It’s no secret that Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh loves his Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Harbaugh went as far as comparing McCarthy to his former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.
This isn’t the first time Harbaugh has made the comparison, but he made it clear the comparison is becoming stronger and stronger by the day.
“I hate to compare, right? But very much like Andrew Luck,” Harbaugh declared in an interview with On3. “A quarterback that’s once in a generation. I knew it first with Andrew Luck. Just the way he took the field for his first practice as a true freshman… J.J., the first day he walked onto the practice field here at Michigan, that’s what came to mind.”
Jim Harbaugh called J.J. McCarthy a “generational” talent at Big Ten Media Days.
He’s not backing down. https://t.co/1ngeNuY25N
— Nick Schultz (@NickSchultz_7) September 12, 2023
Even though his NFL career was sadly cut short, the fact remains that Luck was one of the best college quarterbacks and prospects of all-time.
Harbaugh comparing McCarthy to Luck is no small compliment. Calling him “once in a generation” sounds a little dramatic, but hey, if that’s how he feels, that’s how he feels.
Quarterbacks in the early running for the Heisman include USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.
McCarthy is not far off the pace – and he’s expected to get better and better as the season progresses.
McCarthy had an impressive 2022 season, passing for 2,719 yards and 22 touchdowns while adding five rushing touchdowns. He has started the 2023 season impressively, completing 87% of his passes for 558 yards and 5 touchdowns over two games.
While McCarthy’s talent is undeniable, he faces the challenge of proving himself on the biggest stage. Last year, in a crucial playoff game with a national championship berth on the line, he threw two interceptions in a heartbreaking 45-51 loss to TCU.
With a talented roster surrounding him, McCarthy has the potential to lead Michigan to the playoff, and possibly beyond, once again.
Do you think Harbaugh is getting a little too carried away with the Andrew Luck comparison? Or do you think it’s warranted?
Where do you rank McCarthy among the best quarterbacks in the country?
Will he lead Michigan to the national championship?