JJ going pro .
January 14th, 2024 at 1:17 PM ^
Good luck and thank you
January 14th, 2024 at 1:17 PM ^
Wish him the best. Thanks for great memories JJ.
Thanks for your charity to children's hospitals all over.
NFL Network as I type is saying Harbaugh is a hot commodity in the NFL and will interview with the Chargers "per sources".
January 14th, 2024 at 1:18 PM ^
God bless JJ McCarthy. Go be the next Tom Brady, or even better, go be the best JJ McCarthy. And forever Go Blue!
January 14th, 2024 at 1:18 PM ^
Oh, well.
Good luck, JJ. Godspeed.
January 14th, 2024 at 5:50 PM ^
Hope we see a lot of Orji in the end zone. Glad he had JJ as a mentor!
January 14th, 2024 at 1:18 PM ^
Godspeed young man. Hope you end up on a great team!
January 14th, 2024 at 1:21 PM ^
Because of the love for Williams, Penix et al at the top of the draft, JJ just might find himself the heir apparent on a very good NFL team. Homer glasses caveats apply, but I think he might be the QB from this draft people remember in 15 years.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:24 PM ^
If he falls I really could see the Lions drafting him. Goff isn’t worth $40 million a year and the Lions system fits JJ perfect. Throwing to St. Brown, JaMo, LaPorta, Gibbs, etc..l😁
January 14th, 2024 at 1:27 PM ^
Would love it, but they just drafted a QB last year so I don't think it's happening.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:38 PM ^
I don't think drafting Hooker, who is already 26, in the 3rd round last year would stop them from drafting "their guy" if that is JJ.
It would also depend on who else is available/needs.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:29 PM ^
They drafted Hooker last year. I don't see then going QB. Goff will get an extension anyways
January 14th, 2024 at 1:45 PM ^
Hooker is old, has an injury, and isn’t the prospect that JJ is. Goff is not getting a huge deal. I am positive that he won’t. Goff’s limitations hamstring the Lions offense.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:53 PM ^
Matthew Stafford is about to turn 36. I wouldn’t mind seeing JJ in Sean McVay’s offense.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:58 PM ^
Just don't get drafted by the Vikings and we're cool.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:03 PM ^
Lol, I was going to say the opposite. No better way to see him in that offense than getting drafted by the Vikes! Just imagine: JJ to JJ for the W!
January 14th, 2024 at 2:27 PM ^
I’m a Vikings fan and it makes complete sense to sign Cousins for a year and draft JJ
January 14th, 2024 at 2:09 PM ^
Because of the love for Williams, Penix et al at the top of the draft, JJ just might find himself the heir apparent on a very good NFL team
I had the same hope for the last National Champion QB at Michigan, Brian Griese, when Denver drafted him. Granted he went in the 3rd round, but he seemed to be set up well with the defending chanmps: a great running game and a solid defense.
Griese didn't have a stellar NFL career, but he played for 11 seasons. Nothing to sneeze at, but I hope for more for JJ.
January 14th, 2024 at 11:52 PM ^
Griese had a good chance at a SB if Lovie had the balls to pull Grossman at half.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:21 PM ^
I think what’s lot of people keep forgetting with JJ is that he doesn’t even turn 21 until later this month! Guys like Daniels and Penix were asked to do more…but they’re both 23! Imagine JJ with two more years of development.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:30 PM ^
I think he needs at least one more year of learning to get into the right play at the line of scrimmage. But who am I, Gus? A commenter on a sports blog.
I am kind of surprised that others gave him the advice to go pro. We will see how it turns out.
January 14th, 2024 at 3:26 PM ^
The Lions need to spend all seven picks on D.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:39 PM ^
If Harbaugh goes, that's where JJ goes?? If Chargers, they had one of the worst records so will draft high.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:47 PM ^
Chargers have Herbert so no.
