Michigan football’s prized commit in 2021 balled out in his senior year debut.
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333 yards, 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions — you could say it was a pretty successful senior year debut for Michigan five-star commit J.J. McCarthy.
The quarterback was playing in his first game leading the IMG Academy Ascenders, the veritable all-star squad, on national TV, no less. Taking on the Venice Indians on ESPN U on Friday night, McCarthy made a series of impressive plays, which earned him the GEICO Player of the Game honors.
It’s exactly what you want to see out of the Michigan football commitment, especially considering other quarterbacks have been getting more hype following this summer’s Elite 11.
McCarthy completed 23 of his 37 passes en route to a 49-13 IMG Academy victory.
We found some highlights of a handful of his 5 touchdowns, which you can check out below.
What the Wolverines football commit says to top-rated recruits to get them to consider coming to Ann Arbor.
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The second commit of Michigan’s 2021 class, five-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been the ringleader, the most outspoken spokesperson of the group, advocating for the nation’s top prospects to join him in Ann Arbor.
A player of his caliber has a certain cache that will get those who weren’t paying attention previously to suddenly give a glance at the Wolverines, but, of course, it takes a little more than that to get the top prospects to want to come to Michigan over other programs that have more recent success — like Alabama or Clemson.
However, the maize and blue has a lot going for it. Since Jim Harbaugh took over, he took a team that was in the doldrums of college football, having gone 5-7 in 2014 and missing a bowl game, to being a perennial 10-win team. Of course, mounting losses to Ohio State haven’t helped, but McCarthy sees that more as an opportunity than a knock to be had against the school.
So, we asked McCarthy — especially now that he’s surrounded by future Power Five elite players at IMG Academy — what does he say to a recruit that’s only considering a top school in the SEC or ACC? What’s his pitch to a top-rated player who hasn’t been looking at Michigan?
We have to say, it’s pretty convincing.
“Honestly, when I try to recruit kids to Michigan, ask me any scenario, I’ll tell you why Michigan is a good fit for it,” McCarthy told WolverinesWire. “Like, if you ask me, ‘How’s the education?’ ‘It’s one of the best in the world.’ ‘How’s the strength and conditioning?’ ‘We have one of the best strength coaches in the world.’ And the biggest questions that I get when I ask these recruits: ‘What about beating Ohio State and stuff like that?’ It’s like, ‘Good. Good that we’re gonna have the opportunity to be the ones that beat them and be the one to be a part of that opportunity to ignite a fanbase that will love you and cherish you for decades.’ When we do get over this hump – this year was a great year, next year is gonna be better. We just have such an opportunity in front of us, and a lot of kids don’t realize that.
“Michigan, hands down, has proven over and over again: Top 5 public university in the country. You add that with the football tradition that it has and the winningest program of all-time – and people ask about the cold? Well, if you’re gonna go the NFL, you’re gonna play in the cold. Might as well get used to it. What can you not possibly like about Michigan? It has everything – you might not like it sometimes, but it’s the best for you. Best for any athlete or any human that’s just trying to strive to be the best that they can be.
“That’s pretty much the pitch I would give to them and it’s one of those pitches – ask me anything. Everything Michigan has is in your favor.”
At the moment, Michigan has 21 commitments in the 2021 class, but it’s looking to add more, including four-star RB Donovan Edwards and four-star DT Rayshaun Benny. McCarthy says he’s made his pitch to them already, but he’s letting them have some space as they make their college decision.
The Wolverines commit wants to out-G.O.A.T. the G.O.A.T.
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In every way, this is the exact demeanor you want out of your future quarterback — and in many ways, it reflects that of your most prolific former quarterback.
Despite being a five-star since before he committed to Michigan, J.J. McCarthy isn’t resting on his past accolades. The way he sees it, he won’t live up to the hype until he achieves something only one other has done thus far — he wants to win seven Super Bowls, one more than former Wolverines QB Tom Brady.
And what if Brady wins a seventh, himself? Well then, McCarthy wants to win eight.
Oftentimes, when you’re as highly-regarded as McCarthy is on the recruiting trail, those long-time five-stars find themselves as having peaked in high school. Why, though? Because they think they’ve made it already.
For McCarthy, what he does in high school is meaningless. Heck, even when he gets to Michigan, what he does in Ann Arbor isn’t the end goal. It’s a rung on the way to what he wants to do in life. And that drive to be the best is what propels him to be great. Not what people already think of him at this level.
