Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy announces he intends to enter the 2024 NFL Draft

On Sunday, J.J. McCarthy, the quarterback for Michigan, declared his intention to forfeit his remaining eligibility in college football and participate in the 2024 NFL Draft.

This past season, McCarthy guided the Wolverines to their first national title in 26 years, boosting his record to 27-1 since becoming the starting quarterback after defeating Cade McNamara early in the 2022 season. His sole defeat as a starter occurred in the previous year’s College Football Playoff semifinal when UM was defeated by TCU.

Despite finishing 10th in last season’s Heisman Trophy voting, McCarthy didn’t produce outstanding passing numbers for the Wolverines, who are more run-oriented. However, he managed to keep his interception rates low – with only nine in 29 matches over two seasons – and consistently stepped up in crucial moments. Notably, some of these performances were without the guidance of his head coach, Jim Harbaugh, who was absent due to two different three-game suspensions during the season.

McCarthy completed 68.4% of his passes, throwing for 656 yards, four TDs and no interceptions in Michigan’s championship run. This run included four games against Ohio State, Iowa (in the Big Ten Championship Game), and Alabama and Washington (in the College Football Playoff). His crucial TD pass was during the game-tying drive in the final quarter against the Crimson Tide.

McCarthy, set to turn 21 on Jan. 20, is a tall, lean, and athletically talented quarterback who excels when on the move. Over the past two seasons, he has shown significant improvement in making decisions from the pocket. His ability to throw from various platforms and arm angles allows him to effectively utilize the entire field.

Although he’s capable of making spectacular throws with a high degree of difficulty, McCarthy also can miss some layups and is still developing feel and touch as a passer. He’s also rarely been asked to win games, given the team’s potent run game. His style contains shades of Ryan Tannehill and Geno Smith.

McCarthy, a highly anticipated recruit, opted for the Wolverines and saw minimal playing time as a true freshman. In his role as McNamara’s backup in 2021, he completed 34 out of 59 passes for 516 yards, with five touchdowns and two interceptions, and ran for two touchdowns. After eventually securing the starting position in 2022, McCarthy completed 208 out of 322 passes (a 64.6% completion rate) for 2,719 yards, with 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for five touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Despite his efforts, the Wolverines were defeated in the playoff semifinals by TCU.

In 2023, McCarthy guided Michigan to a flawless regular season, marking their third consecutive win over Ohio State, a team that had previously dominated the rivalry with eight successive victories prior to McCarthy’s arrival. This also resulted in the much-anticipated national title. Throughout the season, McCarthy made 240 completions out of 332 passes, equating to a 72.3% success rate. This included throwing for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only four interceptions, three of which occurred during an early-season triumph over Bowling Green.

McCarthy would be the first Michigan quarterback drafted since Jake Rudock, a sixth-round pick in 2016. As a third-year junior, McCarthy is an underclassman and has until Monday to submit a petition to the league for special eligibility.