3 reasons adding QB Jake Garcia was a smart move by Michigan football

Michigan football officially added Jake Garcia to the roster on Monday and here's why it's a smart move for the Wolverines.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches a play behind quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches a play behind quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Michigan football added to its quarterback room on Monday, finally signing former East Carolina/Missouri/Miami quarterback Jake Garcia to Team 146.

Garcia was a former top-100 recruit coming out of high school. He stared one game during the 2021 season but suffered a season-ending injury. He started six games for ECU last season, and has played in 15 games total during his career with a 61.2 percent completion percentage, 15 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He's also got two career rushing touchdowns.

Of course, rival fans have been using this news to say that Michigan is "worried" about Bryce Underwood, which couldn't be further from the truth.

Underwood is in line to start as a freshman. He's easily the most talented quarterback Michigan has ever had, especially when you factor in the running ability, which people tend to forget about, to go along with a truly elite arm.

This is about the backup quarterback position, possibly beyond this season, so here are three reasons Michigan football fans should feel good about additon.

Jake Garcia is more veteran insurance

There has been nothing but positive vibes about Underwood. There will be growing pains. Michigan fans shouldn't expect Bryce to be First-Team All-Big Ten in 2025. Big Ten Freshman of the Year has a nice right to it, though.

The point being, Garcia isn't being added to the roster to be the starting quarterback or even to compete to be the starting quarterback.

Mikey Keene, a Fresno State transfer who has thrown for over 8,000 yards in his career, was expected to push Underwood for the job. As long as he's healthy, Keene could still find his way onto the field, but his injury and the risk of re-injury are why Michigan was smart to add a guy like Garcia.