Michigan football quarterback breaks down the importance of game day meditation

For the first time since the 2019 season, Michigan football will have a returning starting quarterback under center. Junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy has a huge role in the Michigan offense, but an even bigger role as a team leader. Recently, McCarthy explained the significance of meditation and how that helps calm his mind to make him a greater player and locker room presence.

Michigan football quarterback J.J. McCarthy explains the importance of meditation

Last season, J.J. McCarthy won the starting quarterback job and lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship and the college football playoffs. The results from last season place sky-high expectations on this year’s Wolverines, but McCarthy seems unwavering in the face of any outside noise.

In the latest episode of Michigan Athletics’ Michigan Made series, McCarthy explained how meditation has helped him become a better player and leader for Michigan football. McCarthy said, “We do everything in the weight room and [Al Glick Field House] just to strengthen our physical bodies, but what are we doing to really strengthen our mind more directly? I feel like meditation does a great job of being able to be calm and poised in environments like a big-time game, under center in the Big House, or at practice, wherever it is.”

The junior quarterback finished by explaining that this helps him as a team leader as well, saying, “Just being in that calm-centered moment right before chaos or smooth poetry in motion happens is just a great attribute to have as a leader and meditation definitely helps with that.”

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