McCarthy Enters Draft After Delivering Michigan's First Title in 25+ Years

After leading Michigan to an undefeated season and national championship, star quarterback J.J. McCarthy announced he is entering the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy departs Ann Arbor on top, leaving behind a profound legacy. His early exit raises questions around who will replace him at QB and if coach Jim Harbaugh will return or also leave for the NFL. But McCarthy capped his college career in storybook fashion, guiding the Wolverines to their first title in over 25 years.

Episode Transcript

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Greeting's Wolverine's fans. Today, webring you an update on quarterback JJ McCarthy's
big news. The leader of Michigan'sstorybook championship run has decided to take his
talents to the NFL draft, forgoing his senior season in Anne Arbor.
We will break down McCarthy's championship sendoff celebration this past weekend, reflect on
his winding path to Anne Arbour's biggeststage, and explore what the future may

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now hold for Michigan football. Evenwith his early departure, McCarthy's legacy is
firmly cemented after delivering the programme's firstnational title in over a quarter century.
Stay tuned for a deep look atMcCarthy's draft decision, what coach Jim Harbaugh's
next move may be, which otherplayers could go pro, and how McCarthy's

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heir apparent, Alex Orgy might fillthe gap at quarterback. We'll paint the
picture of an uncertain off season aheadwith plenty still unwritten, but one thing
is for sure. JJ McCarthy willgo down in history among the Wolverine's greatest
after leading Michigan out of the wildernessback to the mountaintop. The University of
Michigan's star quarterback J. J.McCarthy has declared for the twenty twenty four

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NFL Draft after leading the Wolverines toan undefeated fifteen zero season and the program's
first national championship since nineteen ninety seven. The twenty year old McCarthy made the
announcement on Sunday, just one dayafter capping a storybook season with a convincing
victory over the Washington Huskies in theCollege Football Playoff National Championship game. The

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decision was not easy, and howcould it be. I love my teammates,
I love my coaches, and Ilove it here in ann Arbor,
McCarthy wrote in a statement posted tohis social media accounts. Still, the
budding NFL prospect concluded that Michigan willforever be in my heart and will always
be in my heart, and Iwill be proud to be known as a

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Michigan Man. In his first fullseason as the starting quarterback, the Illinois
native put up impressive numbers, completingseventy two point three percent of his passes
for two thousand, nine hundred ninetyone yards, twenty two touchdowns and just
four interceptions. His completion percentage rankedsixth nationally. While Michigan leaned heavily on

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its top ranked rushing attack and dominantdefense in key victories over Ohio State in
Washington, McCarthy delivered consistent production.He goes down as the fourth most prolific
passer in a single Michigan season andmatched last year's twenty two touchdown pass total.
The top tier arm talent and athleticdual threadability that made him such an

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acclaimed recruit will likely land McCarthy inthe first round of the draft, alongside
fellow underclassman Drake May North Carolina andCaleb Williams USC. But it was McCarthy's
intangibles, intelligence, poise leadership thatlifted the Michigan program to its championship pinnacle.
Boasting a career twenty seven one recordas a starter over two seasons,

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he has won ninety six point fourpercent of his games, the highest mark
by a quarterback with at least twentystarts since Toledo's Chuck Eely went thirty five
zero in the late nineteen sixties andearly nineteen seventies. A championship sendoff.

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McCarthy's farewell came during a championship celebrationrally on Saturday that drew tens of thousands
of fans to Anne Arbor. Whilethe Wolverines have produced more than their share
of professional talent, a parade throughtown, an event at Chrysler Center offered
a fitting public tribute to McCarthy andhis teammates for bringing home Michigan's first national

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title in twenty six years. Therally marked a poignant moment for McCarthy in
particular. Two years to the dayearlier, with Michigan struggling through a pandemic
short and two four season, thethen back up joined a zoom fan event
and promised better days ahead. Heexpressed gratitude for the continued loyalty and exhorted
the Maize and Blue supporters to takethree deep breaths. McCarthy would soon make

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good on that commitment in storybook fashion. As the twenty year old team leader
took the microphone again on Saturday,the sold out basketball arena irrupted in chance
of one more year. McCarthy smiled, but stood resolute in his choice.
Mindful of his NFL prospects, heacknowledged that difficult decisions awaited both himself and

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other Wolverines. I just want tolet you guys know, McCarthy told the
crowd, whatever decisions come, Michiganwill forever be in my heart and will
always be in my heart. Awinding road to ann Arbor's brightest stage.
The path that delivered McCarthy to Michigan'schampionship platform has hardly run straight. A
football stand out in the Chicago suburbs, McCarthy won two state titles in three

