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Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Harbaugh claims Michigan's J.J. McCarthy has ‘generational’ potential

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 8/1/23

USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye may get the lion’s share of the attention when discussing the top quarterback prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft, a QB many could be sleeping on as a potential top-15 pick is Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.

Though he only has 13 starts under his belt, a big junior year could launch McCarthy into contention to be the third quarterback drafted in 2024, where whichever team drafts him would get a Trevor Lawrence-type prospect, according to Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“He’s a once-in-a-generational type of quarterback at Michigan, and his progress continues to grow daily,” Harbaugh said, via On3. “He’s at the top of his game right now, really in all aspects. Everything that he does athletically, everything that he does throwing the football is at the elite level, and then I think the thing that makes him the most special, differentiating good and great, is that he’s willing to do anything for his teammates, anything for his team.”

Jim Harbaugh compared J.J. McCarthy to Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen in terms of doing whatever it takes for their team.
— Trevor Woods (@WoodsFootball) July 27, 2023

While Harbaugh may be drinking the McCarthy Kool-Aid, his opinion is certainly biased. Most draft experts aren’t as high on the 20-year-old junior, grading him as a borderline first-round pick. McCarthy is ranked No. 58 overall by Pro Football Focus and No. 61 overall by The Draft Network among 2024 draft prospects.

McCarthy supplanted Cade McNamara, who’s since transferred to Iowa, as Michigan’s starter in the second game of last season—a 56-10 win over Hawaii.

He remained the starter for the rest of the season, completing 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,719 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions while leading Michigan to a Big Ten Championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Scouts & analysts are saying there could be a new best QB in college football.

And no his name is not Caleb Williams.

It’s J.J. McCarthy.

According to reports from NFL Scouts, some believe that Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy has potential to be the best QB in the country.

And… pic.twitter.com/lCUhl1fCGW
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) July 29, 2023

McCarthy was named an All-Big Ten second-team selection, was a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award and was tabbed as Michigan’s Offensive Player of the Year.

A much-hyped five-star recruit in the class of 2021 out of IMG Academy according to the 247Sports composite rankings, McCarthy was the No. 5 QB and the No. 25 overall recruit in the class.

While he may not be “generational,” McCarthy certainly stands a chance of having a successful NFL career.

No doubt, Michigan has a special talent in QB1 J.J. McCarthy. 〽️#B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/DnBRD8Sf42
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) July 27, 2023

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