That's part of what I'm thinking. But the other part is what it could do to hurt the recruiting efforts. Why would I go to Michigan as a QB, knowing the coaches bring in a transfer all the time? McCaffery could have gone to a lot of places last year, and he sat out thinking he'd compete for a job this season. If Patterson is approved and cleared to play, it sounds like McCarrery (and Peters) are toast for a couple of years. Ouch.
I get that Patterson* could be very good and all that, but Gentry, McCaffery and Peters were all 4* recruits. I understand Gentry was moved to TE, so he's out. Who is supposed to be developing the QB's? Malzone was a 4* too. What happened there, that he couldn't beat out Speight or anyone else? Is he still leaving the program?
* I'm still in "show me" mode with Patterson. He hasn't looked like a 5* recruit yet.
Well QB recruiting efforts don't seem like they've taken any hits. Harbaugh signed Joe Milton as part of the 2018 class, he was a 4* top 250 player from Florida. Michigan flipped a 4* QB/top 250 player in the 2019 class from ND in Cade McNamara. One of the top national 'crootin gurus over at 247 just put in a Crystal Ball for Michigan for a top 2020 QB prospect from Georgia in Harrison Bailey. Bailey is currently ranked as the #2 Pro QB and the #68 player in 2020, he's a guy that could push for 5* status when it's all said and done.
As far as McCaffrey goes, he'd have to sit out no matter where he went. Physically not ready to play at this level. Still probably a year away. He showed up to Michigan at 180 pounds. He's pushing 6-foot-5. Showing up to college at 180 lbs at that height trying to play QB is a problem. If he wanted to play he needed to show up at like 210.
Gentry was more freak athlete playing in the shotgun and running around like a man amongst boys against inferior New Mexico competition than he was refined pro-style QB. Again, an athlete you have to take, but he was more runner than thrower even in high school. What was so unusual about him was his athletic ability at his size. That's really why he was a 4*. And by the way, the TE move looks like it was a great move. Gentry looks like he could be a future NFL TE to my eyes. As far as Alex Malzone goes, still feel like he got a bit of a raw deal. He was given zero shot but that bum O'Korn was given every shot. Probably shouldn't have been rated a 4* to be honest. Didn't have the size or arm talent. His 4* ranking was probably due to HS production and the helmet school boost.
As far as Shea Patterson goes, pretty hard to say one way or the other. Very small sample size. He's played in about 10 games. 3 as a true freshman after Chad Kelly tore his knee and he was thrust into the starting role, and like 6 and half games last year as a true soph. before he had a season ending knee injury. 10 starts. He's thrown for 300 yards in 7 of those 10 starts as a true frosh/soph. For the record, I believe in Harbaugh's 3 years at Michigan, Michigan has had like 5 games of 300 yards passing. So there's that. I realize vastly different systems and numbers don't tell the entire story, but c'mon man. This kid threw for more 300 yard games in 10 starts than anything Michigan had for like 39 fricken games.
Patterson was the MVP of the Army Bowl game and clearly the best QB at that event. He was the MVP of the Elite 11 competition. He was the best player on a loaded HS All-Star team at IMG in Florida. He was the #1 rated QB and #3 rated player in his class in the 247Composite. The talent is clearly there. His freshman season highlights are as impressive as I've ever seen out of a true frosh QB playing at this level. He has yet to really breakthrough into the elite category, but he hasn't really played a whole lot of football. Only played in 10 games, not even a season, and he didn't have the benefit of a redshirt like most QB's do. Patterson is a guy you take 10 times out of 10 if he wants to transfer to your school IMO.
