Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy is having one of the best seasons of any player in the country and is among the contenders for the 2023 Heisman Trophy. But it sounds like the NCAA investigation into Michigan’s alleged illegal sign-stealing operation could cost McCarthy a chance at college football’s top award.
On Tuesday, Heisman Trophy voter Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star wrote a column in which he revealed that he will not be including J.J. McCarthy on his Heisman Trophy ballot this year as a result of the sign-stealing allegations.
“The most important thing about playing quarterback happens before the snap, when he tries to decipher what the opposing defense will do. Why do so many high school quarterbacks with huge physical ability and statistics fail in college? Same reason that some of the best college QB’s fail in the NFL: Because the more confusing it gets, standing there at the line of scrimmage studying the defense, the harder it is to play the position,” Doyel wrote for the Indianapolis Star.
“McCarthy’s coaches knew what the defense was doing, which allowed them to call the perfect play. J.J. McCarthy had to execute it, yes, but the heaviest lifting had already been done by Connor Stalions.”
It’s pretty horrible news for McCarthy that he will miss out on Heisman Trophy votes as a result of this scandal, and the college football world had a lot to say about it on social media.
NCAA: "…has moved away from penalties that punish players who were not involved in rule-breaking…"
Greg: "…he will pay the price."
Time to remove this guy's ballot. https://t.co/c2XXRXhIIh pic.twitter.com/lWdW6r1NCh
— Stephen Osentoski (@StephenToski) November 7, 2023
This is the only legitmate stance a Heisman Voter can have….
The only people to blame for this is the coaches and staff of the University of Michigan Football. https://t.co/2540X7WG57
— Jeremiah (@SYRmotsag) November 7, 2023
Imagine posting this during an ongoing investigation that has quite literally led to nothing and bragging that you get to punish a 20 year old for an allegation against his University that has yet to see any due process. @HeismanTrophy can we fix this? https://t.co/qsEgiccVgq
— Deebo Dimmadome (@crislerpretzels) November 7, 2023
You should lose your ability to vote for tweeting this out. https://t.co/8WMqaifHha
— 15-0 National Champs – Josh Hallock (@JoshHallock1) November 7, 2023
As a fellow voter…
Leaving him off your own ballot is fine. Writing a column invalidating his candidacy is a clear violation of the principles by which you agreed to abide when you received the vote.
And tweeting that column six different times in three hours is egomaniacal. https://t.co/2fuY8p9MYH
— Parker Thune (@ParkerThune) November 7, 2023
Not sure it will even matter, Penix, Williams, Daniels and Nix are all significantly ahead of JJ statistically and each have played multiple ranked opponents. Marv has a chance, but it wouldn’t surprise me if no Big10 player was a Heisman finalist this year… https://t.co/TTr1tPX6OV
— Chuck D (@ChaseDisPaper1) November 7, 2023
So far, neither the Big Ten nor the NCAA have announced a formal punishment against the Wolverines.
