Tons of hype is building for Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy ahead of fall camp

During the coming week, the Wolverines will begin fall camp — the final stage of preparation for Jim Harbaugh and his squad ahead of the coming college football season. A lot was said about Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy during Big Ten Media Day last Thursday. He is heading into his second season as the Wolverines’ starting QB and is expected to be the deciding factor in Michigan’s 2023 campaign, which carries national-title caliber expectations.

Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy garnering tons of hype ahead of fall camp

Last year, in Week 2 of the season, JJ McCarthy entered the game for Michigan football and officially earned the starting nod with an impressive showing against Hawaii. From there, McCarthy led the Wolverines to a few remarkable wins over the Big Ten’s best, including blowout victories over Penn State (41-17), Michigan State (29-7), and Ohio State (45-23). In addition, the Wolverines defeated Purdue in the Big Ten title game by 21 points and secured their second-straight College Football Playoff appearance.

As the 2023 season approaches rapidly, Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy is garnering tons of hype from the coaching staff and a few star players, suggesting he is poised for a massive season. If reports are accurate, Michigan can expect to have its best QB in quite some time this fall. In fact, in the words of head coach Jim Harbaugh, McCarthy could be a “generational” talent for the Wolverines.

“Well, talking about JJ McCarthy, the first year he played as a true freshman in games sparingly, became a full-time starter in 2022,” Jim Harbaugh said at Big Ten Media Day on Thursday. “I have searched my memory for somebody who’s been a first-time starter and had a better first year as a first-time starter, and I can’t come up with one.

“He’s a once-in-a-generation type of quarterback at Michigan, and his progress continues to grow daily,” Harbaugh continued. “He’s at the top of his game right now, really in all aspects. Everything that he does athletically, everything he does throwing the football, are at the elite level. And then the thing I think that makes him the most special, that differentiating good and great, is that he’s just willing to do anything for his teammates, anything for his team.”

Heisman-caliber year for McCarthy?

Additionally, star cornerback Mike Sainristil firmly believes that JJ McCarthy could be the first Michigan football quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy. If McCarthy achieves this honor, he would also become the fourth Wolverine to win the prestigious award in program history, following in the footsteps of Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, who brought back the Heisman and a national title to Ann Arbor, MI in 1997.

“Donovan (Edwards), Blake (Corum), JJ (McCarthy), those are three guys that can potentially win a Heisman in my opinion,” Mike Sainristil said on Thursday. “If that doesn’t drive them enough, what will?

“… I know one thing JJ has been working on daily is his leadership skills. Just trying to continue pushing guys in the right direction. I think somebody like me can help him do that. Just continuing being around him and leading him in the right direction.”

JJ could be the best quarterback in the nation

Earlier this month, a Michigan football assistant coach heaped some major praise on JJ McCarthy as well, boldly stating that the Wolverines currently have the best quarterback in all of college football.

“We’re super excited about JJ (McCarthy) as a football team,” Bellamy said. “But particularly in our receiver room, we know we have the best quarterback in America.”

The deciding factor in a national title run for the Maize and Blue

Even outside of the Michigan football locker room, JJ McCarthy is being hailed as one of the nation’s best quarterbacks ahead of fall camp. According to ESPN analyst Rece Davis, who ranked Michigan No. 1 in his preseason poll, JJ McCarthy is the reason he believes the Wolverines are the top team heading into the upcoming season.

“He was already good, but I think he’s going to take a giant step forward, JJ McCarthy this upcoming season,” Rece Davis said of JJ McCarthy. “… But McCarthy is the big thing to me. He is potentially an elite player. And if he can take that next step, then I think that gives Michigan a chance (to win the national title).”

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