Jim Harbaugh claims JJ McCarthy is the best quarterback in the country

Jim Harbaugh claimed Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy was the best one in the country and there’s no one the Wolverines would rather have.

It’s a bold claim but McCarthy certainly has the skill level to be one of the best in the country, if not QB1, if you will. In what’s anticipated to be quite the NFL Draft for quarterbacks in 2024, McCarthy could be a first rounder before it’s all said and done.

While most would say guys like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye are the best, Harbaugh wouldn’t waver in his support of McCarthy.

“There’s a lot of great quarterbacks around the country and everyone’s talking about how maybe this is one of the best quarterback drafts ever,” Harbaugh said. “Sometimes they say that in September, early October, but I know there are a lot of really good ones. But nobody we’d rather have than JJ McCarthy. Haven’t watched all the guys, you know, kind of started to watch some of the others but you know play for play, JJ McCarthy …

“Maybe I’m a little biased, but I don’t think so. I’m trying not to be, but I think he’s the best one. I really do. No one we’d rather have Just so proud of him.”

McCarthy finished the 52-10 win over Minnesota 14-of-20 passing for 219 yards and one touchdown. He also ran four times for 17 yards and two touchdowns.

Jim Harbaugh raves over JJ McCarthy

This season, McCarthy has 1,305 yards, 11 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 77.6% completion percentage. Throughout his career, McCarthy has 4,540 yards, 38 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 67% completion percentage.

Harbaugh even called McCarthy a “dawg” since he was able to play through an ankle injury.

“Yeah, a little bit, but it’s like the young people say, he’s a dawg,” Harbaugh said. “D-A-W-G, disciplined athlete with grit, threw an acronym into it. That’s really what jumped out in my mind watching him play, just … and he’s in total control when he’s making those kind of plays.

“Whether it’s … (it might) look kind of wild but like, he just doesn’t care. Like he’s just got no conscience, you know? But yeah, he’s really in total control. The athleticism that it takes to do that is off the charts, it really is. But he’s great.”

McCarthy will have to keep it up going for the next few weeks as Michigan hosts Indiana, hits the road to play Michigan State and hosts Purdue. That’s the next stretch before taking on Penn State.