J.J. McCarthy says he’s approaching his first collegiate start the same way he walked in the door at Michigan.
Clear headed and confident, the sophomore quarterback credits his preparation over the last 18 months as an understudy to Cade McNamara for having him ready for Saturday’s game against Hawaii (8 p.m., Big Ten Network), Week 2 of the Wolverines’ unique plan to find a full-time starter
I was always preparing to be the guy,” McCarthy said Tuesday night. “Snap 1, Game 1, whatever it was. Now it’s just about having that reassurance that I’m going to be in there snap 1, so it kind of clears all the worry and indecisiveness about it.”
McCarthy spent all of 2021 as the backup to McNamara, who won the job last spring, started all 14 games during the season and took Michigan to new heights as the starter. Not only did the Wolverines win 12 games, but they beat Ohio State, won the Big Ten championship and reached the College Football Playoff.
McCarthy played too, appearing in 11 games behind center, often in specific situations and late in lopsided games. But it was also clear that Michigan’s staff was trying to get the former five-star recruit integrated into the offense.
“Being around the guys like we have here, coaches that we have here, they just fill you with uber-confidence,” said McCarthy, who completed 34 of his 59 pass attempts for 516 yards and five touchdowns last season, while rushing for 124 yards and two scores.
