J.J. McCarthy details conversation with Jim Harbaugh ahead of draft decision

INDIANAPOLIS – Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy headlines the 18 attendees at the NFL Combine with the chance to go early in the first round after three seasons in Ann Arbor. Following the team’s 15-0 season and College Football Playoff National Championship, he had the option to run it back for one last go-round in Ann Arbor but chose to cash in on his pro dreams now.

McCarthy said Friday at the combine that former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, now with the Los Angeles Chargers, encouraged him to declare and take his talents to the next level.

The two spoke shortly after the season concluded and it was not much of a debate on what the next move should be.

“It was quite easy, honestly,” McCarthy said. “He was like, ‘Hey, I’m out here thinking of you if you were my son.’ And he told me ‘I want you to go because of your draft stock. It could get higher, but not that much higher. And it’s just an opportunity you don’t want to pass up.’ Just hearing that from him just gave me so much more confidence because that was kind of where my head was leaning towards. So just hearing that was amazing.”

Quarterback-needy teams in this year’s class include the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders, who play Harbaugh’s Chargers twice a season. McCarthy has met with both teams, signaling legitimate interest with the No. 12 and 13 picks, respectively.

“It would be a little interesting, looking across the field and seeing him in the baby blue,” McCarthy said. “It would be an honor just being on that field in general, no matter who’s across the sideline. There’d be some nice emotional hugs afterward.”

McCarthy, who was 27-1 as a starter at Michigan, threw for 2,991 yards with 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions this season for the Maize and Blue, completing 240-of-332 (72.3%) of his passes. One of the bigger knocks on him during the draft process has been Michigan’s lack of consistent passing success, but he has never focused on that.

“Stats, for me, wasn’t the big thing,” McCarthy said. “All I cared about was being the best teammate I could be. Being the best quarterback I could be, whatever is asked of me.  The only stat I cared about was winning, and we did pretty good in that category.”

No Michigan win this season may have exemplified that more than the 24-15 victory at Penn State on Nov. 11. Without Harbaugh on the sidelines, Sherrone Moore guided the team to victory that saw McCarthy complete 7-of-8 passes for 60 yards. Michigan ran the ball 32-straight times to end the game, and that game is something that has come up in McCarthy’s meetings with NFL teams this week.

“That was a big one that came up and it was kind of the ability, especially that example to let them know my teammates, receivers specifically, were not very excited when Coach Moore said it’s going to be one of those games,” McCarthy said. “But just letting them know the process of the approach I took during that time of just saying, this is a huge part of our quest to become national champions.

“Not necessarily saying that I was the only selfless one, but telling the guys that my teammates were very selfless in that situation, and explaining situations like that. Ultimately letting them know the first thing, really the three things about me is I’m the ultimate team guy. I want to win games, and I love this game more than anything.”

Michigan transitions from Harbaugh to Moore as its head coach moving forward, who has the full endorsement of the outgoing Wolverine signal-caller.

“He’ll do amazing. The most important quality of a head coach at the University of Michigan is being a Michigan man. And he’s got that. He’s earned his stripes and the boys love him. They’re behind him. And with those two things, they’re going to be successful no matter what.