Michigan football: J.J. McCarthy throws and impresses during pro day workout with NFL teams in Ann Arbor

Michigan football held its pro day on March 17 in front of NFL scouts, head coaches and front office personnel in Ann Arbor. A handful of skill players were on display running routes and catching passes. But instead of a random passer delivering the football, it was soon-to-be junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

McCarthy has put on 10 pounds of good weight this offseason, his first full go-round as Michigan’s QB1. Last offseason, he did not throw while rehabbing a shoulder injury. Now he is getting extra reps wherever he can.

Friday, it just happened to be in support of his former teammates. And in front of NFL scouts a year ahead of when he is draft-eligible.

Tight end Joel Honigford, primarily used as an extra blocker, was out to prove that he could be counted as a pass catcher in hopes to land on an NFL roster. McCarthy delivering him the ball added to the comfort level in his workout.

“He knows how to time me up and he throws a good ball too,” Honigford told reporters on Friday. “So it was nice to work with him as opposed to somebody else [that was] just brought in to throw it the first time today. J.J. is a good quarterback and he set us up well for the success and it was nice for him, too.”

Wide receiver Ronnie Bell was also on the receiving end of McCarthy’s passes on Friday. He believes that Michigan is in great hands for next season at quarterback. He noted a little more mustard on some of the passes that came his way, too.

“He was zipping that thing today,” Bell said. “I’ve been going at it with him for so long, you kind of almost take for granted how good he was. Then you come back, get the throw with him. It’s like, oh my gosh, he’s really, really good.

“That ball was coming for sure. He always threw it pretty good. Now he’s got just even more touch and zip on it. So definitely a lot of fun. And just pretty good to catch.”

Earlier this spring, head coach Jim Harbaugh said he thinks about how much better McCarthy could be. How much more he can handle could shape the trajectory of the Michigan offense in its quest for a national title.

“Well, it’s a really good question,” Harbaugh said. “And something I’ve really thought about. I look at J.J.’s first whole first season as a starter and all the things he faced. Good, bad, cheered, booed. Hit run, throw — everything he did, it’s about as good as you could be. As a first-year starter, no question about it. I don’t think anybody’s ever seen anything — I haven’t seen anything like that, first-year starting quarterback. 13-0 on Christmas and we’ve never been undefeated at Christmas. And then I call that a season for him.

“The TCU game in itself I think was practically like a whole season of experience. Because of all the things that happened. Behind, come back, really behind, come back, really good. Every up-down hit. He was just in so many football situations in that game, it was almost like a whole season. So it was really good.”

Bell agreed with Harbaugh’s assessment of McCarthy’s improvement last season with Michigan. With some potential teaks coming to the offense, he thinks the signal-caller is ready for the leap.

“He just got better every play,” Bell said. Throughout every game, as the game went on, he was growing and getting better. Again, watching him and like watching him practice, like he just feels so comfortable and just so dialed in on everything.

“And talking to him, too, about kind of how the offense is kind of being oriented now, he really likes it and is comfortable with it. And everybody’s really fallen in love with it. And you can tell. Comfortability is the biggest thing and like really knowing more about it. And that just comes with experience, too, you know, because for the most part, it’s all the same language, all the same stuff. Just maybe just a couple of tweaks. So definitely guys are just being more comfortable and more experienced with it. And just having fun, making plays.”

McCarthy started the final 13 games of the season for Michigan, throwing for 2,719 yards with 22 touchdowns and 5 interceptions and 70 rushes for 306 yards and 5 scores. FanDuel lists his Heisman Trophy odds at +3000 for the 2023 season.