So don’t expect McCarthy to sit back and relish his previous accomplishments. Not until he surpasses the G.O.A.T. in the NFL.
“I mean, I’ve been blessed to be ranked in the position I am in,” McCarthy told WolverinesWire. “I don’t even remember the last time I looked at the rankings – I don’t even know what I’m ranked now.
“But it was goal, ever since I was in fifth grade, to win more Super Bowls than Brady. That’s been my goal. And when it comes down to stuff like rankings and opinion-based stuff, it really – okay? Is that winning you a Super Bowl? Is that making any sort of impact on this next generation? That’s my definition of success. Being able to make a positive impact on the next generation.”
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Photo: Isaiah Hole
It’s rare to find a national-level prospect who has such lofty aspirations who is also down-to-earth and humble as McCarthy is.
His goals are just that — aspirations, not predictions.
He doesn’t want to be one of those five-stars that leaves college while everyone asks what went wrong between high school and his departure from upper education. So while he appreciates that he’s so highly-regarded in his high school years, he sees that as something of a stepping off point. He doesn’t let it define him.
He realizes that if he lets that go to his head, it could be the death of his dreams. He understands he needs to stay motivated, as he doesn’t want to be one of those five-stars who think they have it made before actually achieving anything that will get them remembered.
So, in short, to McCarthy: stars don’t really matter. It’s what you do later that does.
“I put all of these rankings into perspective and all this media stuff, and (realize) as high schoolers we haven’t done anything yet,” McCarthy said. “We haven’t done something that’s gonna get us remembered for ten-plus years. There’s so much more that we have to accomplish and that we have to get done to where the rankings and that ego that a lot of the five-stars get categorized with is something that doesn’t even come into my brain. I mean five-stars’ great, but at the end of the day, who remembers who the five-star of the 2013 class is? I’m sure if we pulled it up, but –
“You see so many people in the Super Bowl, they show the rankings, their stars and stuff – none of that really matters. It’s what you do with it and how you come in day in and day out.”
The Wolverines QB commit is set to make his debut at the high school powerhouse. He shares how he earned the team’s respect.
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On Friday, Sept. 4, for the first time, J.J. McCarthy will be out on the field, leading the prestigious IMG Academy as its starting quarterback in a game.
The longtime Michigan commit transferred this offseason from Nazareth Academy in Illinois, where he was the lone five-star — not just in his high school, but in the state.
Meanwhile, while McCarthy was a big fish in a small pond in La Grange Park (IL), at IMG Academy in Bradenton (FL), despite being a five-star, he isn’t even the top-ranked player on his team. In his class, 2021, he’s one of three five-stars, and there’s another in 2022, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Beyond that, there are 11 Ascenders ranked in the Top247 between the 2021-22 classes, and others — such as fellow Michigan commit Greg Crippen — who are rated four-stars but not in the first 247 spots of the rankings.
So to arrive on campus and take over the most prominent position on the field, it was going to take a little more than cache — though that certainly helps.
The thing about McCarthy, however, is that he’s willing to go in and do the work. The stars mean nothing to him. But, being one of the most visible high school senior quarterbacks in the country, he used that as a starting point to earn the respect of his teammates.
But to fully earn their respect, he was determined to prove that he deserves it.
“It’s one of those things where you come in there – I mean, the rankings do a lot for you,” McCarthy told WolverinesWire. “I came in, they gave me a little respect coming in, and other players respect me for that. But it was what I did once I was there and how down to earth I am. I’m always never above anyone else, so that’s what got me the total respect of my teammates and my coaches.”
At 8 p.m. on Friday evening, as the Ascenders take on the Venice Indians, all of that offseason hard work will finally come to the forefront.
Though all eyes will certainly be on McCarthy and first-year IMG Academy head coach Bobby Acosta, others like fellow five-stars JC Latham (OL, committed to Alabama) and Lovesea Carroll (RB, committed to Georgia) will also look to shine on one of high school football’s brightest stages.
You’d think with so many top-rated players, that egos would rule supreme. But according to McCarthy, it’s quite the opposite. It’s a team rife with hunger, eager to prove themselves.
As McCarthy sees it, despite all the accolades, none of them have truly done anything. Thus, they have to earn whatever is given to them.
