Michigan football coach says JJ McCarthy will be the best in Michigan history

At Big Ten Media Days back in July, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh (9th season) said that quarterback JJ McCarthy, a junior, is a generational type of talent at the University of Michigan. Today, Harbaugh took things a step further — he says JJ will be the best QB to ever play for the Maize and Blue.

Michigan football coach praises elite quarterback

Michigan football has seen some elite-caliber quarterbacks over the years. In 144 years of football history at the Univeristy of Michigan, names like Jim Harbaugh, Chad Henne, Tom Brady, and other elite college and pro quarterbacks have played in the winged helmet. That said, if you ask Harbaugh himself, there won’t be a better quarterback to play for Michigan than the one we all see on Saturdays this year: JJ McCarthy.

Jim Harbaugh has another bold take on JJ McCarthy

As I write this, JJ McCarthy is listed as the No. 2 player in this week’s Heisman Trophy odds. Additionally, even though he hasn’t played a down in the fourth quarter yet, the Michigan football quarterback is trending towards breaking a few Michigan program passing records, which is impressive, to say the least.

“I think he’s — actually, I feel like I stand corrected from what I’ve been saying the last several months, which is I think JJ is a once-in-a-generation quarterback,” Jim Harbaugh said on Monday. JJ (McCarthy) has shown to be on path to be the best quarterback in Michigan history. And the statistics, I’m sure speak to that. And the statistic that speaks to it the most is the amount of drives. He’s had 213 drives, we’ve scored on 130 of those drives. 96 have been touchdowns, 34 Field Goals, 61 percent. So it’s really remarkable. I mean, there’s no statistic to demonstrate the quality of quarterback play more than that statistic in my mind.” 

“And I think going forward, JJ will be the quarterback that all future (Michigan football) quarterbacks are compared to,” Harbaugh added.

Michigan football heading into MSU game

Through seven games, while JJ McCarthy is yet to play past the third quarter, it’s clear that he and the Wolverines are elite. Michigan football is 7-0 heading into this weekend’s game against Michigan State, McCarthy has thrown for 1,512 yards, 14 passing touchdowns, and three interceptions — his QBR (92.6) ranks No. 1 in the country, and he is becoming more of a threat in the rushing attack with each passing week.

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