3 things we learned about Michigan after defeating Maryland

Michigan did what it needed to do, now all eyes turn to Ohio State

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The Wolverines officially control their own destiny after defeating Maryland on Saturday, 59-18.

With Ohio State rolling Michigan State earlier in the day, the big-showdown next week will determine who gets into the Big Ten Championship game from the East division, in a win-or-go-home scenario — either Ohio State or Michigan.

Michigan had minimal trouble against Maryland on Saturday. The Wolverines got out to a good-sized lead early, and the game never seemed to be very competitive. The Terps shot themselves in the foot multiple times at the beginning of the game —  penalties, dropped passes and overthrows —  lead to Michigan fortune.

The interesting thing in this game was how the Wolverines opened up their bag of tricks to show the Buckeyes what could be in store. The maize and blue brought back the two-quarterback system, we saw the wild-cat, and the Wolverines returned a kick-off for a touchdown using some trickery.

Here are three things we learned about Michigan after its dominating win.

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Michigan QB JJ McCarthy just impressed everyone with this insane pass for his first college football touchdown

This is such a wild throw.

It feels like Michigan has been searching for a legitimate option at quarterback for years.

After Saturday, though, it looks like they might have one for the future. Their Freshman quarterback JJ McCarthy looked incredible in his debut during Michigan’s home-opening blowout of Western Michigan.

On a third-and-25, McCarthy dropped back and got pressured out of the pocket. He ran to the right side of the field and was still surveying his options as he was being chased.

Then, all of a sudden, he looked back across the field and threw an absolute dart the opposite way that floated right into his receiver’s hands.

Touchdown. Daylen Baldwin. The first TD toss of McCarthy’s career in the books.

Everyone was so impressed.

Michigan recruit JJ McCarthy adds more fuel to the Ohio State rivalry

Michigan QB recruit J.J. McCarthy says he wants to kill Ohio State. But that’s there was even more criticism from the future Wolverine.

When will they ever learn? It just doesn’t ever seem to end well when Michigan players and recruits poke the Ohio State bear.

Wolverine quarterback recruit and early enrollee, JJ McCarthy decided to stoke the flames of the biggest rivalry college football with some comments made to SI.com fan page Wolverine Digest. When asked about the Buckeyes, McCarthy was quoted as saying “I used to love them, now I want to kill them.”

Those words themselves won’t surprise anyone who knows how deep this rivalry goes. But it was the comments that came after that will fan the flames. McCarthy continued on saying that OSU head coach Ryan Day had been less than honest during the quarterback’s recruitment and then went on to say how there was no family feel on his official visit.

“I used to love them, now I want to kill them”, said McCarthy.Coach Day told me he wasn’t going to take a 2021 quarterback until the end of summer or anything like that because he wanted to make sure everything was all good, so I didn’t really worry about all that during my visit. But I didn’t get that feeling when I was there. I really didn’t, with all the coaches there and how they interacted with us, I didn’t feel the big family tradition part of it. It was either you’re good at football or you’re over here. That’s what I felt.”

“I get it’s a business, but it always sucks being lied to. And that’s kind of where the rivalry started for me. And the hatred. But what are you going to do? It’s a business and they have to do what they have to do. They lied to my face, but it’s all good now.”

Interesting. Especially when current Ohio State players talk glowingly of Day and the family atmosphere he has created in Columbus. It kind of feels like McCarthy got his feelings hurt that Ohio State had their eye on other QB recruits.

Looking around the locker room at guys like CJ Stroud, Jack Miller, and recently signed Kyle McCord, Day wants the best, and not only the best, but guys that want to compete against. And that doesn’t even consider the commitment o Quinn Ewers, the nation’s No. 1 overall player in 2022.

In a world where everything that comes out of your mouth can be documented, McCarthy took things to another level by making it personal against Ryan Day and the family culture he’s creating at Ohio State.

McCarthy is a talented kid for sure and possibly the answer Jim Harbaugh has been looking for since arriving in Ann Arbor. However, he just made things a little more difficult for himself and I’m sure the guys in Columbus will remember when they see each other on the field.

 

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Notre Dame QB commit Buchner included in final Elite 11 Roster

Irish commit Tyler Buchner now knows his competition at the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback camp.

It has been three months since Irish quarterback commit Tyler Buchner knew he was going to compete with the best at his position at the Elite 11 camp. What wasn’t known was who else would join him and on Friday the field was set.

It is a list of who’s who for the future of the position in college football. Buchner is joined by Brock Vandagrif (Georgia), Kyle McCord (Ohio State), Drake Maye (North Carolina), JJ McCarthy (Michigan), the nation’s top uncommitted prospect Caleb Williams and more.

The Elite 11 camp is one of the most prestigious quarterback camps in the football world, just look was some of their camps alumni and you’ll see an impressive list of college stars who graduated to the NFL. Houston Texan Deshaun Watson, Arizona Cardinal’s Kyler Murray, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagoviola, and projected first round picks in Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields are just a few of the notable list of former participants. As noted on their website “25 of the 32 current NFL starting quarterback, and 12 of the past 13 quarterback who have hoisted the Heisman Trophy.” It truly is the camp to be invited to as a prep quarterback.

Being a participant at the camp doesn’t always equate to success at the collegiate level, but it is a great measuring stick against the top competition. Bucher will have his hands full against the talented field which will begin on June 29th and run through July 1st. Our eyes will surely be on Buchner and how well he does against some of the best high school quarterback talent in the country.