Michigan football added to its quarterback room on Monday, finally signing former East Carolina/Missouri/Miami quarterback Jake Garcia to Team 146.
Welcome to Ann Arbor, @JakeGarcia14! 〽️ pic.twitter.com/J4fwBoo2Ze
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) June 16, 2025
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.
Jadyn Davis isn't developing
This move is more about Jadyn Davis and his lack of development than it is about Bryce Underwood.
Just think if Keene was hurt, and something happened to Bryce, then Michigan would be looking at Jadyn Davis playing, which is a scary proposition.
The former top-150 overall recruit, still has a strange throwing motion and wasn't overly impressive during the spring. In the Michigan football spring game, he didn't seem playable.
Michigan learned how injuries can ruin the quarterback room last season. They didn't have enough and it likely cost them a trip to the College Football Playoff.
With an above-average quarterback, last season's team would have won 10 games. Garcia might not qualify as above-average, but he's better than Davis. He's more experienced and has played major college football.
Garcia is a security blanket, but still a smart move.
A backup beyond 2025
There's also a chance that Garcia spends more than one season with Michigan football, that would make this addition even more valuable for the Wolverines.
Back in 2021, Garcia was 11-of-14 for 147 yards and two touchdowns in his college debut for Miami before suffering a season-ending injury. Garcia also redshirted in 2023 after playing eight games for the Hurricanes in the 2022 season. He threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns against Duke. He had another game with 195 yards.
However, he redshirted with Missouri in 2023. So if Garcia applied for a medical redshirt for the 2021 season, which he should get, the quarterback would have another year of eligibility. That would give Michigan a veteran backup, who is a holdover, familiar with the offense, for 2026.
Garcia has been heralded as a good teammate. He lost the starting job at ECU last season and didn't make any waves, which is exactly what Michigan wants right now.
Underwood is the star of the show. So, a veteran who can also be a mentor, with the chance to play two seasons, is the perfect addition for Michigan.