January 14th, 2024 at 3:51 PM ^
Agreed. I can see the Chargers taking a development QB 4th round or later for depth, but not 1st or 2nd round. They are a few small pieces and luck from being in the playoffs. The early picks are more valuable for those pieces. No chance on taking JJ unless he drops precipitously .
January 14th, 2024 at 1:18 PM ^
Going out on top. Excited to see where he ends up.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:18 PM ^
It is the right decision.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:35 PM ^
When you have cemented your place in UM football history as the greatest quarterback, there are no more mountains to climb. His business is finished here, and time waits for no one. Farewell, and fair winds on the next part of your journey.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:57 PM ^
Michigan fandom aside I disagree
I’m a total NFL draft wanna be scout geek and yeah I’ve been wrong as much as the next guy but I don’t think he’s ready personally. Right off the bat guys that are 20/21 years old and only play 3 years of college ball have an extremely low success rate in the NFL. He still needs to develop a lot imo. He misses a fair share of reads and doesn’t always do a great job going threw his progressions. He can obviously make the wow throws from time to time and fit the ball in very tight windows but accuracy is about consistency and he is not consistently accurate.
Just simple stuff a lot of the times when the average mgoblogger says pass completed move the sticks what else matters. That’s not how nfl scouts watch film. That 15 yard crossing route when the receiver has to slow down and reach back for it can be a pick at the next level. His struggles on the deep ball have been documented as well. He is also slight of frame and I think that will worry some scouts. A lot of these 200 and under guys aren’t panning out. He’s what Zach Wilson’s size? Probably similar athlete with a little less pure arm strength ? Not saying he’s ZW but some scouts mite make the comparison.
That said JJ will forever be one of my all time favorite Wolverines and wish him nothing but the best of luck. There is a world of talent there and hopefully he can put it all together. Thank you for everything you brought to the program and personal enjoyment young man. Best of luck
Despite my concerns I do think he’s worth a mid late 1st rd pick and would be all for the Lions taking a chance on him if he was available. Back up Goff for a year or 2 (franchise tag) and hope he develops. The upside is worth it.
National Champion JJ McCarthy. Go be great.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:06 PM ^
At the same time, UM appears to have a shortage of big-time receivers to throw to next year, so it's not like M will turn into a pass-happy offense to allow him to improve his passing skills. It will likely be more of the same, relying on the run game mostly to move the ball with occasional throws to TEs and smaller receivers.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^
I actually do agree that JJ would benefit/improve with one more year in college. I also agree that there are certain parts of his passing that are not quite there yet in terms of reads, progressions, timing. Not saying he is bad at that stuff. He actually is pretty good. Just that...it can get to another level.
But I still think that it is time for him to go because (1) he accomplished so much in college, (2) there is a lot of uncertainty on M's offensive roster for '24, (3) it does feel like he and a group of players set a goal and achieved that goal, and (4) even if he falls to the 2nd round, being a backup 'QB of the future' for an NFL team is life-changing money. It might be better for him than being 'the guy' from day 1.
In the end, even though he still has another level in terms of his own QB skill that he should work towards, he can do that as the backup in the NFL and there is nothing left for him to accomplish in college. I guess you could say 'win a Heisman.' But Michigan is not going let him throw 35 times every Saturday and does not have the WR corps for that anyway. Business finished, as the hoodie said...
January 14th, 2024 at 5:23 PM ^
Imo he would not benefit from another year at UM. This is not to say he doesn’t need to develop, but he won’t become the nfl guy he needs to be with another year here. 2 runs a game and 20 throws, no RPO etc.. Michigan does the best things to win, and that’s awesome. Not necessarily the best things to develop a guy into an nfl qb, especially in the 4th year.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:25 PM ^
I mean I think the fact that at 21 he’s already this productive and efficient is a lot more exciting than Penix or Nix having stayed in college for so many years. JJ still has two more years of development in front of him before he’s even at their age.
Also think the accuracy question marks are way overblown, he’s shown the ability to layer throws in between zone defenders, hit players on the run on crossing routes, basically make every throw and his completion percentage was very high.
