Colin Cowherd: āThe JJ McCarthy thing is starting to feel like Zach Wilson. Itās āWHAT A THROW AT THE PRO DAY!ā and āHARBAUGH LIKES HIM!ā... And itās like ātimeoutā, he had 22 touchdown passes in 15 games with great protection, playing with leads, and the best coach... It feels very āAlabama quarterbackā where Iām not doubting heās a pro, but it was not an NFL experience. ALWAYS the best coach, ALWAYS the lead, ALWAYS a run game, ALWAYS protection. Michigan hasnāt played any games since the season ended ā how did he go from mid-first to potentially the second pick??āĀ
Nick Wright: āThe Zach Wilson stuff I didnāt understand but I mostly stayed out of because I donāt watch as much college football as you do, Colin, and I didnāt watch a lot of BYU. I watched THIS guy [JJ McCarthy] every weekend because he was on the best team. At no point was I watching Michigan and was like āOH, MAN, AND THEYāVE GOT A TOP 5 PICK AT QUARTERBACK?!ā... The game that Harbaughās replacement had to coach against Penn State where heās like āI canāt screw this up for Jim! I have to rely on what I know I can rely on!, they let the kid throw eight times and gave him the Jimmy G. in the NFC Championship treatment. Theyāre like āTHROW THE BALL EIGHT TIMES AND DONāT SCREW IT UP!ā, which to me was telling.
Iām not saying he canāt be a pro, but never in my adult life watching college football has there been a quarterback that I watched more that I was more confident on what their draft evaluation, which is a Day 2 pick, compared to what it is now with no games taking place. I donāt understand it. I know some folks will go āWELL, WHEN HARBAUGH HAD ANDREW LUCK HE RAN THE BALL!ā... Harbaugh let Luck throw the ball 30 times a game on that Stanford team. JJ threw the ball 21 times a game.
I just donāt understand it, but it sure seems like if he gets past the top 3 that there is going to be a team, be it Minnesota, or the Giants, or the Broncos that are dying to trade him to get him from Harbaugh at number five with that fifth pick the Chargers have, so I guess heās going to be a top 5 pick, I just donāt understand it.āĀ
Watch Nick Wright of FS1ās āFirst Things Firstā join Colin Cowherd to discuss next monthās 2024 NFL Draft, and why he doesnāt understand how former Michigan Wolverines quarterback JJ McCarthy is mysteriously vaulting up draft boards despite his statistics paling in comparison to other prized QBs of the class Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jaylen Daniels, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., Spencer Rattler, Michael Pratt, and Joe Milton.Ā
McCarthyās Wolverines went 15-0 last season and captured their first National Championship since 1997, but McCarthy ranked just 35th in the NCAA in passing yards, and 37th in passing touchdowns.Ā
In perhaps Michiganās biggest win of the regular season, a road game at no. 10 Penn State in which head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for, McCarthy attempted just 8 passes, and Michiganās offense ran the ball 32 consecutive times at one point on a day where the weather was mild and McCarthy was perfectly healthy.Ā
Check out the segment above as Wright compares McCarthy to former NFL Combine phenom-turned bust Zach Wilson, and details how befuddling it is to see McCarthy lauded so much by NFL scouts despite never putting impressive tape together in college.
Bears HC Matt Eberflus Breaks His Silence on Projected #1 Pick Caleb Williams
Doug Gottlieb: Shohei Ohtani is Using His Interpreter as His 'Fall Guy'
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Spotted on Lunch Date After Return to US
49ers GM John Lynch Breaks His Silence on Brandon Aiyuk Trade Speculation
Jason Whitlock: Caitlin Clark is Already Becoming Annoying and Unlikeable
Colin Cowherd: Why This Will Be Giannis' Final Season in Milwaukee
Colin Cowherd: Shedeur Sanders Isn't Good Enough to Pick Where He's Drafted
Georgia Bulldogs Running Back Trevor Etienne Was Arrested
Colin Cowherd Mocks and Downplays Shohei Ohtaniās Gambling Controversy
Jason Whitlock: 'Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion' Wants Caitlin Clark Gone