When J.J. McCarthy committed as a member of the 2021 recruiting class, it felt like fortunes were about to change for the Michigan Wolverines. Fabled quarterback whisperer Jim Harbaugh had been anything but that during his time at head coach, but finally it looked like Michigan had the blue-chipper needed to take this team to the next level. Spoiler alert: McCarthy was indeed that guy.
Though the Wolverines were never going to be the most electric passing offense with Harbaugh in town, the revitalization of the program — in large part thanks to McCarthy — suggested their ability to recruit top quarterbacks would quickly improve.