Ann Arbor – Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy announced shortly after the football team's national championship celebration at the Crisler Center that he will release his decision about his playing future on Sunday.
McCarthy, 27-1 as a two-year starter for the Wolverines, is considering returning for one final season or heading to the NFL Draft, where he is projected as a first-round pick by some draft experts. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said late last month before the Rose Bowl that McCarthy was “NFL ready.”
The deadline To for the NFL Draft ends on Monday.
“Tomorrow,” McCarthy said when asked by The Detroit News Saturday evening when he would announce his decision. “I’ll publish it (in the morning).”
“” Another year!”
“I know that many of us will have to make an important life decision…Michigan will forever be in my heart,” McCarthy told the crowd. “I love you all. Turn blue.”
That probably wasn't the reaction Michigan fans were hoping for at the celebration. At the start of the celebration, however, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel assured fans, as he had done repeatedly since Monday when Michigan won the national championship and defeated Washington at NRG Stadium in Houston, that he was working to retain Harbaugh .
Harbaugh is considering a contract extension from Michigan that would make him the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten, but he is also reportedly considering NFL opportunities. Multiple national reports have linked him to the Chargers and Raiders. Harbaugh flew to Minnesota in 2022 to interview for the head coaching job and held talks with Denver in 2023.
Manuel told the crowd he wanted to answer the question he had been asked “500 times” during Saturday afternoon’s parade.
“I'm working to get this man (Harbaugh) a new contract, I promise you that,” Manuel said, drawing enormous applause.
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The Wolverines finished the season 15-0, one of four programs to achieve that record in college football history. They defeated Alabama in the Rose Bowl national semifinals and then defeated Washington in the national title game.
“We went from being national champions at the end of 2020,” right guard Zak Zinter said, referencing Michigan’s 2-4 season in 2020.
This season has been full of distractions. An NCAA investigation into improper recruiting in 2021 led to Michigan suspending Harbaugh for three games through the first three games of the season. The investigation is not yet fully complete and is expected to go to a Committee on Infractions hearing in the spring, with Harbaugh facing a Level I violation for misleading investigators. In mid-October, the NCAA began investigating an alleged illegal scouting/sign stealing scheme. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the regular season, citing the league's sportsmanship policy.
Earlier this week, NCAA President Charlie Baker told reporters that Michigan's national championship was earned “fair and square.”
“Some teams tried to attack us through nefarious means,” Manuel said at the ceremony. “It didn’t pay off. We didn’t take the bait.”
The players maintained what they called a “single-track” mindset throughout the season, not fazed by accusations or the headlines they saw on social media, television and newspapers.
“When they doubted, when they were disrespectful, when they called us cheaters, we stayed focused,” two-time captain Mike Sainristil said Saturday night.
This event, which benefited the Champions Circle for NIL, began a few hours after thousands of people lined the parade route, braving the cold and wind to celebrate their team.
“Today was just great,” defensive coach Steve Clinkscale said after the parade. “For me, it was really the first time we won the national championship. Having family with you, the first thing you feel, everything you sacrificed and all the hard work the players, the families, the coaches and the staff put in, it was all worth it. For the first time in my career, I felt like what we set out to do on and off the field had been achieved.”
McCarthy enjoyed the day of celebrations.
“It meant everything,” McCarthy said. “Just having the opportunity to celebrate this as a university is amazing.”
McGregor to the NFL
Michigan edge rusher Braiden McGregor announced on social media Saturday night that he is heading to the NFL Draft.
McGregor had nine tackles for loss during the 2023 season, including 4.5 sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Edge rusher Jaylen Harrell also declared for the NFL Draft this week.
“I am proud to say that I leave the greatest university in the world with a degree, three Big 10 championships, a Rose Bowl win, never a loss to OSU and a national championship,” McGregor said .
@chengelis