Jim Harbaugh On J.J. McCarthy 'I Think He's The Best One'

After another flawless performance on Saturday night, the Michigan head coach had high praises for his QB.

It was another short night for J.J. McCarthy. Once again, the Wolverines' starting quarterback was out of the game before the third quarter was over. Not because he played badly -- he played rather fantastic -- but because Michigan had the ballgame under control and the Wolverines were able to play just about every player they brought with them to Minnesota. 

The Michigan junior looked poise and was full of confidence during almost three-quarters of play on Saturday night. He completed 70% of his passes for 219 yards and a score. But he also used his legs to produce. McCarthy ran the ball four times for 17 yards and two scores. 

Come to find out after the game, McCarthy's ankle was bothering him, so he was perfectly fine not playing the fourth quarter. And if it were up to McCarthy, he'd be fine doing this every week.

“My ankle wasn’t feeling 100 percent, and to just be able to rest it in that time is a testament to how fast we’re starting and how well our defense is playing,” McCarthy said. “I’ll be fine sitting out the fourth quarter of every game if it comes down to that.”

J.J. McCarthy after the game on Saturday night.  / Imagn

There are some really good quarterbacks out there this year and you can find a bunch of them out west. Reigning Heisman winner, Caleb Williams, is the first to come to mind. But Jim Harbaugh was fully confident when he told the media on Saturday that he thinks McCarthy is the best one out there. Harbaugh said he tries not to be biased, and he does believe the Wolverines have the best signal caller of them all. 

There is nobody else Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines would rather have running this offense. 

"I know a lot of people -- there’s a lot of great quarterbacks around the country and hear people talk about how this is the maybe — that it’s one of the best quarterback drafts ever, sometimes they say that in September, early October," stated Harbaugh. "But I know there are, there’s there’s a lot of really good ones. I mean, nobody we’d rather have than J.J. McCarthy."

 "I haven’t watched all the guys, kind of starting to watch some of the others. But you know, play for play, J.J. McCarthy — maybe I’m a little biased, but I don’t think so. I’m trying not to be, but I think he’s the best one, I really do. Certainly no one we’d rather have. Just so good, so proud of him."

Michigan will have a home game next against Indiana at Noon ET