Michigan football quarterback taking on a new role

Today, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy had a solid bounce-back game after a three-interception performance against Bowling Green last weekend. With today’s win over Rutgers, the Wolverines are now 1-0 in Big Ten play and 4-0 on the season heading into next weekend’s game at Nebraska. After the game, head coach Jim Harbaugh gave us more on McCarthy’s expanded role, which saw the Wolverines’ junior QB take on a new role as a ball carrier as well as a prolific passer.

Michigan football quarterback finds a new role as a ball carrier — Jim Harbaugh gives more detail

Today, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy led his Wolverines to a 31-7 Big Ten win over Rutgers (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten). Following the game, Jim Harbaugh gave us more details on McCarthy and his new role as a rusher.

“I mean, it’s what we’ve always really seen from JJ (McCarthy),” Jim Harbaugh said after Michigan football beat Rutgers, 31-7. “He’s tough to defend. He can throw the ball from the pocket, he can throw the ball out of the pocket. Really accurate thrower, can get the ball to any part of the field, and he’s super athletic. You know, I wouldn’t doubt that he could run a 4.4 (40-yard dash), somewhere in the four-fours. I mean, he’s just that good and that fast. And I’ve talked to a few of the coaches after the games of the teams we’ve played.

“(Bowling Green head coach) Scott Loeffler said the same thing, JJ is just really hard to defend,” Harbaugh continued. “So, 214 yards throwing and 50 some yards of running by JJ, that’s a lot of production from the quarterback position. And when we needed it, you know, he really saved us there at fourth and one, fourth and one and a half that we had. One of the ones that he pulled and went and ran for the first down. He got us four or five, six maybe, first downs using his legs. It’s pretty darn good.”

Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines ready for Week 5 after Rutgers win

Next weekend, Michigan football and junior quarterback JJ McCarthy will get their second Big Ten test of the season, taking on Nebraska on the road. Today, JJ threw for 214 yards and a touchdown with no picks, and added an impressive 51 yards on seven carries during the Wolverines’ win over Rutgers.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at [email protected]. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!