Jim Harbaugh provides health update on quarterback JJ McCarthy: 'Right on schedule'

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh got a chance to address the media about summer workouts for the Wolverine program the other day. One of the top stories of the offseason, as it usually is: the quarterback competition between senior and 2021 starter Cade McNamara, and talented true sophomore JJ McCarthy.

Both quarterbacks earned snaps last fall during a season that ended with a College Football Playoff appearance. However, McNamara was the regular starter and played the majority of the snaps with McCarthy serving as an occasional spark plug for the offense.

Following the season, McCarthy suffered some arm soreness that hampered him from playing at full strength during spring practice. At the media event, reporters asked Harbaugh whether McCarthy will be ready to go in time for the season and the veteran head coach mostly danced around the question. He responded with typical coach ignorance, saying McCarthy himself knows best how healthy he is and perhaps asking the actual player would yield a better answer.

Harbaugh did go on to say that he thinks McCarthy is on the right schedule. “Every time I ask him, that’s what he’s saying. He’s feeling good about it,” according to coach. He also mentioned that McCarthy is generally an upbeat guy, like a “kid in the candy store.” The dude just has a jolliness to his demeanor. If it’s up to him, he’ll be ready to go by opening kick off.

Harbaugh on Michigan QB Competition

While McNamara started and mostly led the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff, many fans think McCarthy may be the better man for the job heading into his second season. McCarthy came in as the better recruit. A top-50 player and four-star per the On3 consensus. He also flashed an athleticism in year one McNamara just doesn’t have. But for all his talent, McNamara was the lead guy on the most successful Michigan team of the Harbaugh era.

“I mean, I’m a Big Ten Championship winning starting quarterback. And that’s how I see it,” McNamara has said regarding the competition between he and McCarthy. He’s not wrong.

Harbaugh is leaving the door wide open for either guy. McNamara won’t have his name penciled in solely due to 2021 success. McCarthy is getting just as fair a shot to win the job. “The dynamic will be competitive,” Harbaugh claims. “Competitive but not combative,” he then clarified. At the end of the day, it’s about the “name on the front of the jersey,” per McNarama. These guys want the job, but they’ll support the other if it means a better chance to win.

Harbaugh doesn’t even know yet whether he’ll pick just one of them. Playing both guys at certain times last season led to a CFP birth. Perhaps they’ll just do the same thing again. Harbaugh vowed to play “the best player” — whoever that is in practice. However, there’s a shot he likes different things about each player enough to split time between them at quarterback.