Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy discusses health, upcoming NFL decision
There are mixed reviews on the NFL Draft stock for Michigan Wolverines football junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but he still has at least one more game — CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl against Alabama — to prove himself this season. Some analysts have projected him in the first round, even top 10, while others believe he’ll be a Day 2 pick.
McCarthy, who’s 25-1 as U-M’s starting quarterback, is solely focused on the task at hand and hasn’t looked ahead to the impending decision he’ll have to make about his future with one year of eligibility remaining.
“No, I have not at all,” the Michigan signal-caller said Monday when asked if he’s thought about his decision. “I am completely in the present moment and soaking in every single day, enjoying every single practice, every single meeting with my guys. Only God knows [the answer to] that question, so we’ll know by the end of the season.”
McCarthy said that head coach Jim Harbaugh approached him about discussing the choice he’ll have to make but that he declined.
“He actually brought it up and asked if I wanted to talk about it in the week off, and I told him, ‘I’m only focused on ‘Bama, Coach, and he loved it,” McCarthy said. “He was fired up.”
How McCarthy and Michigan perform in the College Football Playoff could have a big impact on what the 20-year-old decides to do next. If the Wolverines win at least one game or the national championship, it means he would have played well, in all likelihood, boosting his stock and allowing him to cross off the ultimate goal on the to-do list before leaving Ann Arbor.
McCarthy was asked if the next three weeks could be crucial in what he ultimately chooses to do.
“I could see that,” the Michigan junior said. “I feel like I’m just approaching it just like I did Week 1. Every single time you put yourself out there, it’s an opportunity to showcase it to the scouts and NFL teams. Just focused on the same mentality I’ve been since Week 1.”
McCarthy was dealing with at least one injury (lower-body) during the last few games of Michigan’s season. Prior to that, he had battled some pain in one of his ankles earlier in the season. Michigan’s 6-3, 202-pounder revealed that some rest has served him well.
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“Amazing. I feel completely rejuvenated after that little week off, and I’m just ready to get back out on the football field tomorrow,” McCarthy said of his status. “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.”
McCarthy continually told the media during the season that he was feeling great, but there was more to it than what he was leading on.
“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,” McCarthy explained. “I’m excited to be all-out for this one.”
Michigan named McCarthy its most valuable player, as voted on by his teammates. Senior running back Blake Corum won the award a year ago, and the two will share the backfield at least one more time in winged helmets as they chase a national championship.
“It was a tremendous honor,” McCarthy said of earning the hardware at Michigan’s awards show. “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 Blake 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.”
