Jim Harbaugh on Ryan Day’s talk of moving the OSU game, J.J. McCarthy’s offseason, more
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh couldn’t say much about the alleged NCAA violations and possible punishment other than he had “nothing to be ashamed of. But he had plenty to say on his team, starting with sophomore returning starter J.J. McCarthy. Harbaugh called him the best, first-year full-time starter he could recall at Michigan and added even higher praise at Big Ten Media Day, day two.
RELATED: Jim Harbaugh responds to possible suspension at Big Ten Media Day
RELATED: Analysts agree on one area of doubt for Michigan football in 2023
Harbaugh was the last coach from the event to speak at the podium. He lauded his team’s offseason as “tremendous” and said he was looking forward to starting practice August 2, led by his quarterback. McCarthy enters as the team’s starter, the only suspense at the position being who will back him up.
“The first year he played, he played as a true freshman sparingly, became a full-time starter in 2022. I have searched my memory for someone who had a better year as a first-time starter and can’t come up with one,” Harbaugh said of McCarthy. “He’s a once in a generation quarterback at Michigan. His progress continues to grow daily. He’s at the top of his game right now, really in all aspects … everything he does athletically, throwing the football, are at the elite level.
“The thing that makes him the most special, differentiating good and great, is he’s willing to do anything for his teammates, for his team. There’s some comparison to [NFL quarterbacks] Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen. Those would be two that have that level of talent, plus at the quarterback position are willing to do anything or their team. I base that off watching the way Patrick Mahomes interacts with teammates …. Josh Allen, what they say about him.”
Harbaugh praised several of the other leaders on his team, as well. Running back Blake Corum, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, and defensive back Mike Sainristil all had outstanding offseasons and were set to meet the media Thursday, as well. It made his day, week, and offseason when Corum told him he was coming back for one last year, Harbaugh said. While someone asked about the NFL money Corum might have sacrificed, the coach said his back never even brought it up when he announced his return.
Top 10
- 1
Tim Tebow
DJ Lagway reason for Ole Miss nerves
- 2
Tom Brady helped land QB
Michigan got assist on Underwood
- 3
MSU TE hospitalized
Jack Velling injured on first possession
- 4
Rhett Lashlee
SMU coach gets extension
- 5
Justin Fields
OSU legend to make CGD picks
“What he shared with me was he wanted the full offseason. He wanted to be able to get not even back to where he was, but better — stronger, faster, quicker,” Harbaugh said. “Then, when it’s time to go into the NFL, he wanted to go in fully prepared with a full workout leading up to that combine and draft.
“When that time comes, nobody is going to get a better guy. You’re not going to get a more talented player, someone who works harder or cares more. He’s infectious to his teammates in terms of being a leader … I think Blake is in a great place. Everything he’s thought of and visualized in terms of where he would be right now was well trained and well thought out. He’s in a great place.”
Harbaugh on the Ohio State game: ‘We’ll play that whenever’
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said Wednesday he wanted discussions about playing the Michigan game potentially earlier in the year to avoid the possibility of playing back-to-back in a title game. Harbaugh didn’t seem opposed to it but did admit he liked it where it was.
“We’ll play that whenever it’s scheduled to be played,” Harbaugh said. “We know we’re going to play it every season at least once. I don’t have a particular opinion of when it should be played. But right now, I think everybody’s used to that. It’s part of the Thanksgiving tradition now. That’s when we’ll expect it.”
