Jim Harbaugh compares JJ McCarthy to former NFL star

Yesterday, Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh had a lot to say while addressing the media ahead of this weekend’s matchup against Bowling Green. So far this year, junior quarterback JJ McCarthy has been elite — he threw for nearly 280 yards and two touchdowns last weekend (22/25 completion), and is the top-rated quarterback (QBR) in the nation right now. According to Harbaugh, JJ is “very much like” ex-NFL star quarterback (and Stanford QB) Andrew Luck.

Jim Harbaugh compares JJ McCarthy to former elite NFL star quarterback

Before Jim Harbaugh took over at Michigan football — even before he was coaching in Super Bowls — he was at Stanford, turning that program from a mess to a national contender. One major reason for Harbaugh’s success in the PAC-12 was former quarterback Andrew Luck, who went on to become an NFL star after his college playing days, yet was forced to medically retire.

Still, Luck was arguably Harbaugh’s best quarterback — at any level — until this year, where JJ McCarthy could overtake Luck for the top spot on Harbaugh’s resume. During his media availability this afternoon, the 9th-year Michigan football head coach was asked to compare JJ McCarthy and Andrew Luck.

“I mean, I hate to compare, right? But very much like Andrew Luck,” Jim Harbaugh said of Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy. “Quarterback — once in a generation. I knew it first with Andrew Luck, just the way he took the field for his first practice as a true freshman. It’s just the way he walks on. You see it with other players, just the presence that they have when they walk onto the field, and then first time getting into the quarterback position, the presence that they have, you go, ‘Aha, there it is.’

“(JJ McCarthy) — first day he walked onto the practice field here at Michigan, that’s what came to mind,” Jim Harbaugh continued. “‘Oh, this is very Andrew Luck-like.’ The presence and the demeanor, the everything. So, yeah. Well documented, I think JJ McCarthy is a once-in-a-generation quarterback here at Michigan or anywhere.”

McCarthy and Michigan football are off to a hot start this year

That is some incredibly high praise for the second-year starting quarterback. Frankly, after his first two performances of the season, it is warranted. Heading into Week 3 (vs. Bowling Green) JJ McCarthy has competed 48 of his 55 passes for 558 yards, five touchdowns, and no picks, with the No. 1 QBR in the nation (95.3).

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