A day after celebrating Michigan football’s first national championship in nearly 30 years, quarterback J.J. McCarthy has announced he is declaring for the NFL Draft.
McCarthy announced Sunday on X, formerly Twitter, that he is going out on top after the Wolverines beat Washington 34-13 in last Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship.
“I have talked to many in and out of football, including my family, Coach Harbaugh and many who's [sic] opinions I greatly admire and respect. This decision was not easy and how could it be - I love my teammates. I love my coaches and I love it here in Ann Arbor,” McCarthy said in a statement posted to his social media accounts, captioned "Forever a Michigan Man."
As McCarthy spoke to fans at Crisler Center gathered Saturday afternoon to celebrate the title, chants of “one more year” broke out.
“I just wanna take us back to Nov. 15, the year is 2020. I kinda asked you guys via Twitter, ‘take a few deep breaths, trust that every single man, woman in Schembechler Hall is doing whatever they can to be great and to bring Michigan back to the leaders and best,’” McCarthy said. “And I cannot thank you enough for putting your unwavering faith into us to be just that, which we are today — the leaders and the best.”
After splitting time with Cade McNamara in 2021, a season that ended with the Wolverines’ first trip to the CFP, McCarthy became the full-time starter at the start of 2022.
The Wolverines went 28-1 over the last two years with McCarthy under center. He finished his college career among the best QBs the school has ever seen, racking up more than 6,200 passing yards with a 49-to-11 TD-to-interception ratio and a 67.6% completion rate.
Also on Sunday running back Blake Corum officially declared for the draft, along with defensive back Josh Wallace.