A four-year starting quarterback in high school and former four-star recruit, Michigan Wolverines quarterback Jadyn Davis is used to leading his team on the football field.

But now, as a freshman at Michigan, things are different. While Davis was an immediate starter when he entered high school, that’s not the case at the college level. So far this season, Davis hasn’t had a chance to lead the Wolverines on the field. He hasn’t had the opportunity to step onto the football field at all this season. Instead, he is watched from the sidelines.

Just because he has remained in the shadows doesn’t mean he isn’t important to the Wolverines. Davis has the potential to be a major contributor for Michigan, he certainly had the talent to do so. After all, there’s a reason he started all four seasons in high school. As a senior, he rushed for 3,370 yards and 43 touchdowns, in addition to three rushing touchdowns.

But it appears that like most quarterbacks coming to the University of Michigan, Davis will have to wait his turn.

“As far as this season being an option, you don’t know how the season is going to turn out,” offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell said this week. “But we continue to develop it further every day. He gets reps, just like the other guys, and he needs to continue to develop.”

Although Davis doesn’t get representation on the field every Saturday, he still gets opportunities to develop and grow. Regardless of the recruiting rankings, playing at the college level is a whole new game. Freshmen typically need time to adapt and progress before taking on a critical role.

Seeing a freshman achieve immediate success as soon as he arrives is a great story, but it also misrepresents the young players just reaching the college level.

“These days, with social media and everything, everyone wants the instant gratification of a freshman coming in and playing,” Campbell said. “I think Kevin O’Connell said it best: ‘Organizations fail because of young quarterbacks, it’s not young quarterbacks who fail.’ You have to make sure he develops properly and is ready for the situation.”

Michigan is investing not only in this season, but also in the future. The Wolverines believe Davis is an important building block for their future, and that’s why they’re not rushing it. Throwing Davis into games — especially in high-leverage situations — and expecting him to succeed as Michigan’s quarterback is unlikely and unrealistic, and the Wolverines understand that.

Take starting quarterback Alex Orji, for example. He appeared in just three games as a rookie, and all three appearances came in garbage time. It wasn’t until two years later that he started for the first time. Orji wasn’t just on the sidelines all the time – he was working behind the scenes and developing.

Davis has the opportunity to do exactly the same thing.

“He will have a bright future at the University of Michigan, whether that happens as quickly as the outside media perceives it or as expected, it is not our place to make a hasty decision on that basis. “We’ll get him ready when he’s ready to play,” Campbell said.

It remains to be seen whether Davis will play at all this season. Regardless, he doesn’t just spend his time on the sidelines watching other players contribute. He is working hard to become a player who will eventually contribute heavily to the Wolverines.