The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1510053
NOVEMBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 11 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Yes, J.J. McCarthy Could Return In 2024 By Chris Balas It's hard to imagine Michigan getting four years out of a talent like junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but … we are. And that's because too many people have told us how "unique" he is, and how much he loves U-M (which we see every time he plays, or every time we interview him). It's one of the reasons this team loves him so much and why he's such a great leader — and, frankly, why this team is so good. He isn't a captain only because there were so many great seniors, but he never complained. He is every bit the captain on the field, and that's good enough for him. But there's something to be said for having the title, and we think that's something he would relish if he returned. Should the Wolverines fall short of a national title this year, for example, he might still want to chase that dream. If he's a top-20 guy in the NFL Draft, he might have no choice but to go, but he can be picky. If he doesn't want the big market team, for example — and there are several other great quarter- backs going in this draft — he can wait. So, yeah — it's a possibility. We just hope he makes the right decision for himself. J.J. McCarthy Will Be A First-Rounder In '24 By Clayton Sayfie McCarthy is an individual in the same bucket as a Blake Corum or Aidan Hutchinson — all about the team. Both of those players chose to return for their senior season at U-M, and we wouldn't be surprised at all if McCarthy did the same. But with the way he's playing right now, at a first-round draft pick level, the best bet is that Wolverine fans will only get to enjoy him for another several months. McCarthy has a great chance to solidify himself as the third quarterback taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, behind USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye. According to some analysts, he's already there, and his stock will only rise as the Wolverines' schedule gets tougher in No- vember and into the postseason. McCarthy makes good NIL money at Michigan, but first-round dollars are a completely different deal. That's not his main motivation, of course, but we pre- dict that his level of play will dictate that he's a first-round pick, and that opportunity will be too hard to pass up. ❱ POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT ❰ IS THERE A CHANCE J.J. McCARTHY RETURNS FOR HIS SENIOR SEASON? McCARTHY Lloyd Carr's Michigan Football Journey is a book about how an "interim" coach stepped up for Michigan and won his way into the College Football Hall of Fame. Along the way, he won 122 games, 5 Big Ten Championships, and 1 national championship. Not bad for a man who didn't know if he would even finish his first season in 1995! This book is a must read for all Michigan Wolverine football fans! This timely book is the perfect way to begin what could be one of the most exciting Wolverine football seasons since 1997. Jim Harbaugh and Team #144 are focused on climbing all the way to the top of the college football mountain in 2023 - just like Coach Carr's team did in 1997. Barry Gallagher is the best-selling author of seven books including four about Michigan Wolverines football You can purchase this book on Amazon or at the M Den. Hail to the Victors Valiant! Hail to Coach Lloyd Carr! Learn How Lloyd Henry Carr Jr. Became the Winningest Coach in Michigan Football History!