Tate Forcier: Former Michigan Football QB Is Headed to the Miami Hurricanes

Tate Forcier, at one time billed as the future of Michigan football under Rich Rodriguez, now finds himself, like Rodriguez, in the past of Michigan football.

After a year spent backing up sudden superstar Denard Robinson and battling academic issues that disqualified him for the Gator Bowl, Forcier announced this afternoon that he’s transferring to the University of Miami. How will the presence or absence of Forcier affect each program (and their brand-new head coaches) as they look ahead to 2011?

For Michigan, of course, the move will hopefully make little difference. Denard Robinson’s brilliant 2010 left him in full control of the starting job, regardless of what Forcier did. If Robinson can avoid the nagging injuries that limited him at times last season, Michigan’s offense will be a dangerous unit even without an established backup QB.

And even with Forcier gone, the Wolverines roster currently boasts three QBs behind Robinson, though only Devin Gardner has attempted a pass in maize and blue. Gardner, for what it’s worth, looked sharp in mop-up duty against Bowling Green last year.

Forcier’s departure may also be a sign that new head coach Brady Hoke is looking to distance himself from the failures of the Rodriguez regime. Though Forcier showed flashes of brilliance in starting as a true freshman in 2009, he couldn’t establish the consistency required of a starting QB in a conference like the Big Ten.

Obviously, Forcier had plenty of reasons for leaving, especially now that he would have no real chance to start again in his college career. But if Hoke wanted to move the offense in a new direction, he could well have helped Forcier make the call to find greener pastures.

For Miami, adding Forcier to the roster was almost a necessity, thanks to its failure to bring in a single QB in this year’s recruiting class. Though Forcier won’t be able to play for the ‘Canes until 2012, that will give him a year to practice with the team and learn the new offense he'll be running. He will give the team something to look forward to when Jacory Harris’s fine career has ended.

Harris, who missed several games last year with a concussion, will likely be backed up once again by some combination of rising senior Spencer Whipple and rising sophomore Stephen Morris. Neither QB was very effective playing in relief of Harris last season.

New Hurricanes head coach Al Golden scores a nice PR victory with the signing of Forcier. While fans will have to wait for the addition of the QB to pay dividends, Golden still gets to brand himself as a coach who can bring in the players Miami needs to win.

With a potential star QB on board past next season, Golden will have the Hurricanes in prime position to make a BCS bowl in 2012.