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J.J. McCarthy vs Caleb Williams: Michigan QB’s Championship Credentials Set to Overshadow USC Star as No. 1 Pick Battle Intensifies

Published 02/17/2024, 1:18 AM EST

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With a year of eligibility still remaining, J.J. McCarthy has made the bold move of entering into the NFL Draft. With this, McCarthy has entered a direct tussle with the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, USC star Caleb Williams. Previously, Williams had been projected to be the first pick of the NFL Draft, but now his spot might be stolen by the Wolverines QB.

As per the latest developments, with the draft approaching, the potential for McCarthy over Williams seems to be high after the quarterback’s successful season ending with a national championship in his hands. Football analyst, Brett Whitefield took to Twitter to place his opinion about McCarthy’s dominance over the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner.   

Whitefield’s endorsement of McCarthy

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With his exceptional insights on the gridiron, Whitefield has taken part in bold proclamations about McCarthy. In a recent interview, the NFL analyst commented, “J.J. is my QB 1 in the class. I have labeled him the perfect marriage between high form and high ceiling. And I think, with JJ you are getting the highest form of the draft for quarterback.”

In his last two seasons, under Jim Harbuagh’s Wolverines as a full-time starter, McCarthy has exhibited exceptional accuracy. With just nine interceptions, the quarterback completed 68.5% of his passes for 5,710 yards and 44 touchdowns showcasing a unique combination of skill, potential and playing style. 

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However, initially, Caleb Williams locked down his status as the prospective number-one pick with a Heisman Trophy in hand. Tossing a staggering 42 touchdowns against only five interceptions, he too stands the chance as the first pick. However, beyond the McCarthy-Williams battle, the attention is also diverted to the other quarterback talents. 

Unveiling the top prospects as picks for the No.1 spot gains momentum

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Even beyond Williams and McCarthy, the quarterback lineup is strong for this year’s draft. One of the standout prospects is Drake Maye. Standing at 6’4’’, Maye possesses rare strengths like anticipation ability, and elasticity paired with exceptional arm strength.

The 2024 NFL Draft QB class boasts other rising stars like LSU’s Jayden Daniels with a completion rate of 72.2% passes, 40 touchdowns, and minimal interceptions. Meanwhile, for Bo Nix, even though his performance had been overshadowed by his struggles at Auburn, his operational abilities position him as a promising QB prospect. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Michael Penix Jr. is also a potential early-round pickup. 

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As speculation mounts, fans and analysts closely monitor every team’s move and analyze every prospect’s strengths and weaknesses. With the draft event scheduled between April 25 and April 27, it is to find out whether the social media buzz about William materializes or Whitefield’s prediction about McCarthy transpires.  

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Written by:

Soheli Tarafdar

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Soheli Tarafdar is an NFL author at EssentiallySports. Soheli is fascinated by the fusion of teamwork, those split-second decisions, and the raw physical power demonstrated by football athletes. She loves decoding the locker room rumors, the cryptic posts, and the behind-the-scenes drama brewing in the college football world.
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Edited by:

Harshita