Since becoming the Michigan Wolverines starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy did nothing but win and lead. His leadership and competent play under center have transformed the Wolverines into national champions, and his college stats prove it.
From emerging victorious in a QB battle in 2022 to his stellar playoff performances, this is McCarthy’s journey to success over his three-year college career.
J.J. McCarthy Plays Backup in Freshman Year
Playing his high school career at Nazareth Academy, Ill., before transferring to IMG Academy, Fla., after COVID led to the cancellation of his senior season, McCarthy was a five-star recruit and committed to Michigan as one of the top QB recruits in the country.
As a boyhood Ohio State fan, McCarthy was expected to land with the Buckeyes. However, when HC Ryan Day chose to sign Kyle McCord over him, the Michigan quarterback was motivated to join the Wolverines and show Day exactly why he was wrong.
The scarlet and grey were discarded, and the maize and blue were donned, but McCarthy only fleetingly saw the field in his freshman year. While he appeared in 11 games, he was used sparingly behind Cade McNamara. He debuted against Western Michigan in September 2021, completing four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
McCarthy showed in his first year that he had more natural ability than McNamara, leading to fans clamoring for him to start as a sophomore.
- Completions: 34
- Attempts: 59
- Yards: 519
- Comp. %: 57.6%
- TDs: 5
- INTs: 2
- Rush Attempts: 27
- Rush Yards: 124
- Rush TDs: 2
McCarthy Wins QB Battle in Sophomore Campaign
Michigan declared an open competition between the two QBs during the offseason, extending the contest longer than anticipated. Harbaugh surprisingly took the battle into the 2022 season, with McNamara starting the opening game of the campaign against the Colorado State Rams and McCarthy starting the second against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.
Once McCarthy took to the field, it became obvious who would win the battle. He threw for 229 yards and three touchdowns, and Michigan took a 42-0 lead into the half.
Postgame, Harbaugh declared that McCarthy was now “the starter moving forward on merit.” The Wolverines’ quarterback has had a stranglehold on the position ever since.
McCarthy led Michigan to an undefeated regular season, including a comprehensive win over Ohio State, to reach the Big Ten title game. A Big Ten Championship Game victory over Purdue secured the Wolverines a place in the College Football Playoff. However, they ran into a rampant TCU Horned Frogs team that denied their national championship dreams.
Michigan lost the Fiesta Bowl 51-45, as McCarthy passed for 343 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. It gave the Wolverines’ QB a taste for success, spurring him to achieve the ultimate team in college football during his final campaign.
Completions: 208
Attempts: 322
Yards: 2,719
Comp. %: 64.6%
TDs: 22
INTs: 5
Rush Attempts: 70
Rush Yards: 306
Rush TDs: 5
McCarthy Leads Michigan to a National Championship
Michigan was an unstoppable force, with McCarthy controlling the offense in his junior season. An aura of inevitability ran through the program, and they turned over team after team by wide margins.
Suspensions for Harbuagh and upheaval over the sign-stealing scandal only seemed to rally the Wolverines players to the cause.
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After another win against Ohio State and another Big Ten title, McCarthy became the fastest quarterback in program history to win 25 games. Alongside other team leaders, he led Michigan to another playoff appearance, ranked as the top team in the country.
McCarthy and the Wolverines defeated Alabama in overtime at the Rose Bowl. The quarterback completed 17 of his 27 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns. The National Championship Game beckoned as Michigan traveled to Texas to face the Washington Huskies.
In the end, the game was a procession. McCarthy and Michigan were unstoppable, and the Wolverines quarterback rarely needed to produce magic for the program to emerge victorious. He completed only 10 passes for 140 yards.
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Throughout his career, McCarthy was asked to do just enough to keep the offense in rhythm and orchestrate it. As a starter, McCarthy only lost one game (the 2022 CFP semifinal to TCU), ending his career with a 27-1 record.
Completions: 240
Attempts: 332
Yards: 2,991
Comp. %: 72.3%
TDs: 22
INTs: 4
Rush Attempts: 64
Rush Yards: 202
Rush TDs: 3
McCarthy’s Final College Stats
Completions: 482
Attempts: 713
Yards: 6,226
Comp. %: 67.6%
TDs: 49
INTs: 11
Rush Attempts: 161
Rush Yards: 632
Rush TDs: 10
McCarthy Becomes First-Round Pick In 2024
McCarthy continued to win throughout his career and even after his time in Ann Arbor was complete. He went on to successfully infiltrate the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, being selected with the 10th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.
Though it took some by surprise, McCarthy’s selection in the first round did nothing but etch his name further into the college football record books and the famed walls of The Big House. However, it didn’t all come to fruition for McCarthy in his first year with the Vikings.
McCarthy Injured, to Miss First NFL Season
A knee injury sustained during the preseason circuit for the Vikings unfortunately saw his way out of the continuing of his winning ways, at least for his rookie season. But that battle-tested mentality isn’t anything new for McCarthy to overcome, and the Vikings’ fans will certainly hold on hope that he will rebound and come back stronger in his sophomore season in the NFL.
McCarthy underwent a full meniscus repair by Dr. Chris Larson at Twin Cities Orthopedics, according to the initial reports from Vikings camp. Though he could have likely returned to the field later in his rookie season, the Vikings opted for the full repair in an attempt to give McCarthy a better chance at a full recovery and a chance at potentially starting the season in 2025 for the franchise.
The Vikings will turn to Sam Darnold at quarterback in 2024, but as McCarthy has already shown, he’ll be back and ready to challenge for that starting role next fall.
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