“Being around all the talent and five-stars – yeah, there’s a couple players here and there that talk about it – but nobody ever really talks about it, because we’re all focused on one goal and focused on winning week-by-week,” McCarthy said. “We all realize the potential that’s in front of us and the potential within us. We’re not gonna let a couple stars tell where we’re gonna go in life. We all just want to exceed all those expectations, exceed what people are thinking of us right and do so much better. And that kind of brings us all together and makes it really easy to be the quarterback of this team. Because no one looks at me – I can’t say that no one has that same perspective in Illinois, where it’s very uncommon for the five-stars to be in that area.”
Michigan connection
2021 IMG Academy four-star OC Greg Crippen
When McCarthy made his way down to Bradenton this offseason, he was immediately greeted by a familiar face: fellow Michigan commit Greg Crippen, the four-star center.
Crippen has been at IMG Academy for some time, and to have a friendly in his corner was certainly to McCarthy’s advantage. But there’s another advantage: the two can get on the same page now, a full year before they get to work in Ann Arbor.
It’s the second-time we’ve seen an interior offensive line-quarterback combo go from IMG Academy to Michigan, with Cesar Ruiz and Shea Patterson preceding McCarthy and Crippen. But Patterson’s route to Ann Arbor was a little circuitous, with the former five-star spending two years at Ole Miss before transferring to the Wolverines. The intention is for Crippen and McCarthy to have full careers together at the college-level, so building a bond now sets the stage for the immediate future.
And that’s precisely what the duo are doing, McCarthy says.
“Being with Greg for the past month and a half now, almost two, it’s been eye-opening with how similar we are and the type of mold Michigan is trying to bring in,” McCarthy said. “Being with him, we’ve already grown so much together and we’re talking ball together. We’re like best buddies. We’re best friends. He can come to me with anything and I can come to him with anything. He’s the best. He’s the absolute man. I’ve been around a couple people with the same sort of attitude he has. This kid has been at IMG for almost four years and he’s doing everything humanly possible to make sure he improves and gets better to live up to those expectations he has for himself and his team. So just being with him and just understanding his mindset is something that is so beneficial going into Michigan.”
But IMG opens more doors to McCarthy’s future teammates than just those in West Florida.
On Sept. 25, the Ascenders will travel to Brentwood (TN) to take on Ravenwood, home of four-star linebacker Junior Colson, also a Michigan pledge.
The two speak often on social media, but have never met in person. Colson told WolverinesWire that, considering he’s featured in a lot of blitz packages, if he sees an open lane to his future quarterback, he’ll hold up a bit as to not injure his soon-to-be teammate.
McCarthy doesn’t want to hear that. In fact, he wants to know more about the hype — or, rather, he wants to feel why Colson is hyped, from a physical perspective.
“Man, if I don’t feel it when he hits me, I’m gonna be very disappointed in him!” McCarthy said. “As long as he doesn’t go for my legs, I better feel something from him. I wanna know! This is football, this is football – I want him to hit me! I want him to get that and show out.
“Once we get to Michigan and he’s on the defense, he’s gonna be coming. So I want him to get out there and just play ball and whatever he needs to do. But it’s been awesome meeting him, because we’ve been Snapchatting all the time and he just seems like such a great kid and I can’t wait to just meet him and just talk and build that relationship from the start and build it so early that once we go into Michigan, we’ll be buds for life.”
IMG Academy’s Friday night game against Venice can be seen nationally on ESPN U at 8 p.m.
We welcome in the 5-star QB commit as our special guest, and we also discuss the Big Ten potentially coming back in October and more.
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We spoke to J.J. McCarthy for the WolverinesWire ‘Michigan commitment series’ but the interview is too good to hold onto and wait until Friday, so we’re giving you pretty much the whole thing now to check out!
Also, could the Big Ten be back on Oct. 10? And our feeling after talking to Michigan 2022 target 5-star Will Johnson.
Why Michigan football’s 2021 class is so close-knit and how Colson and McCarthy feel about squaring off against each other on Sept. 25.
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One thing that’s become very apparent about Michigan football’s 2021 class is that it’s very close knit.
Yes, we’ve seen instances like that before — Shane Morris and Michael Ferns’ classes come to mind — but led by five-star pledge J.J. McCarthy, this particular group seems even closer than its predecessors.
We’ve seen McCarthy, Xavier Worthy and Andrel Anthony all be vocal recruiters for the Wolverines since they made their commitments. That’s not Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood four-star linebacker Junior Colson’s style, he says, but when a new member joins the class, they’re treated like family, having joined the brotherhood.
