Sherrone Moore updates progress of JJ McCarthy entering 2023 season

J.J. McCarthy goes into Year 3 with Michigan but the expectations may be greater than ever. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore is quite confident in the quarterback.

He took over as the starter last year and with a stout running game, the offense actually took a step forward.McCarthy always had the potential to be great, but hasn’t reached his peak yet.

Perhaps 2023 is the year McCarthy takes a major leap forward for Michigan, at least in the eyes of Moore.

“First thing is confidence,” Moore said on the MGoBlue Podcast. “Just his confidence. He was always a quiet confident kid. But now you can see it zoomed in the way he just walks around, the way he approaches the film room, the way he walks on the field. When he gets out of the huddle, or he looks to the sideline for a play, like the dude just looks like he’s dynamic. Just in the way he approaches everything.” 

McCarthy was a hyped prospect and received playing time as a freshman despite being the No. 2 quarterback to Cade McNamara in 2021.

Michigan back to the College Football Playoff but taking the next step towards a title? That's up to QB JJ McCarthy and OC Sherrone Moore sounds pretty confident.@On3sports x @TheWolverineOn3

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— Nick Kosko (@nickkosko59) May 17, 2023

J.J. McCarthy making more progress at Michigan

“He always had arm talent and strength and all that,” Moore said. “What he’s done now with his body, he started to form his body even more. But mentally into the game, he knows the playbook like we do. And I think when a quarterback does that, and he’s always around like, besides if he’s not in class, he’s here. 

“So when a quarterback starts doing that, especially your starter, that really changes the game. Then from a leadership standpoint, he’s starting to take that ownership and you know, he’s got it. We’ve got so many good leaders on the team. You don’t want too many guys to be talking but I always told him as a quarterback, you have the trump card to get it how you want it to be done.”

Last season at Michigan, McCarthy threw for 2,719 yards, 22 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 64.6% completion percentage. He added 306 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

In his career, McCarthy has 3,235 yards, 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions, a 63.5% completion percentage, 430 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

As a member of the Class of 2021, McCarthy was a four-star recruit out of La Grange Park (Ill.) IMG Academy (Fla.), according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 12 overall prospect in the state of Florida, the No. 9 quarterback in the class and the No. 47 overall prospect in the class.