25 October 2023 , 15:02
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Former San Francisco 49ers and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has named the team's current quarterback JJ McCarthy as the best ever - while comparing him to Tom Brady ahead of a potential move into the NFL next year.
Brady spent four years with Michigan, the last two being the starter where he impressed - going down as one of the legends of the prestigious school before going on to become the greatest NFL quarterback of all-time with the New England Patriots before seeing out his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His total of seven Super Bowls is the most of any player to have played in the NFL.
And Harbaugh, who has spent time around Brady, sees some of his traits in his current quarterback McCarthy, who could declare for the NFL Draft after this season.
McCarthy is 132 of 169 passing attempts for 1,799 yards and 18 touchdowns with just three interceptions so far this season, with the Wolverines remaining undefeated at 8-0.
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He is now the favourite to win the Heisman Trophy above the likes of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr - three quarterbacks expected to be high first-round picks in April.
Speaking on McCarthy, Harbaugh said: "He’s on the path to be the of all-time at Michigan in every way.
"It’s kind of an amalgamation. When you think of who’s the best quarterback that ever (played for Michigan), it’s kind of an amalgamation that comes to mind.
Jim Harbaugh believes JJ McCarthy to be worthy of the hype"The leadership of (Tom) Brady, the throwing of (Chad) Henne, the running of Denard (Robinson), the winning of (Rich) Leach. But I would even take JJ over the amalgamation quarterback. And I think the statistics bear that out."
It's high-praise for McCarthy, to be named as the greatest of all-time at a school who have won 11 national championships. However, they have been without a championship ring since 1997, when Brady was the back-up.
Despite McCarthy's impressive season, it remains unclear if he will declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
As Harbaugh stated, McCarthy is on the pathway to becoming the school's greatest quarterback of all-time, and could improve his stock further by staying in school for his senior year.
This year's NFL Draft will already see potentially half-a-dozen quarterbacks declare for the draft, with Williams, Maye, Penix Jr, Bo Nix, Quinn Ewers, Riley Leonard and Spencer Rattler all potentially being first round draft picks.
Should McCarthy stay in school, he'd have a strong chance at being the first overall pick in 2025, should he continue to improve.