Did he have missed? Sure. Every QB in the draft did! Look at Penix in the championship game. Very few college QB’s never miss a throw (Stroud had a few bad misses against Michigan last year for example).
January 14th, 2024 at 2:29 PM ^
If you’re a nfl draft nerd, you know they don’t care about those times you overthrew a guy on 3rd down. They care about tools. And JJ has all the tools of a great qb. There’s a reason guys like Josh Allen and Will Levis went first round despite being mediocre college qbs with so so stats and no real big time wins.
His stature isn’t all that different from Lamar Jackson’s combine numbers. I don’t think his size is going to be a big issue. He has the mobility and arm strength to make NFL throws.
January 14th, 2024 at 4:06 PM ^
Lamar Jackson at the combine was an inch shorter, and 20lbs heavier than what JJ is LISTED at.
January 16th, 2024 at 4:07 PM ^
Agree...draft scouts aren't looking at random throws with 5-7th round receivers who may or may not be running the wrong route or have the requisite speed. How does he command the huddle? Do his teammates respect him? NFL arm/legs? His NFL style offense at Michigan will help him tremendously and all signs point to him having it between the ears.
A lot of scouts think he'll be the 4th QB off the board, and likely in the first round. I agree that he would do well to sit a year, but if there's anyone who I don't think a bad year would ruin his confidence it's JJ. I think he'd be a perfect fit for a number of teams regardless of situation.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:18 PM ^
Embedded for easier viewing.
I held out hope, but it's not surprising. Good luck to him. I'm crossing my fingers that he ends up in Seattle.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:28 PM ^
"3 Deep Breaths" is such a fitting title for this announcement. I still remember the maturity he showed before he even got to Michigan during the 2020 season.
Thank you JJ for everything you gave to the team and the fans. I can breath easier knowing the program is in better shape than when you came in.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:44 PM ^
It's fun to go back to Seth's Hello post:
He is the architect of his own class, a composite five-star quarterback, though he finished a super-high four-star to all the sites. He is the national recruit who bought in early, committing to Michigan the spring after the program’s dismantling at the hands of Ohio State’s crossing routes, and the *same day* John Beilein bolted for the NBA.
Turns out he wasn't optimistic enough:
Ceiling: Michigan beats Ohio State.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:19 PM ^
Great for him. Wonder what we do now at QB.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:23 PM ^
100% we will be taking a QB in the portal so we have some experience. Can't imagine we run with what we have now. JD is the future, but no way he comes in as a 1st year and starts.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:35 PM ^
I think most QBs are off the board now. Sure to me seems like they’re going to run out with Orji or Davis next year?
January 14th, 2024 at 1:52 PM ^
Go get the USC kid who just transferred to Boise St.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:13 PM ^
Nelson was like 4th string behind a walkon when he left USC
January 14th, 2024 at 1:43 PM ^
I hope we install a Harbaugh version of the Tim Tebow/JT Barrett scheme and roll with Orji.
January 14th, 2024 at 2:43 PM ^
I have a better idea. We can run the old Michigan wishbone offense with Orji, Edwards, and Mullings. Play actions to the tight ends to keep the Ds honest. Boom.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:56 PM ^
Hear me out... Cade McNamara
January 14th, 2024 at 2:31 PM ^
Not. Shoulda woulda coulda been part of the Rose Bowl and National Championship winning teams, but instead he went to Iowa and got Iowa'd. Enjoy the decided schematic advantage that is the Ferentz offense next year Cade, instead of starting for the defending champions. Something tells me as long as a Harbaugh and Moore/Minter are here, we'll be ok.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:19 PM ^
Bummer. At least we know.
EDIT: When all is said and done there is really only one big criticism of him. Why'd he use such a d@mn small font on that announcement. I can't read that! Old people are fans too.
January 14th, 2024 at 1:57 PM ^
At least he put the decision right at the top