backup quarterback (LINK). He completed 5/9 passes for 89 yards and ran 3 times for 30 yards.
TTB Rating: N/A
Warren came out of nowhere in 2022 to look like Michigan's third-best quarterback, behind J.J. McCarthy and Cade McNamara. He looked better than Alan Bowman and Alex Orji in the spring game, and I don't think much changed into the season. He ended up with more passing attempts (9) and games played (6) than Bowman (7 and 4, respectively) and Orji (3 and 1, respectively). And he looked pretty good doing it, averaging 9.9 yards per attempt and 10 yards per carry.
Those numbers won't hold up in the long run, but it was a pretty good debut for a redshirt freshman walk-on. It's also somewhat telling that Bowman transferred out and will likely be Oklahoma State's starter this fall. So Michigan's walk-on third-stringer is better than Oklahoma State's starting quarterback.
And now is where you might be confused about why Warren is the fourth-highest quarterback on the countdown. Obviously, McCarthy is the top guy, and then I'm guessing Indiana transfer Jack Tuttle will be the primary backup. Then there's Orji, who I think will be a bigger factor in 2023 as a running option to keep McCarthy healthy and fresh. Warren is a more traditional quarterback who isn't much of a running option - despite averaging 10.0 yards per rush last season - so his value is more as a wholesale sub in case something happens to McCarthy and/or Tuttle, whereas Orji is somewhat of a one-trick pony. I think Warren could potentially be Michigan's starter in 2024 if McCarthy leaves for the NFL and if Jadyn Davis isn't ready to step on the field. But for now I think Warren is entrenched as the third or fourth QB this season.
Prediction: Backup quarterback
HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON! I will not sit idly by and listen to this Alan Bowman slander. Don't forget that this program has only beaten Ohio State once in the last 20 years without Alan Bowman on the roster.
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness, Michigan knew he was out the door at the end of 2022 and so it was completely logical to gave some run another QB. That doesn't mean he's better than Bowman, it's just he didn't need to or really benefit at all from garbage time snaps, while Warren did. Bowman is an experienced starter and Oklahoma State is lucky to have him. I am very confident that they would prefer him to having Davis Warren. Given Michigan probably mainly needs him for 2024, they probably prefer to have Warren. But if McCarthy got knocked out for some time last year, I think Bowman would have been the guy inserted in first.
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Beyond that, I agree with the framework of Orji as the 3rd QB because of his role a run package guy. So, for TTB rank purposes, it becomes an interesting situation where Tuttle and Warren are either the most important backup on the team (arguably) or a fringe afterthought (like Bowman last year). Thunder likes predictions but personally I would dodge the question, split the difference, and consider them more or less interchangeable parts (2a and 2b). Instead of putting one guy at 25 (or whatever) and the other 70, I'd put them both in the 40-50 range.
But if forced to pick one or the other. I'd put Warren ahead of Tuttle slightly. Since he'll have eligibility next year there's incentive to put in the guy who might be the guy. Tuttle, like Bowman, might step in if injury strikes but I just don't have sense that Tuttle has the same upside. More likely he is just a coach-in-training
Agree. If it's only about next year, I think Warren is #2 and higher value. But if there's an injury - esp early - I'd expect Tuttle to go in. I saw the two as basically a tie during spring, so that tiebreaker would lean toward whatever scenario mentioned comes up
DeleteThat's a good point about Bowman.
DeleteBut also, it applies to Tavierre Dunlap, who is undefeated against Ohio State since entering college in 2021. So running backs DO matter...
Touche, Thunder. Or should I say Touche The Banner?
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