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years under his father's tutelage at NazarethAcademy. His senior season, however,
got disrupted by the covidnight nineteen pandemic. McCarthy spent months isolated at the IMG
Academy boarding school in Florida just tosalvage a season. Being separated from family
and confined to his dorm, McCarthyhas since shared left him depressed and struggling

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mentally. He educated himself on meditationand mindfulness, making daily reflection part of
his routine. Even on game days, he would sit alone, eyes closed,
at the base of the goal postto prepare his mind. McCarthy has
become an outspoken advocate for mental health, starting his own youth focused charity back
home upon Arriving in ann Arbor,McCarthy sat behind starter Cade McNamara while earning

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occasional reps as a freshman. TheWolverines still snapped their losing skid against Ohio
State and captured the Big Ten title. McCarthy then beat out McNamara for the
job heading into the twenty twenty twoplayoff campaign. The team went on to
bookend that championship with two more connPrince crowns. In the wake of triumph,

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scrutiny also accompanies champion programs. Michigan'sperfect season became tainted by revelations the
defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and analyst AlbertKarshnia had improperly obtained opponent signals. McCarthy
and the Wolverines still powered through thefinal weeks as coach Jim Harbaugh served a
three game suspension meeted out by theBig Ten. The ordeal seemed to steal

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their resolve even more. Michigan wonthe National championship fair and square. NCIA
president Charlie Baker has since stated questionsloom for Michigan. McCarthy now turns his
attention to the NFL Draft, whilequarterbacks May and Williams should also land early
first round slots. McCarthy looks capableof soon earning starts himself at football's highest

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level. The quarterback's departure, however, surfaces pressing unknowns back in Anne Arbor.
Will coach Harbaugh also leave Michigan behindfor another NFL opportunity, Will other
Wolverines make McCarthy's loaf to the professionalranks and can McCarthy's understudy, sophomore Alex
Orgy adequately fill the void for aprogram with soaring expectations. Rumors continue swirling

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that Harbaugh may exit to take anNFL head coaching job despite having three years
remaining on his Michigan contract. Collegeprograms with vacancies like the Chargers, Panthers,
Titans, and Colts could pursue theformer San Francisco forty nine Ers coach.
Harbaugh reached three straight NFC championships andwon Super Bowl with the forty nine

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Errors from twenty eleven to twenty fourteen. Yet the fifty nine year old also
retains deep Michigan roots from his playingdays under legendary coach Beau Chembischler. After
Saturday's festivities, athletic director Ward Manueltold the Chrysler Center crowd that he hopes
to sign Harbaugh to a longer andeven more lucrative deal. Harbaugh himself may

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be torn between NFL possibilities and cementinghis Wolverine's legacy. Further, plenty of
players also fail stay or go choices. Running Back and Heisman finalist Blake Corum,
despite a knee injury, seems NFLbound. Stand Out linebacker Junior Coulson
recently announced his departure as well.Other veterans with remaining college eligibility could still

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opt to chase pro football fortunes too. What's certain is that McCarthy will no
longer spearhead the attack and the famedwinged Helmets. Sophomore Alex Orgy, a
promising recruit in his own right,stands poised to take the reins at quarterback.
How seamlessly he can fill the startingjob vacated by a program icon could
significantly shape Michigan's twenty twenty four outlook, But coach Harbaugh, his staff,

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and the remaining personnel seem capable ofsmooth transitions too if need be. The
days ahead will reveal much about whoreturns to defend Michigan's hard earned championship Mantle.
Yet whatever shake ups transpire in annArbor, J J. McCarthy has
forever etched his name alongside Wolverine's greatslike Tom Brady, Charles Woodson, and

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Desmond Howard who achieved football's pinnacle.And that wraps up our breakdown on JJ
McCarthy entering the NFL Draft after hischampionship run at Michigan. Even with his
early departure, McCarthy's legacy is setas an all time Wolverine's great We still
await word on who will be fillingCoach Harbaugh's shoes, McCarthy's shoes and the

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shoes of other potential NFL bound players. One thing is sure, the Maze
and Blue will reload with supreme talent. Once again, thank you for listening
to Michigan Sports Radios coverage of McCarthyand Michigan football. Please subscribe to our
podcast to receive the latest ann Arborupdates. We appreciate you choosing us as
your source for Wolverine's news and commentary.