Heading into the 2022 season, J.J. McCarthy was in a battle with Cade McNamara to win the QB 1 job at the University of Michigan. As we know, McCarthy easily won that battle and he has since led the Wolverines to another win over Ohio State, a second-straight Big Ten Championship, and a berth in the College Football Playoff. While speaking to Rich Eisen, McCarthy talked about how a snub by Buckeyes’ head coach Ryan Day “jumpstarted a little fire” in him.
What did J.J. McCarthy say about Ryan Day’s snub?
While speaking to Rich Eisen, McCarthy explained why he chose Michigan over Ohio State.
“I was on the other side — Urban Meyer left, and (Day) was the guy recruiting me,” McCarthy said on The Rich Eisen Show. “After (Meyer) left, it was coach Day’s show. Coach Day wanted to go a different route at the quarterback position for the 2021 class. I respect him for his decision, but that was something that jumpstarted a little fire in me.
You really think you know it all, and you think you know what’s best for you, but God knows what’s best for you, and he’s going to put you in the right situation. I came here a week and a half later, and Coach Harbaugh showed nothing but love. It was an instantaneous family feel where you felt comfortable right away. That’s hard to feel at a lot of places when you’re on these college visits because a lot of it’s ingenuine and there’s a lot of shiny glitz and glamor.”
Coming out of high school, McCarthy was a 5-star quarterback, and the No. 25 ranked player in the Class of 2021.
In that class, Day decided to go with Kyle McCord over McCarthy.
In 12 career games at Ohio State, McCord has completed 70.7% of his passes for 606 yards and three touchdowns to go along with two interceptions. Assuming that C.J. Stroud leaves the Buckeyes following the current season, McCord will almost certainly be the starter in 2023.
