Michigan football went out and added another quarterback on Monday, signing veteran journeyman Jake Garcia out of the transfer portal.
Garcia is a fifth-year player making his fourth college stop, giving the Wolverines another experienced college quarterback to lean on in 2025.
Head coach Sherrone Moore hinted that Michigan might kick the tires on another quarterback in April, telling reporters after his team’s spring game in Ann Arbor that “we’ll look at different options and what we need to do.”
The comments came after Michigan went through spring practice with just two healthy quarterbacks, freshman Bryce Underwood and redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis. And while Underwood was a five-star prospect and in the mix to start this fall, having a competent backup is critical.
Michigan learned the hard way last year how below-average quarterback play can impact an offense. And while Moore and his staff went out and added a veteran quarterback in December, Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene was unavailable in the spring due to injury. Keene is expected back for preseason camp, but adding Garcia — who made six starts at East Carolina last season — is an extra insurance policy if anything further develops with Keene.
Miami quarterback Jake Garcia (13) walks on the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Central Connecticut State, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Miami won 69-0. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)AP
Who is Garcia? Here’s a quick look:
Name: Jake Garcia
Year: Fifth-year senior
Ht./Wt.: 6-foot-3, 203 pounds
Hometown: Whittier, Calif.
Previous stops: East Carolina (2024), Missouri (2023), Miami (2021-22)
High school: Grayson; Loganville, Ga.
• Garcia was a four-star recruit entering college, having attended five high schools stretching from California to Georgia in four years. He combined to throw for nearly 6,000 yards and more than 50 touchdowns, with his last stop coming at Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga. He was selected to play in the prestigious Under Armour All-America game, and was considered one of the nation’s best high-school quarterbacks in 2021.
• Recruited by some of college football’s heavy-hitters, including Steve Sarkisian at Alabama, Kenny Dillingham at Auburn and Florida State, and Graham Harrell at USC, Garcia ultimately flipped his commitment from the Trojans to Miami.
• Garcia suffered a season-ending ankle injury in his first game at Miami, forcing him to redshirt his freshman year. He came back as a sophomore, appearing in eight games while making one start, to throw for 803 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. He transferred to Missouri for the 2023 season but never saw playing time.
• At East Carolina, Garcia made six starts and his greatest opportunity, throwing for 1,426 yards and eight touchdowns while tossing 12 interceptions. He eventually lost the starting job and opted to transfer after spring practice. Pirates offensive coordinator David Baker told reporters in April that Garcia’s decision to leave was rooted in more than just football. “He’s got a daughter and he’s got other people he cares about and has to take care of,” Baker said.
• Though he will be given the opportunity to compete for the starting job, Garcia provides depth to an uncertain Michigan quarterback room at the moment. Freshmen Underwood and Chase Herbstreit have yet to play a snap in college, while redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis played one snap last year. Keene, the most quarterback experienced of the group, is coming off an injury that limited him in spring. And Davis Warren, the Wolverines’ primary starter last year, is still trying to bounce back from an ACL injury suffered in the bowl game.