Dave Portnoy, the ultimate outspoken Michigan fanatic, laid out his all-time Wolverines football team picks on “The Joel Klatt Show” Thursday, and his quarterback choice is already making waves. Klatt asked him to pick a QB, running back, two wide receivers, and one defensive player. Portnoy went with a recent national champion at quarterback, a legendary running back, two of the program’s most dynamic receivers, and maybe the greatest player in school history on defense. You know this dude bleeds maize and blue, so these picks are gonna ignite some serious fan chatter.
QB McCarthy’s Record Speaks for Itself
Portnoy didn’t even flinch naming JJ McCarthy as his all-time signal-caller. He called it a “no-brainer,” not even close! Look, if you’re talking straight NFL talent, sure, Tom Brady might be the GOAT, but Portnoy’s looking at Michigan legacy. McCarthy’s record as a starter? A ridiculous 27-1. That’s insane. Before he rolled into Ann Arbor, Michigan couldn’t beat Ohio State to save their lives. Portnoy himself wanted Jim Harbaugh gone because of how many times they got “drummed.” McCarthy came in and turned that whole program around, bringing home a national championship. The guy completed 482 of 713 passes for a 67.6% completion rate, racking up 6,226 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions. Plus, he added 632 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on 161 carries. Those numbers, and that winning record, make it super tough to argue against him.
Legends on the Ground and Through the Air
For running back, Portnoy went old school with Tshimanga Biakabutuka. This pick screams respect for a true game-wrecker. Biakabutuka had 434 carries for 2,624 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, plus 12 receptions for 121 receiving yards. His legendary performance against Ohio State, where he ripped off 313 yards against the then-undefeated, No. 2 ranked team in the country, pretty much cemented his spot. Portnoy said he “loved Biakabutuka,” even had “a crush” on him. You can’t deny that kind of impact.
At wide receiver, it’s a dynamic duo: Desmond Howard and Anthony Carter. Portnoy was “down with that,” and honestly, who wouldn’t be? Howard brought 134 receptions for 2,146 receiving yards (16.0 YPR) and 32 receiving touchdowns. He wasn’t just a pass catcher either, adding 23 rushes for 249 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns, plus a ton of special teams magic with 45 kickoff returns for 1,211 yards and 2 touchdowns, and 26 punt returns for 337 yards and 1 touchdown. Carter was just as dominant, with 161 receptions for 3,076 receiving yards (19.1 YPR) and 37 receiving touchdowns. He also had 36 rushes for 213 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown, 79 punt returns for 907 yards and 2 touchdowns, and 63 kickoff returns for 1,606 yards, totaling an unbelievable 40 touchdowns.
Woodson’s Defense Was Simply Unfair
On defense, it simply had to be Charles Woodson. Sure, you could make a case for Aidan Hutchinson, with that famous clip of him tossing an Ohio State lineman. But Woodson was something else. He was a two-way threat before it was cool, snagging 16 interceptions while also putting up 21 receptions for 370 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns, plus 167 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. Portnoy knew it, saying, “it’s gotta be Woodson.” The man was a game-changer every single snap.
So, there you have it, Portnoy’s all-time Michigan squad. These picks are sure to get the Wolverines faithful fired up and debating. With Saturday’s showdown against Oklahoma on the horizon, the talk around the program is buzzing, and these all-time legends just add fuel to that fire. What do you think of his choices?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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