JJ McCarthy opens up on how Zak Zinter continues to be an inspiration for Michigan after injury

The Michigan Wolverines lost center Zak Zinter to a devastating injury late in the season and are without him in the College Football Playoff because of that. However, as quarterback JJ McCarthy explained, Zinter continues to be an inspiration for the Wolverines.

McCarthy said that even as an injured player, he’s been an excellent captain and is uplifting the team.

“It just reassures us that, man, we made the right decision-making him one of our captains because he’s always going to be — even though he’s not playing, he’s going to keep uplifting us just fine,” JJ McCarthy said. “Being around us and walking around Disneyland with us, he’s an inspiration everywhere he goes on and off the field. It’s just great to have him on this trip.”

For Zinter, it was a broken tibia and fibula that required surgery. For a player who is, arguably, the best at what they do on Michigan’s entire team, it was a devastating blow but Michigan has also clearly come together around him. Head coach Jim Harbaugh made sure to visit him in the hospital. He was also there to receive the Big Ten Championship Trophy.

JJ McCarthy pointed out that he’s always been tough and played through injuries. He never complains, though, carrying himself the way his team has needed him.

“He’s had this whole wrist thing going on ever since I got here and never complains. There’s a multitude of little ticky tack injuries that I’m sure he’s dealing with or has dealt with, and you just never hear a peep out of him,” McCarthy said. “That just speaks to who he is and the grit that he carries himself with every day.”

Even with his injury, Zak Zinter was named a First-Team All-American for the 2023 season.

LaDarius Henderson opens up on Zak Zinter, how Michigan handled his injury

Fellow offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson opened up about Zak Zinter’s injury and how Michigan handled it ahead of the Rose Bowl.

“I’m not gonna discredit our captain and our All-American. You never want to lose a guy like Zak Zinter. I believe he’s the best guard in the country,” Henderson said.

“That’s just a credit to our offense and the way we practice and our next man up mentality. The emotions were so high. We were like, ‘We got to get this done for him. The rest of that game was for Zak Zinter.”