If you invite a die-hard Michigan fan to a live show and give him the chance to build his all-time Wolverines football team, you better be ready for some debate.
Dave Portnoy, one of Michigan’s most passionate — and outspoken — fans, was given that opportunity Thursday during a special live edition of “The Joel Klatt Show” in Ann Arbor ahead of Saturday’s showdown between Michigan and Oklahoma (noon ET, FOX).
Klatt asked Portnoy to select an all-time Michigan team consisting of a quarterback, running back, two wide receivers and one defensive player. Portnoy selected a recent national champion at quarterback, a legendary running back, two of the program’s most dynamic receivers and perhaps the greatest player in school history on defense.
Here’s who made Portnoy’s all-time Michigan team:
QB: J.J. McCarthy, 2021-2023
Career stats: 482-of-713 passing (67.6%) for 6,226 passing yards, 49 passing TDs, and 11 INTs; 161 carries for 632 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs.
Portnoy’s thoughts: “To me, it’s a no-brainer. It’s not even close. If you’re saying you need a QB for the NFL, it’s [Tom] Brady, clearly. But [McCarthy’s] record was 27-1 as a starter. You gotta remember, before he came here, we couldn’t beat Ohio State. He turned the whole program around. Michigan was down, and when McCarthy came in, everything turned.
“I wanted Jim Harbaugh gone. … Every year we were getting drummed [by Ohio State]. There were some down years. But, McCarthy’s record, him winning the national championship. … I don’t know how anybody could say anybody but him.”
RB: Tim Biakabutuka, 1993-1995
Career stats: 434 carries, 2,624 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns, 12 receptions, 121 receiving yards.
Portnoy’s Thoughts: “I’m going with Biakabutuka. He had 313 yards against Ohio State, which was the No. 2 team in the country at the time and undefeated. He made them look bad. I loved Biakabutuka. I had a crush on Biakabutuka.”
WRs: Desmond Howard ( 1988-91), Anthony Carter (1979-82)
Career stats: Howard: 134 receptions for 2,146 receiving yards (16.0 YPR) and 32 receiving TDs; 23 rushes for 249 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs; 45 kickoff returns for 1,211 yards and 2 TDs; 26 punt returns for 337 yards and 1 TD
Carter: 161 receptions for 3,076 receiving yards (19.1 YPR) and 37 receiving TDs; 36 rushes for 213 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD; 79 punt returns for 907 yards and 2 TDs; 63 kickoff returns for 1,606 yards (40 total touchdowns).
Portnoy’s thoughts: “I want Desmond [Howard] and Anthony Carter. I’m down with that.”
Defense: Charles Woodson, 1995-1997
Career stats: 21 receptions, 370 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs, 167 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 16 interceptions.
Portnoy’s thoughts: “You could argue Aidan Hutchinson. There’s that clip of him just taking the Ohio State lineman and just throwing him into the fourth row. But, yeah, it’s gotta be Woodson.”
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