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WATCH: JJ McCarthy shows off his arm on first touchdown at Michigan

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•09/04/21•

Jonathan Wagner

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Dave Reginek via Getty Images.

You couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season if you’re the Michigan Wolverines. As Michigan maintained a huge lead late in the game, true freshman quarterback J.J. McCarthy was able to get his first collegiate game experience. Despite not starting Saturday, McCarthy immediately showed off his tremendous arm talent upon entering in the second half against Western Michigan. He took over the offense during the third quarter and played the remainder of the game.

With a 40-7 lead and eight minutes to play in the third quarter, McCarthy was faced with a third-and-25. McCarthy scrambled right, evaded a tackle, set his feet, and delivered a rocket across the field that went for a touchdown. Not bad for his first collegiate touchdown.

Cade McNamara got the start at quarterback for Michigan and completed 9-of-11 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. McCarthy completed 4-of-6 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in his Michigan debut.

McCarthy had great success in his high school career

Nazareth High School in La Grange Park, Illinois made the state championship game in every year from 2017-2019 with McCarthy at the helm of the offense. In 2018, McCarthy led Nazareth to a 13-1 record and won the Class 7A state championship. McCarthy played his senior season at IMG Academy. There, IMG won the 2020 national championship while going 8-0 and out-scoring opponents 381-82. The now Michigan quarterback was a major reason behind that success.

Throughout his high school career, McCarthy found a way to win games. He finished 36-2 as a starter. McCarthy threw for 1,392 yards and 17 total touchdowns with no interceptions at IMG. In his sophomore and junior seasons at Nazareth, he threw for 6,268 yards and 73 touchdowns.

In his high school career, McCarthy totaled 7,905 passing yards with 94 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He earned a four star rating as a recruit and was one of the top quarterback prospects in his class.

McCarthy is unlikely to play significant snaps this season as McNamara will be Michigan’s starting quarterback. McNamara completed 43 of his 71 passes last season with 425 yards and five touchdowns in limited action. McNamara is a little bit ahead of McCarthy right now, but McCarthy has impressed head coach Jim Harbaugh during the offseason.