Michigan Wolverines quarterback Dylan McCaffrey has officially entered his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal as of Thursday evening, according to multiple media reports. This was always the plan coming off of the opt-out before the start of the 2020 football season.
McCaffrey and Joe Milton — both former four-star recruits — battled throughout the offseason for the starting quarterback job heading into 2020. Things suddenly took a turn in the fall with buzz that Milton had surpassed him and Cade McNamara was nipping at his heels, as well. He would opt out in the weeks leading up to the season after the Big Ten announced that it would return and the theory was that he would be seeking a transfer by season’s end. Given that McNamara and Milton are still on the roster and five-star J.J. McCarthy is now on campus, it made sense to seek other opportunities.
McCaffrey was thrust into action for the first time against Notre Dame in 2018. He performed well given the circumstances and looked to be a solid backup to Shea Patterson. He suffered a season-ending collarbone injury during the Penn State game but had shown enough in limited action to suggest he might be the future at the quarterback position. He finished that year completing 8-of-15 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 10 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
Patterson struggled in a new offense to start the 2019 season and was benched during the third game of the season against Wisconsin. This gave McCaffrey his long-awaited opportunity, but a concussion during that game brought all that to a screeching halt and saw him miss a good chunk of the rest of the season. He finished the year 10-of-20 for 116 yards and one score. He also ran 13 times for 67 yards and one touchdown.