'A blessing and a curse:' What J.J. McCarthy has learned about being the Michigan QB

Michigan sophomore J.J. McCarthy can’t go anywhere without being stopped by someone who recognizes him. That comes with the territory of being ‘the man’ at quarterback for such a storied program, especially when you’re as charismatic, approachable — and yes, good at football — as he is. 

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It was evident last summer, even before he earned the starting job. He was mobbed by autograph seekers and media alike when he went back to host a youth football camp in Chicago, generous with his time while struggling even to have lunch between sessions. 

Several months later, McCarthy is the face of a program in the playoff and on the doorstep of a national championship. Asked what he knows now about being the Michigan quarterback that he didn’t 13 games ago … well, it showed on his face. 

“A lot of things come with it, just like days like this,” McCarthy said with a weary grin. It definitely puts things in perspective of how your position in life, or profession in life, can change your life drastically.

“Being able to see that at a young age has been awesome, because it prepares me for future paths in life. It’s a blessing and a curse. [But] I’ve seen more blessings than curses. I love every single ounce of it.”

But it can be overwhelming if you let it. 

To his credit, he hasn’t. He’s pleasant even when inundated, and he almost always says the right things in press conferences (and you can tell he’s sincere). 

He’s gone out of his way to thank last year’s quarterback, Cade McNamara, despite fierce competition, and led in his own way even when he couldn’t throw (shoulder). He continued to fight for the starting job even when he was playing from behind. By the end of camp, he’d pulled even with McNamara and would soon become the starter. 

Even then, he knew this team could be special. 

“Probably going back to offseason, when we had our first fourth quarter finisher. Everybody was just eating it up, eating it up,” McCarthy recalled. “This is a team that just wanted nothing more than to get better and strive for greatness. We relished in the hard work. We loved the suck. That was something that separated us from a lot of other teams in the past and teams we go up against.”

And why they’re on the doorstep of a national title. 

McCarthy impressed by TCU’s defense, but …

Much has been made of the TCU offense against Michigan’s defense, but McCarthy and U-M have plenty for the Horned Frogs to think about defensively, too. They pride themselves on their speed and talked about it at length Tuesday morning while also insisting they were ready for the challenge the Michigan offensive line presented. 

“Athletic, fast, and tough,” McCarthy praised of the TCU defense. “They’re a bunch of Texas guys that grew up playing football, loved every ounce of it. They’re fast and tough. That’s definitely the thing that stands out the most.”

They play a 3-3-5 stack defense, one in which the safeties try to fill the gaps. McCarthy is anxious to see if that’s the strategy they employ against the Michigan offense.

“If they stay in that 3-3-5, then it’s going to be a lot of smashing,” he said with a grin. “It just opens up a lot of holes and a lot of running lanes. Just being able to be able to move people is going to be huge for us. Just bringing the Big Ten to the Big 12 and showing them what we’re all about.”

Oluwatimi earns even more praise 

Andrew Vastardis did an outstanding job at center last year for Michigan. The fact that Olu Oluwatimi brought it to another level is why the U-M line earned the Joe Moore Award (nation’s top OL) for the second consecutive year. 

“I keep talking about the offensive line being the heartbeat. He’s the one leading the way,” McCarthy said of his center. “Everything he’s brought to the team since he’s gotten here has just been nothing but positive energy and excellence.”

The reason he won the Rimington and Outland Trophies. 

“One word I can use to describe that guy. He’s a great human being and football player,” McCarthy said. “He’s just meant everything to this team.”