“Our class is very tight,” Colson told WolverinesWire. “We all talk to each other. We all Snap. We all make sure we (check in with) each other, especially during this time, because some of us aren’t playing football.
“That’s kind of our thing – we all talk every day (most) days.”
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But, that said, there will be something of a family struggle come Sept. 25, when McCarthy (and center Greg Crippen)’s IMG Academy travels to Brentwood to take on Ravenwood.
Colson is particularly excited for the matchup because he has yet to meet either future Wolverine in-person just yet — since the NCAA dead period due to coronavirus has meant no welcoming in recruits for events like the BBQ at the Big House, as it usually has.
So when that game comes up, Colson is less thinking about strapping on the helmet as much as he is meeting his future teammates — but, yes, he’s still thinking about strapping on the helmet, of course.
“It’ll be amazing to finally meet both of them,” Colson said. “I think it’ll be a great game, it’ll be a great competition – I love competition. And they’re both great athletes. J.J. – he’s a monster. He can do it all with the ball in his hands. And then Greg at center – he’s a big load.”
But what happens when Colson, who’s asked to frequently blitz as an outside linebacker, finds himself with a potentially open lane on McCarthy? Does he go all-in, or does he hold up a little?
Colson didn’t hesitate in his answer. He’s more concerned with his future at Michigan and the success collectively in Ann Arbor than he is making a highlight at the high school-level.
“I will definitely hold back on J.J. if there’s a wide open hit on him!” Colson said. “I’ll pull back – I still need him for college. I wouldn’t want him (to get injured). I’ll definitely pull back if I’m (about to get a big hit on him). But the rest of them, it’s all fair game!”
However, speaking with McCarthy on Tuesday for a future installment of the Michigan football commitment series, the five-star quarterback hopes that Colson lays down some wood if he gets that opportunity.
“Man, if I don’t feel it when he hits me, I’m gonna be very disappointed in him!” McCarthy said. “As long as he doesn’t go for my legs, I better feel something from him. I wanna know! This is football, this is football – I want him to hit me! I want him to get that and show out.
“Once we get to Michigan and he’s on the defense, he’s gonna be coming. So I want him to get out there and just play ball and whatever he needs to do.”
The Wolverines have an impressive group that made Sports Illustrated’s illustrious high school senior football ranking.
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Jim Harbaugh & Co. have done a masterful job of putting together the 2021 recruiting class.
Though Michigan football had just two commitments for nearly a year, now the class is ranked No. 10 with 21 pledges, highlighted by five-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy as well as a cadre of top-notch wide receivers.
And though the Wolverines aren’t done yet — as prospects such as West Bloomfield (MI) four-star Donovan Edwards are still deciding — the maize and blue find themselves not only with some of the top players in the country according to the recruiting services, but also with many making a coveted list.
That said, Michigan had four commits make the list, unsurprisingly headlined by its five-star signal caller.
No. 24 – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy QB J.J. McCarthy
No. 58 – Scottsdale (AZ) Saguaro DE Quintin Somerville
No. 67 – Fresno (CA) Central West WR Xavier Worthy
No. 99 – Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei WR Cristian Dixon
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McCarthy at 24 is expected, but given that Somerville, Dixon and Worthy are all outside of the Top 100 in the 247Sports Composite, it shows how other analysts anticipate big things out of the various Michigan commitments. Worthy and Dixon are particularly tantalizing, as they’ll add a lot of speed to Josh Gattis’ offense, and could become unparalleled breakout players wearing the maize and blue.
While it’s a nice haul, rival Ohio State — which currently has the top-rated class in the country — has 10 commits who made the SI99 rankings.
The Worldwide Leader breaks down the Wolverines commit’s game after he participated in the national QB showcase.
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If there’s one thing that 2021 Michigan five-star quarterback commit J.J. McCarthy is it’s consistent.
The prized pledge of the recruiting class got a chance to prove that weeks ago in Nashville as one of the participants in the much ballyhooed Elite 11 event, a quarterback competition led by former NFL QB Trent Dilfer.
While the MVP of the three-day event went to fellow five-star Caleb Williams — who recently committed to Oklahoma — McCarthy proved himself worthy as one of the top quarterbacks in the country, thus making the final list of 11 signal callers. ESPN’s Tom Luginbill and Tom VanHaaren took in the Elite 11 and further broke down what they see out of the future Wolverines quarterback.
