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 an argument.
Dave Portnoy, one of Michigan’s most passionate — and sincere — fans was given that opportunity Thursday during a special live edition of “The Joel Klatt Show” in Ann Arbor before Saturday’s showdown between Michigan and Oklahoma (noon ET, FOX).
Klatt asked Portnoy to pick an all-time Michigan team consisting of a quarterback, a running back, two wide receivers and a defensive lineman. Portnoy picked up 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: JJ 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 say you need a QB for the NFL, obviously (Tom) Brady. But (McCarthy’s) record was 27-1 as a starter. You have to remember, before he got here, we couldn’t beat Ohio State. He came back.
“I wanted Jim Harbaugh out. … Every year we were getting beat (by Ohio State). There were some down years. But, McCarthy’s record, he won the national championship.
RB: Biakabutuka Team, 1993-1995
Career Stats: 434 carries, 2,624 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns, 12 receptions, 121 receiving yards.
Portnoy’s thoughts: “I’m going to go 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 liked Biakabutuka.”
WR: 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 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 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 unhappy about it.”
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 can argue Aidan Hutchinson. There’s that video where he just picks up the Ohio State linebacker and just throws him down the fourth line. But, yeah, it’s got to be Woodson.”
Week 2 college football picks: Ohio St-Texas, Oklahoma-Michigan and more!
