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Shea Patterson explains how other Michigan QBs reacted when he arrived in Ann Arbor
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Shea Patterson was walking into a crowded quarterback room. When he decided to transfer to Michigan out of Ole Miss, he knew it was going to be a challenge to win the starting job.
Dylan McCaffrey, Brandon Peters and Joe Milton — all former 4-star prospects — were all competing for the starting job for the 2018 season. Then Patterson arrived, adding a former 5-star recruit to the mix.
It’s no surprise that Patterson encountered a little hostility when he arrived in Ann Arbor.
During a radio interview with WXYT-FM (97.1 FM) earlier this week, Patterson explained what it was like joining a group of so many talented gunslingers. And it doesn’t sound like it was the easiest thing to do.
“Going in, I think the first couple weeks, we were all just kind of maybe a little standoffish,” Patterson said. “You’ve got Brandon Peters, Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton — all great talents — coming into one group. It was tough at first.”
“But we all kind of bought in to getting each other better every single week.”
Patterson won the starting job and was named Michigan’s No. 1 guy a few weeks prior to the Wolverines season opener against Notre Dame. While his quick ascension to the top spot on the team’s depth chart could’ve been frustrated for his three competitors, Patterson says the group has only gotten closer.
“Now, we’re as tight as ever,” he said. “We help each other every week and we’re getting better. I think we have a great relationship in that room.”
Considering the struggles Michigan has had at quarterback under Jim Harbaugh, having so many quality quarterbacks feeding off each other is certainly a good problem to have.
In two games this season, Patterson has completed 32-0f-47 passes for 352 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. McCaffrey is the only other quarterback to throw a pass this season, converting on 5-of-7 attempts for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Michigan hosts SMU on Saturday to round out the non-conference schedule.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB