Sights and sounds: J.J. McCarthy, Michigan teammates host youth camp in Chicago
MCCOOK, Ill. — Michigan Wolverines football junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy, along with dozens of his teammates, held the second annual “BG Champs Camp” with youth players Sunday near Chicago. McCarthy is a La Grange Park, Ill., native, having played high school football at Nazareth Academy before transferring to Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy for his final prep year.
Michigan players helped coach drills for their respective position groups, first with 1st through 4th graders in the morning, then with 5th through 8th graders in the afternoon. The Wolverines were excited to pay it forward to the next generation of players. Over 400 youngsters showed up.
“Out here helping the kids,” said Michigan sophomore quarterback Alex Orji. “J.J. told us there was an opportunity to help guys where he’s from, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to see what the guys that are next up are doing, see what they’re looking like and give them back what we were given when we were there.”
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McCarthy has a passion for giving back to the community. A high NIL earner, McCarthy announced last December that he had pledged over $30,000 to different causes, including children’s hospitals around the midwest. Additionally, for the second straight year he involved his teammates with the camp. All who attended were able to profit from the NIL opportunity.
“Everybody caring about each other, and we’re a team,” said Michigan sophomore signal-caller Jayden Denegal, speaking on what it means that McCarthy brought his teammates along. “Just coming out here and helping this generation of kids, it’s a blessing to come out here and help. Some people don’t have access to it, so helping these kids is good. J.J. — he’s our guy.”
“J.J. is for the people,” senior EDGE Jaylen Harrell added. “He came back, decided to do this for the people in his community. It’s a blessing to be able to come out here and work with them, just giving back. We were in the same shoes once upon a time. Just encouraging them and helping them get better every drill, every step of the way.”
Here are some sights and sounds from the event.
Former Michigan wide receiver A.J. Henning pledged that he’d help at the event before he transferred this spring. He honored his commitment and was one of the most energetic Wolverines in attendance. Henning, a Frankfort, Ill., native, has since announced he will finish his college career at Northwestern, as a graduate transfer.
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As expected, McCarthy was animated in demonstrating and helping with the quarterback drills.
Michigan offensive linemen Zak Zinter, Trevor Keegan and Ryan Hayes (a seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins this spring), have published a children’s book titled, ‘The Men Up Front.’ Zinter and Keegan were selling copies to young football players for $20.
After wins, the Michigan team celebrates in the locker room with their patented chant, “It’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine!” McCarthy’s father, Jim McCarthy, who served as the emcee for the event, brought players to the middle of the huddle and had them lead the chant.
McCarthy and Henning weren’t the only Chicago-area Michigan players to be on hand. Sophomore wide receiver Tyler Morris (Bolingbrook), graduate offensive lineman Trevor Keegan (Crystal Lake), junior EDGE Tyler McLaurin (Bolingbrook), sophomore linebacker Jimmy Rolder, freshman defensive tackles Trey Pierce and Brooks Bahr and senior walk-on tight end Josh Beetham were among those to take part.
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