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Jim Harbaugh: JJ McCarthy is ‘very Andrew Luck-like’ during Michigan career

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Jim Harbaugh has not backed away from comments of JJ McCarthy as a generational talent at quarterback. During Monday’s press conference, Harbaugh continued those comments by comparing the Michigan QB to one of the head coach’s best college players.

During his time leading Stanford, Harbaugh had Andrew Luck as one of his QBs. Luck would go on to finish second in Heisman Trophy voting twice during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He would eventually become the No. 1 overall pick for the Indianapolis Colts during the 2012 NFL Draft.

Harbaugh admitted during his press conference that McCarthy’s first practice in Ann Arbor very much reminded him of Luck’s beginning in Stanford:

“You hate to compare, right? But very much like Andrew Luck at QB,” said Harbaugh about McCarthy. “Once in a generation, I knew it first with Andrew Luck is just the way he took the field for practice as a true freshman… Just the presence they have when they walk on the field and the first time you give them the QB position.

“JJ, first day he walked out on the practice field here at Michigan, that’s what came to mind. It was very Andrew Luck-like, the presence and the demeanor. The everything. Yeah, well-documented, JJ McCarthy’s as much of a generation QB here at Michigan or anywhere.”

In his second year as a starter, McCarthy has certainly entered the season with a bang. He has been extremely efficient and productive and could be Michigan’s best Heisman contender this fall. We’ll see if he’s able to turn in the kind of season Luck had with the Cardinal.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.