All-Big Ten quarterback completed 72.3% of his throws, sixth, slightly ahead of LSU Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. He ranked sixth in passing efficiency nationally.
McCarthy was fourth at Michigan with 2,991 passing yards and 22 touchdowns for the second straight season. He had four interceptions, none in the final four games, and only one after Week 3. Over two years, he won 96.4% of his games as a starter, the most by a quarterback with at least 20 starts since Toledo's Chuck Ealey finished 35-0 in 1971.
He was raised in La Grange Park, Illinois, 15 miles west of Chicago. After winning two state titles in three years at Nazareth Academy in his hometown, he played his senior season at IMG Academy in Florida during the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic. McCarthy got despondent away from his family and in his room alone. Meditation became a regular practice when he investigated mental health benefits.
McCarthy would sit at the foot of a goalpost two hours before kickoff on game days and meditate to prepare for the pressure of his important role. JJ For The Kids, his nonprofit, helps Chicago and Ann Arbor youngsters. He is a mental health champion.
McCarthy assisted Cade McNamara as Michigan won its first of three Big Ten crowns after ending an eight-game losing run against Ohio State as a rookie. McCarthy defeated McNamara in 2022, making him transfer to Iowa, and helped the Wolverines achieve the College Football Playoff for the second of three years.
Michigan won its first national title since 1997 and a school record 15-0 last Monday night over Washington under his leadership. After a sign-stealing plan that got coach Harbaugh suspended for the final three games of the season, the convincing triumph finished a season.
Recently, NCAA President Charlie Baker informed reporters that Michigan won the national title “fair and square.”Harbaugh may make a significant choice shortly. Athletic director Warde Manuel informed supporters at the victory party Saturday night that he was working on a new contract with Harbaugh, who has three seasons left, to keep him away from NFL teams.
After four years at 44-19 with the San Francisco 49ers and departing amid front office turmoil, Harbaugh returned to Michigan, where he was a standout quarterback, in 2015. He played three consecutive NFC championship games and lost the Super Bowl to Baltimore and his brother John roughly 11 years ago.