Michigan Quarterbacks

Michigan All-American Quarterbacks: Harrison "Boss" Weeks, Archie Weston, Ernest Hughitt, Cliff Sparks, Irwin Uteritz, Benny Friedman, Harry Newman, Pete Elliott, Bob Timberlake, Rich Leach and Jim Harbaugh. Michigan has had numerous quarterbacks recognized by the Big Ten as All-Conference: Benny Friedman, Harry Newman, Forest Evashevski, George Ceithaml, Joe Ponsetto, Howard Yerges, Pete Elliott, Bob Timberlake, Dennis Brown, Don Moorhead, Dennis Franklin, Rick Leach (3x), Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac (2x), Brian Griese, John Navarre, Chad Henne, and Denard Robinson. Several quarterbacks have been honored as team captains: Walter Horton, James Baird, Harrison Weeks, Fred Norcross, Benny Friedman, George Rich, Roy Hudson, James Simrall, Stanley Fay, William Renner, Forest Evashevski, George Ceithaml, Joe Ponsetto, Bill Putich, Don Moorhead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, John Navarre, Denard Robinson, and Devin Gardner. Only three Michigan Quarterbacks have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: Harry Newman, Benny Friedman, and Pete Elliott. End Stanfield Wells was credited with being the first Wolverine forward passer of note in 1910 although Harrison "Boss" Weeks was the first Wolverine All-American Quarterback in 1902. The biggest question is always did they win the Big Game? Here is a history of Michigan quarterbacks in the "big ones."

It should be noted that Michigan shared two Big Ten Championships with Wisconsin in 1947 and 1948 with their 150 lbs. Lightweight (Sprint) Football Team, a sanctioned Western Conference sport at that time, Coached by Cliff Keen, the longest tenured football coach (33 seasons) in Michigan Football History, 1926-1958, and they were quarterbacked by Jerry Burns (48) and Charlie Ketterer (47). George Allen was Keen's volunteer assistant in 1947. The 1948 "Michimites" was the only Michigan Football Team that beat Ohio State twice in the same season.

Undefeated against Ohio State: Forest Evashevski, Fred Norcross, Benny Friedman, Brian Griese, Howard Yerges, Irwin Uteritz, Elvis Grbac, Harrison Weeks, (3 of 4 times: Rich Leach), Scott Dreisbach, Drew Henson, Tom Slade, Dick Vidmer, Stan Noskin, Lou Baldacci, Pete Elliott, Bob Wiese, Stanley Fay, Jack Wheeler, Leo Hoffman, Ferdinand "Tod" Rockwell, Ken "Mike" Knode and Bill Putich

Undefeated against Michigan State: Chad Henne, Steve Smith, Dennis Franklin, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman, Michael Taylor, John Wangler, Jim Maddock, Howard Yerges, Drew Henson, Scott Driesbach, Tom Slade, Pete Elliott, Joe Ponsetto, George Ciethaml, Tom Kuzma, Stanley Fay, James Simrall, George Rich, Leo Hoffman, Irwin Uteritz, Ferdinand "Tod" Rockwell, Ken "Mike" Knode, Harrison Weeks and Bob Timberlake

Undefeated against Notre Dame: Brian Griese, Jim Harbaugh, Rick Leach, Denard Robinson, Harrison Weeks

Undefeated in Bowl games: Tom Brady, Todd Collins, Bob Timberlake, Drew Henson, Harrison Weeks, Howard Yerges, Bill Putich and Demetrius Brown

National Championships: 11
1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, 1997

Conference Championships: 42
1898, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1918, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1964, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004

A Historical Statistical Look at Michigan's Quarterbacks:

Michigan Football Position Greats

Best Michigan Football Players By Jersey Number

Michigan Running Backs

Michigan Ends, Wide Recievers, Tight Ends and Wingbacks (Slots)

Michigan Offensive Line