WATCH: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy discusses CFP prep, Alabama, more
Michigan Wolverines football junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy met with the media Monday afternoon as the Maize and Blue prepare to take on Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Watch video of McCarthy in the player at the top of the screen or on our YouTube channel.
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McCarthy discussed his feelings on playing Alabama in the CFP.
“Excitement,” the Michigan MVP said. “What a great opportunity, especially on the stage that we’re gonna play them on. It’s a tremendous football team, so it’s going to be a great challenge for us, and we love challenges.”
McCarthy was banged up at the end of the regular season leading into the Big Ten championship game, a 26-0 win over Iowa, but rest has done him well with Alabama and the most important game of the season on the clock.
“Amazing,” McCarthy said of how he’s feeling. “I feel completely rejuvenated after that little week off, and I’m just ready to get back out on the football field tomorrow. That’s kind of the whole vibe to the team right now, is just trying to get out there and play ball and get better.
“If you know any athletes, you know that it’s a little worse than leading on, but I’m completely fine now, feel 100 percent healthy and I’m ready to go out there, because these are the games you save your body for. I’m excited to be all-out for this one.”
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McCarthy said practices have been intense but nothing different than how Michigan has prepared the entire 2023 season.
“It’s been the same every single week,” he explained. “We always prepare, whether we’re playing ECU or UNLV or whoever it is, we prepare like we’re playing the best team in the country. So, nothing’s changed. It’s just been more urgent and making sure we don’t miss any little details and leave no stone unturned.”
McCarthy was named the Michigan team’s MVP at an awards show Sunday night. He discussed the honor.
“It was a tremendous honor,” McCarthy. “That was one of my goals when I stepped on campus, to get that award. But there are 10, 15 guys that I could name off right now that deserve that award as well. Like [senior running back] Blake [Corum] mentioned a bunch of times yesterday, we’re not about personal awards, it’s all about team awards. I’m just extremely grateful of my teammates for thinking of me in that light.”
