Jim Harbaugh Says J.J. McCarthy Is A 'Once In a Generation' QB Like Andrew Luck
When talking about the NFL Draft or even the NBA Draft for that matter, we often find ourselves trying to find the perfect comparison for draft hopefuls to established pros.
These are often wrong, and it is something that while they are entertaining can set unrealistic expectations. However, when analysts and fans do it it's one thing, but when a coach in the sport does so my ears perk up a bit. For the most part, coaches value what people think of them and they also value their relationships with their players.
However, former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh may have gone too far with a recent comparison he made with his current quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and a quarterback that he once coached in Andrew Luck. Comparing a quarterback to Luck is quite risky, as he was the most regarded quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning and even John Elway. Former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence drew comparisons to Luck, but for the most part, McCarthy hasn't been viewed as Luck-caliber.
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At least not to most talent evaluators. According to Harbaugh he thinks he is, as he recently explained why his former quarterback and current one are similar.
"I hate to compare, right," Harbaugh questions. "Because he's very much like Andrew Luck, a quarterback that's once in a generation. I knew it first with Andrew Luck the way he took the field for his first practice as a true freshman. The way he walks on. You see it with other players. Just the presence that they have when they walk onto the field and the first time getting into the quarterback position, the presence that they have you go, ah-ha, there it is. J.J. first day he walked onto the practice field here at Michigan, that is what came to mind. This is very Andrew Luck-like. The presence and the demeanor. The everything. Well-documented, I think J.J. is a once-in-a-generation quarterback here at Michigan or anywhere."
For reference, another coach who mentored and coached Luck in David Shaw also made an Andrew Luck comparison for this class, but his modern comparison was USC's Caleb Williams who was the 2022 Heisman winner and is viewed as one of the most generational prospects ever.
Luck was also drafted with the No. 1 overall pick and shattered a handful of NFL records, whereas McCarthy is viewed by ESPN's Matt Miller as the fourth-best quarterback in his class.
However, a coach knows his players, so maybe Harbaugh sees something
