J.J. McCarthy: 'There's always a new mountain to climb'

Michigan sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy gets his first start Saturday night when the Wolverines host 51-point underdog Hawai’i. He’s been waiting for his moment, and now he’s got the opportunity to show what he can do as QB1.

For a guy as immensely talented as McCarthy, it hasn’t been easy. He’s used to being ‘the man’ at every level, and playing behind Cade McNamara last year — even though he did play some — took some getting used to.

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“It was definitely tough at first,” McCarthy said on the recent In the Trenches podcast. “The way I look at it, and still look at it, there’s always a new mountain to climb. Whether it’s every year, whether it’s your high school career, whether it’s your college career … I just think of it as, ‘okay — this is another mountain I am climbing.’

“Starting at the bottom, it’s always rough and brutal at the bottom of the mountain. But if you keep going, and keep pushing, keep being persistent, keep being patient, everything is going to play out for the greater good. I just looked at it as another mountain to climb, and I’m having fun climbing it.”

But staying at the top, as they say, can be harder than getting there. McCarthy knows it, and he’s not taking it for granted. He’ll get his first opportunity to start against the Rainbow Warriors, and if he continues to play like he did in the opener against Colorado State, it probably won’t be his last.

McCarthy has played a number of snaps as a backup, but this will be his first chance as a starter. He’s looking forward to knowing exactly when he’s playing as opposed to coming off the bench for a series or two.

“It’s a huge challenge, and it’s something you have to learn on the fly,” McCarthy said. “I want to say maybe the Wisconsin game, I was thrown in there midway through the first or second quarter and my legs felt like concrete. [I thought], ‘man … I’ve really got to get on the bike when the defense is out there to get my legs loose, because you never know when I’m going to be out there.’ I needed to use my legs when I’m out there because that’s what my role was at the time.

“[Now] I’m trying to do whatever I can leading up to this game to get up to that flow-state. Really, I’m out there in practice just trying to be present with every snap I take, every handoff I make, every throw I make. Just be present in each moment so by the time the game comes, I’m already in that flow and in that zone.”

Missing spring with a shoulder injury was tough, he noted. But it also allowed him to see the game a different way. He studied the running backs and the offensive line, where they were going and what their objectives were.

By the time fall came, he felt he was prepared to take his next step.

“A lot of it just had to do with relaxing in the pocket … subtle pocket movements,” McCarthy said. “Just being able to understand defensive scheme a little bit better. Just with that experience, it was huge coming naturally.

“As always, just getting better chemistry with my receivers, offensive line and running backs … all that stuff that just comes with building experience.”

And there’s no better experience than playing in games. McCarthy has spent all week preparing, and he’ll finally get his shot Saturday night at 8:00.

Notes: Olu Oluwatimi at center should help McCarthy in start one

Michigan grad transfer center Olu Oluwatimi had a good first game with Cade McNamara under center. His next task will be to work just as seamlessly with McCarthy.

The sophomore has no doubt his center will make it easier.

“He’s an absolute blessing,” McCarthy said. “Every single one of the guys up front is an absolute blessing to have in front of me. But … Olu is a huge addition to this team. He was voted alternate captain. I guarantee he would’ve been a real captain if he was here longer than the four months, five months he was here.

“He just stepped in like he’s been a Michigan man forever — he just earns it and shows it every single day. He works hard, he’s a great leader, and he’s extremely intelligent, as well. He’s just been a perfect addition for us.”