Former Michigan football QB J.J. McCarthy has been ‘incredible’ with Vikings

One of the craziest things I have ever seen is all the pundits and rival fans who just refused to accept that J.J. McCarthy was an elite college football quarterback.

The former Michigan football quarterback never had a turnover against Ohio State. He also had a four-touchdown game in the Shoe and led the Wolverines to 45 points, yet he’s “average.”

Michigan State fans will say the same thing even though McCarthy led Michigan football to a 49-point performance and he barely played in the second half.

McCarthy was later selected 10th overall by the Vikings in the 2025 NFL draft. Rivals swear that McCarthy will be a bust and of course, it’s always possible. About 50 percent of the quarterbacks drafted in the first round of the NFL draft end up busting but I really don’t see that happening with McCarthy.

The Michigan football quarterback was stellar when he needed to be. Sure, the Wolverines had a great running game but they don’t win the national title or come close without McCarthy. He’s a stellar athlete, throws the ball over 60 MPH, is extremely accurate, and is elite at protecting the ball.

Michigan fooball legend J.J. McCarthy has been ‘incredible’ so far with Vikings

Minnesota has Sam Darnold and there is talk that McCarthy will basically get a redshirt year in 2024. To me, that’s a huge mistake. As a Lions fan, I don’t mind if Minnesota waits to play J.J., but according to Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson, the Michigan football legend has been “incredible” so far.

J.J. McCarthy has already made a hell of a first impression with @TheeHOCK8 and the Vikings@BussinWTB presented by @ChevyTrucks #ad #Chevy #Silverado pic.twitter.com/WWgAsxpf7Q

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 16, 2024

“He’s been incredible,” Hockenson said to Bussin with the Boys. “He’s grinding in the film room, he’s grinding in the classroom. He’s a baller on the field, obviously, but to have a guy — especially a rookie — you come into a facility, into the league, usually you shut your mouth and you go to work, and that’s exactly what he did. He’s earned the respect of a lot of guys in there.

“Obviously, we have Sam Darnold, too, who’s a baller and can play the game at a really high level, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens with those two. But I’m excited with J.J. on our team. I mean, he’s a leader. He did that at Michigan, and I’m sure it’ll carry over to the league just as well.”

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