McCarthy is exactly what Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis wants in his offense: a quarterback who can extend plays and is an accurate thrower. The quarterback position is one area Michigan has been lacking and a big piece of its offense that has been missing.
McCarthy could be that missing piece for the Wolverines’ future offense. Michigan has junior Dylan McCaffrey, sophomore Joe Milton, redshirt freshman Cade McNamara and 2020 signee Dan Villari on the roster right now, but the starting job is technically open.
It’s very likely McCaffrey or Milton takes that job in 2020. Both have experience, but neither has separated himself as the clear-cut starter. Having more options at quarterback is only a good thing, and McCaffrey coming in with competition will only help make him better and prepare him for later in his career.
Luginbill’s scouting report: McCarthy has good poise, good feet and good vision. He might not have an elite arm, but he throws a catchable ball with his high over-the-top release. He has a strong ability to navigate the pocket and keep plays alive.
Player comparison: Tanner Morgan
For now, Michigan football fans will have to wait to see McCarthy in action — at least while wearing the maize and blue. The IMG Academy presumptive starter won’t arrive on campus until 2021, and will have to battle it out to see the field with potentially 2-4 experienced quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart.
However, we’ve seen true freshmen supplant wily veterans recently. For instance, in 2017 (ultimately in his sophomore season in 2018) at Alabama, Tua Tagovailoa wrested the starting job away from incumbent Jalen Hurts, who then transferred to Oklahoma in 2019 as a result. Likewise, in 2018, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, the former No. 1 recruit in the country, didn’t waste much time supplanting Kelly Bryant in the middle of the season, which ended up seeing Bryant take his talents to Mizzou.
Could McCarthy do the same in Ann Arbor? It depends heavily on how this fall’s quarterback competition goes between Joe Milton, Dylan McCaffrey and Cade McNamara.
How the Wolverines commit did in the final two days of the elite quarterback competition.
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On Monday, Michigan’s premier 2021 commit in five-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy put on a show at the yearly Elite 11 event, hosted this year in Nashville in lieu of the standard California.
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He returned to action on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, drawing accolades from those in attendance, thus proving that the Wolverines got a good one in the eventual mid-year enrollee.
WolverinesWire compiled some of the reactions and videos, so you can see first-hand what the future maize and blue signal caller looked like at the national competition.
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Day Two
The second day of the Elite 11 was held as something of a ‘Pro Day,’ similar to what one would see at the college level when departing players would showcase their abilities for NFL coaches, general managers and scouts.
It was postponed somewhat on Tuesday to the evening due to inclement weather in the Nashville area, however, once it got going, McCarthy volunteered to go first, thus setting the bar while the other quarterbacks in attendance got to see what they were getting into.
While his day wasn’t perfect, he still looked mostly sharp. Impressive, again, given that he was the first quarterback to partake in the drills.
Michigan 2021 QB commit J.J. McCarthy leads off the Pro Day drill today at Elite 11 Finals pic.twitter.com/ltrgprB5HQ
“I’ve seen him, I think this is the third or fourth time in person,” Newkirk said, “and the No. 1 thing I see is he’s consistent, whether that’s a high school game, 7-on-7 or in a camp setting. That was evident again last evening. It is elite competition, the top quarterbacks in the country, and he didn’t look like he got invited because he’s committed to Michigan. He belongs here. I’m not going to say he will win it, but he’s among the elite.”
While he finished at No. 7 after day one, despite some accolades on the second day, with just 34 points out of a possible 60, McCarthy finished day two at No. 9 in the official rankings.
3. J.J. McCarthy (Michigan commit) — McCarthy led off the night and gets credit for stepping up and going early. One thing he’s really improved and showed off on Tuesday is his ability to throw on the move. During one throw he bumped into the coach simulating the pass rush and despite being off balance he delivered a throw down the field and right on the money. McCarthy finished ninth in the official scoring.
But there would be another day for McCarthy to rebound and ensure he made the coveted top ten.
Day Three/Final Ranking
Wednesday signaled the culmination of the event, where the 20 quarterbacks duked it out to make the top 10 of the Elite 11, and they did so in the target challenge — which is what it sounds like.
Rivals.com’s EJ Holland — who has done the best of anyone covering McCarthy in the event — captured his first four throws of the day.
He performed a bit better going last rather than first, coming in ranked No. 6 for day three’s challenges.
