Michigan Football: Loving J.J. McCarthy’s hatred for Ohio State

There’s a lot to like about 2021 Michigan football commit J.J. McCarthy, but you really have to be fond of his hatred for Ohio State.

If you are going to be the quarterback for Michigan football, hating Ohio State isn’t just preferred, it’s something that’s sort of required.

The Buckeyes are the Wolverines arch enemy and they have owned the rivalry in the last two decades, so for Michigan football fans, there is nothing but hatred for the other side and after J.J. McCarthy feels he was mislead by the Buckeyes, he holds nothing but pure contempt for OSU.

And that’s exactly the way it should be and with McCarthy, you just get the sense he’s everything you’d expect a Michigan football quarterback to be.

But in a recent interview with EJ Holland of Rivals, McCarthy expresses his hatred of Ohio State again. He didn’t actually say anything about Ohio State to Holland, who was observing a workout, but Holland did overhear a very interesting conversation, here’s an excerpt from what Holland wrote ($):

"“McCarthy was talking about making a custom cleat online. Whoever he was submitting the cleat design to asked him why there wasn’t any text on the cleat. McCarthy’s response: ‘It wouldn’t let me type in f*** Ohio State.”"

If that isn’t a beautiful thing, I don’t know what is. Now, I hope to hear him saying something similar down the road when we eventually see McCarthy beat the Buckeyes in a Michigan football uniform. That’s at least the hope I’m clinging too, although I do wholeheartedly believe in Joe Milton and Dylan McCaffrey.

In another interesting tidbit from Holland ($), the private QB coach who works with McCarthy, offered this assessment about J.J.’s chances to play in 2021.

"“The redshirt thing isn’t really common with high-level guys anymore unless there is somebody already there. But I think he walks in there and competes immediately.”"

The coach also said McCarthy reminded him some of Aaron Rodgers, ya know, no big deal.

McCarthy recruiting for Michigan football too

Another thing to like about McCarthy is his willingness to recruit for the Wolverines. Most of the time, that sort of thing doesn’t matter, but when you are ranked 15th overall, as McCarthy is in the 247 sports composite rankings and a quarterback, other players tend to listen a little more.

With one of Michigan football’s top targets on the offensive side of the ball, four-star tight end Thomas Fidone, it could have a real impact. Even though the Wolverines already have four-star tight end Louis Hansen committed, Michigan continutes to push for Fidone.

And according to Steve Lorenz of the Michigan Insider ($), McCarthy and Fidone have gotten close during the recruiting process. Again, it’s not strange to see it happen but it could be a factor.

Nebraska is the leader for Fidone and has 90-some percent of his crystal ball picks. The tight end from Iowa is ranked No. 1 at his position by 247 and 91st overall in the composite rankings. He’s 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and an absolute freak.

It’d be fun to see what he and McCarthy could do as part of the same recruiting class. But there is a lot of work to do. Getting Fidone for a visit will be key and for the staff, according to Lorenz ($), that’s the No. 1 objective right now. Basically, it’s about staying in it until the fall.

Luckily, McCarthy should help with that.