5 things we’ve heard about Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy

Heading into the 2023 season opener against East Carolina this weekend, there is a lot of buzz about junior Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy, who could take the next step and lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and more this fall. Here are five things that we have heard about McCarthy heading into the new year.

Michigan football quarterback gunning for bigger and better during 2023 season

Tomorrow, Michigan football begins its new campaign, led by second-year starting quarterback JJ McCarthy. Last year, after winning the job during Week 2 of the 2022 season, McCarthy led the Maize and Blue to a 13-win season, a Big Ten title, and a College Football Playoff appearance; this year, he and his squad are gunning for much more.

5. JJ McCarthy is not a captain, but has a large leadership role

As many Michigan football fans know, JJ McCarthy was not named a team captain this year — this is because he is ineligible since he is a junior (only seniors and up can be captains). That said, despite not being a captain, McCarthy still has a large leadership role for the Maize and Blue this year.

“JJ (McCarthy) wasn’t eligible to be a captain,” Zak Zinter explained. “So, it’s only a seniors, fifth-year, sixth-year guys. So he wasn’t on the ballot this year. But he’s definitely one of the biggest leaders on our team. He knows that, and we know that, and he’s just as much leader as any of us.”

“I know one thing JJ has been working on daily is his leadership skills,” junior running back Donovan Edwards added. “Just trying to continue pushing guys in the right direction. I think somebody like me can help him do that. Just continuing being around him and leading him in the right direction.”

Tomorrow, against East Carolina, the Wolverines need to see more of this leadership in action.

4. Michigan football quarterback is “taking control” of the team and the field

If you ask many of JJ McCarthy’s favorite receiving targets, there is not a pass on the field that he cannot make heading into this weekend’s 2023 season opener against East Carolina. Here is what junior Max Bredeson had to say.

“He’s really just taking control,” Max Bredeson said of JJ McCarthy during fall camp. “He’s a guy you just want to follow to battle. I don’t know how to explain it, but, when he’s in the huddle, you just feel confident in him. You feel like someone is gonna make a play. It’s funny, actually, I was a quarterback in high school, and we threw together with the same QB coach (Greg Holcomb), and you could feel it back then, too, just a natural leader. Born guy to take hold of a team.”

3. JJ McCarthy is “once in a generation” for the Wolverines

During Big Ten Media Days in July, head coach Jim Harbaugh had some serious praise for the Wolverines’ returning starting QB. According to Harbaugh, who is heading into his 9th year in Ann Arbor, JJ McCarthy is a “once in a generation” quarterback for the Maize and Blue. We will get to see some of that talent tomorrow against East Carolina.

“He’s a once-in-a-generation type of quarterback at Michigan, and his progress continues to grow daily,” Harbaugh stated. “He’s at the top of his game right now, really in all aspects. Everything that he does athletically, everything he does throwing the football, are at the elite level. And then the thing I think that makes him the most special, that differentiating good and great, is that he’s just willing to do anything for his teammates, anything for his team.”

2. Incredible fall camp could lead to much more for McCarthy and the Wolverines

JJ McCarthy has been causing a ton of buzz in Ann Arbor due to an impressive fall camp showing heading into the 2023 season. This weekend, we will get to see if the hype is real; however, here is what we have heard about McCarthy during camp.

“(The passing game) has looked good in practice,” wideouts coach Ron Bellamy said. “It’s just a matter of getting out there Saturday and executing. But everything has looked good. (JJ McCarthy) has been awesome. He’s had a fantastic camp … He’s a year older, a year wiser. I said it when I had an interview with Jon Jansen that I thought (JJ McCarthy) was the best quarterback in college football. I’m saying it because I’ve watched him. I totally believe in him, and he gets the passing game rolling.

“Obviously, as coaches, you want to put guys in the best situations, but there’s no doubt in my mind that J.J. is one of the best leaders I’ve been around. As far as being a playmaker, he’s showcased that day in and day out.”

1. JJ McCarthy could have more opportunity against East Carolina and during the 2023 season

The talk of the town since the end of the 2022 season has been JJ McCarthy and the Michigan football passing offense — last year, it was underwhelming, but it sounds like there is major progress being made. This year, as the Wolverines look to finally get into contention for a national title — not just the Big Ten title — there is a lot of buzz that McCarthy could get more chances to shine.

“I feel like in order to get over that hump, in order to push through and bring out the most potential we have as an offense, we’ve got to be balanced,” JJ McCarthy said. “Whether you’re a human being, whether you’re an offense, the more balanced you are, the more successful you’re going to be.

“I feel like that just opens up to different levels of attack, and we’ve been working on it crazy. We’ve been more heavily focused on the passing game these first five practices, so it’s been great to be able to get those reps and opportunities, but as you said, we’ve got to be balanced. No matter what it is or how it gets there, we’re gonna get there.”

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