ESPN Writer Thinks JJ McCarthy Would Be Heisman Favorite, But One Thing Is Standing In The Way
ESPN writer Bill Connelly recently put out an article about what we learned about the to quarterbacks in college football through the first six weeks. When it comes to Michigan's JJ McCarthy, Connelly believes he'd be a Heisman front-runner if he were actually required to play a full four quarter game.
Connelly notes that McCarthy is currently No. 1 in FBS in total QBR (ahead of guys like Michael Penix Jr. and Caleb Williams), and he's averaging 9.9 yards per completion and 9.1 yards per carry. McCarthy has been extremely efficient, and his completion percentage of .776 is good for No. 3 in the nation. The biggest problem for McCarthy, at least as it relates to the Heisman trophy, is that the junior signal-caller is barely playing more than three quarters per game.
"Give him those numbers with Penix's or Williams' volume of drop-backs, and McCarthy is a pretty clear Heisman favorite," writes Connelly. "A co-favorite at worst. But his 22.2 drop-backs per game are the lowest of anyone in the QBR top 15 and second lowest, behind only Louisiana's Zeon Chriss, of anyone in the top 35. We're midway through the regular season, and McCarthy has thrown all of four fourth-quarter passes."
McCarthy's reps might be limited when compared to other Heisman-caliber quarterbacks at this point, but there's no doubt that Michigan's schedule will necessitate McCarthy to play well into the fourth quarter in the coming weeks. The Wolverines face Penn State and Maryland on the road, before returning home to face Ohio State in the final game of the regular season - three opponents with a combined record of 15-1.
Bottom line, McCarthy still has plenty of time to make his case for college football's most coveted individual achievement.