Final Elite 11 Target Challenge standings:
1. Brock Vandagriff 2. Carlos Del Rio 3. Grayson James 4. Kyron Drones 5. Behren Morton 6. JJ McCarthy 7. Kyle McCord 8. Drake Maye 9. Maddox Kopp 10. Miller Moss
According to Sports Illustrated, that’s the perfect place for McCarthy, as they used advanced metrics to determine accuracy in the final day’s challenge.
6. J.J. McCarthy, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Grade: 1.90
Total throws: 22
Threes: 5
Twos: 11
Ones: 6
Time: 2:50.22
SI continued to be high on McCarthy overall, as they had him No. 2 overall over the course of the three-day competition.
2. J.J. McCarthy – Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Composite Score: 4.0
Day 1 Rank: 4
Day 2 Rank: 2
Day 3 Rank: 6
Entering the camp, McCarthy was one of the few quarterbacks who could make all of the throws on tape. He proved that in a camp setting every day at Elite 11, looking comfortable throwing to all three levels of the field and never finishing below sixth place out of 20 in Sports Illustrated All-American‘s daily rankings. McCarthy finished fifth in Elite 11’s accuracy gauntlet scores and sixth by our scores in the same drill, displaying great accuracy with 16 on-target throws on 22 attempts. He carried swagger throughout the week and never seemed to lose his step.
He spoke with Holland after the event as he awaited to hear if he’s squarely one of the Elite 11, saying that he could have done better, but that he’s still pleased with his performance.
McCarthy entered the final day of the competition ranked No. 9 overall but should move up based on today’s performance.
Still, McCarthy was his own biggest critic following the event.
“I don’t think I performed the best that I could and what my potential is,” McCarthy said. “But I learned a lot. In order to succeed, you have to fail sometimes. It’s all about putting the pads on. It’s always great throwing in shorts and a t-shirt. When you look at Tom Brady, Joe Burrow and all those guys, they didn’t even make it here. It’s just the mentality of moving forward, getting past this and focusing on the next step.”
McCarthy might not have been the alpha dog/MVP — that distinction went to uncommitted five-star dual-threat Caleb Williams. But he did enough to still warrant being in the top group.
J.J. McCarthy was flat out solid all three days. The Illinois native, who will play his senior season at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, was consistent and precise on both Monday and Tuesday showcasing some high-level throws. Wednesday, he finished near the top of the pack. The ball doesn’t exactly pop out of McCarthy’s arms, but the future Michigan quarterback has the tools and makeup of someone that can Power 5 level. He’s ranked as No. 2 pro-style quarterback this cycle.
For now, we wait to hear where McCarthy comes in via the final rankings, which are due out some time Wednesday evening. WolverinesWire will update this space with his final ranking once it has been released.
How the Wolverines commit fared on the first day of the national quarterback competition.
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Though traditional sports are still on hold, there’s still some semblance of football happening at the moment.
Yes, the Wolverines are currently engaged in voluntary workouts, but there’s an actual competition currently underway — the Elite 11 Finals.
Branded ‘the nation’s premier quarterback competition,’ the Elite 11 brings together the best of the best, in a three-day event, featuring various drills, eventually crowning the eleven best signal callers in the country for that particular recruiting class.
While Michigan doesn’t always have a representative every given year, in the 2021 class iteration, naturally, long-time commit, five-star J.J. McCarthy was not only an invitee, but he’s showing out early.
247Sports spoke to Trent Dilfer, who is the ‘head coach’ of the Elite 11 Finals, and while he had more to say about some other quarterbacks in the competition — namely five-star Caleb Williams — McCarthy certainly made a mark on day one in Nashville.
The five-star Michigan commit is the No. 2 pro-style quarterback and No. 14 prospect overall in the 247Sports Composite.
“J.J. is really good,” Dilfer said. “The kid is charismatic, he’s competitive, he has juice, I was really impressed with J.J.”
Sports Illustrated also weighed in, going as far as ranking the competitors. While the aforementioned Williams took the top spot and Oregon commit Ty Thompson got the second, McCarthy showed well enough to be ranked third.
3. J.J. McCarthy – Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
The Michigan commitment’s quick release combined with the pop off his right hand resonated as others’ began to wear down. He remained strong in his overall performance throughout, and he did not struggle at any level of the field.
Additionally, The Michigan Insider’s Josh Newkirk posted highlights of McCarthy’s first day in Murfreesboro, which you can check out below.
