2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: J.J. McCarthy, QB Michigan
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: JJ McCarthy, a Quarterback from Michigan. He is from LaGrange Park, Illinois, and was a 4-star recruit out of Nazareth Academy.
In 2021, as a freshman, he appeared in 11 games for the Wolverines. In that time he totaled 516 passing yards with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He was able to contribute 152 rushing yards on 25 attempts.
His 2022 as a sophomore he appeared in 14 games where his production skyrocketed. He threw for 2,719 yards with 22 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Once again he contributed a solid rushing total, adding in 306 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns on 70 attempts on his way to a College Football Playoff appearance.
In his final season at Michigan in 2023, he led the Wolverines to their first National Championship since 1997. He appeared in 15 games and threw for 2,991 yards with 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Once again he was able to add in production on the ground with 202 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns on 64 attempts.
Measurables
NCAA Statistics
| Passing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | AY/A | TD | Int | Rate |
| *2021 | Michigan | Big Ten | FR | QB | 11 | 34 | 59 | 57.6 | 516 | 8.7 | 8.9 | 5 | 2 | 152.3 |
| *2022 | Michigan | Big Ten | SO | 14 | 208 | 322 | 64.6 | 2719 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 22 | 5 | 155.0 | |
| *2023 | Michigan | Big Ten | JR | QB | 15 | 240 | 332 | 72.3 | 2991 | 9.0 | 9.8 | 22 | 4 | 167.4 |
| Career | Michigan | 482 | 713 | 67.6 | 6226 | 8.7 | 9.4 | 49 | 11 | 160.5 | ||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Is very agile and elusive which allows him to be aggressive and mobile when facing pressure in the pocket.
- Has amazing arm strength and excellent zip on the ball. Elite arm.
- Shows elite pocket presence in high-pressure situations and knows when to run and when to bounce outside the pocket.
- Possesses excellent deep ball velocity, accuracy, and touch.
- Has near flawless throwing mechanics even when faced with pressure in the pocket.
Weaknesses
- He struggles to place the ball in the right area, especially along the sidelines.
- Can be inconsistent with ball placement and often struggles to lead receivers, frequently throwing behind them and causing them to make adjustments.
- Is undersized and could break down with repeated contact. Rushing upside and size combination could make him a high risk for frequent injuries.
- He is extremely raw and needs to develop and mature in his decision-making.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
Ideal Landing Spot: Los Angeles Rams
McCarthy is a prospect who would benefit from sitting for a year behind a veteran. So few situations fit better than the Los Angeles Rams.
Matthew Stafford is rapidly reaching the end of his time in the NFL and as we saw last year with the drafting of Stetson Bennett, the Rams are very much aware of this ticking clock. The Bennett experiment didn’t pan out for the Rams, so McCarthy could be a great addition to the roster.
There are very few quarterbacks in the NFL that would be better to learn from than Stafford and this could be a Jordan Love-type situation that seems ripe for success.
Post-Draft Analysis
Pick 1.10 to the Minnesota Vikings
McCarthy landed in the perfect situation with ideal draft capital. Pairing a strong armed and accurate quarterback with arguably the best receiver in the NFL could be the perfect storm for a Top-5 fantasy finish.
McCarthy is certainly not without his risk, but his cost in fantasy leagues is more than worth the risk given his elite upside. I’ll be drafting McCarthy everywhere I can.
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe video breakdown of JJ McCarthy below.
