The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 45 a lot of things that we could have done better. I can't wait to watch the tape. But we will be back. I promise that." McCarthy took the defeat extremely hard, the way he had with a fourth-quar- ter fumble at Michigan State a year ear- lier that head coach Jim Harbaugh said wasn't even his fault. If anything, it showed how much he cared. It's never one player to blame in any loss, of course. The Wolverines had several other opportunities to beat the Horned Frogs, but not scoring in inside the 5-yard line and poor defense were just as responsible. But the leaders — the winners — tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves and take it harder when their mistakes contribute to a loss. That's what many in the Michi- gan program say sets McCarthy apart, and why Harbaugh and Co. set their sights on him early in the recruiting process. "J.J. has been the same since he's been a young freshman in high school," Michi- gan offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore said. "He's always been a team guy, never a 'me' guy. He wants to do anything pos- sible to help the team win." He put everything into it in the offsea- son, Moore said, to make sure he could back up his claim. "We've seen his growth and matura- tion on the field with his footwork, his technique, his reads, all those things. He's grown just tremendously, and obvi- ously that comes with playing experi- ence. "He started a whole season in the Big Ten. He's gained a lot of confidence going into the next season." Some would call it "swagger," and he's got that, too. It's reminiscent of a current head coach who wore No. 4 for the Wol- verines in the mid-1980s, only instead of the Harbaugh "guarantee" before fac- ing Ohio State in 1986, McCarthy's was a promise. The parallels don't end there. From the ability to keep plays alive (sometimes dangerously, but almost always with a good result) and make all the throws … the similarities are striking. So is his ability to raise others around him and continue to elevate his game. "He's really done that, and he showed it all spring," Moore praised. "His work ethic and what he does to get himself prepared — even prepared for practice — is what's going to take him to that next level. He continues to push himself and push others around him." Bigger And Better When he took the practice field on Day 1 in the spring of 2022 weighing around 190 pounds, McCarthy looked a bit slen- der, as though one big hit might cause the fan base to hold its breath. Instead, he proved extremely durable, and he showed his toughness throughout the year. It was on full display when he met Ohio State safety Ronnie Hickman head on at the goal line for a key, fourth-quarter touchdown to open a two-score lead in a blowout win at OSU. In the offseason, he worked with strength coach Ben Herbert and other "outside influences" to add 12 to 14 good pounds. "I'm bigger, stronger, faster. Every sin- gle year, I'm just trying to improve those areas of my game," McCarthy said. McCarthy never felt like he deserved anything, but he spent extra time in the film room and was always ready when his number was called. His three plays in the Ohio State game as a frosh in 2021 all played a critical role in the win, including a 31-yard strike to receiver Roman Wilson on a third-quarter touchdown drive. He then made a 6-yard run to the 1 on the same drive that set up the score. When he pulled even with McNa- mara at the end of fall camp last year and earned a start against Hawai'i in Game 2, he made the most of his opportunity. There was no doubt who was No. 1 after he completed 11 of 12 passes for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns. The start of the game had been de- layed for over an hour due to lightning, but nobody left. There was a buzz in the stadium anticipating something special from the sophomore, and he delivered. "His work ethic and what he does to get him- self prepared — even prepared for practice — is what's going to take him to that next level. He continues to push himself and push others around him." OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR SHERRONE MOORE