Oregon’s Bo Nix is a trending name after Woody Paige’s recent forecast, and Pro Football Focus mocking the quarterback to the Denver Broncos, complete with a ringing endorsement.
PFF’s Trevor Sikkema had previously espoused his belief that Nix is a “perfect fit” for Denver, and while that has turned some heads, rest assured that Sean Payton and company will be keeping their options open at pick No. 12.
Indeed, it could be said that Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy falls into the same bracket Nix does. The possibility of both QBs becoming a star at the next level is real, if they land in the right place.
Nix and McCarthy have some similar tools in terms of possessing NFL-caliber arm strength and the ability to extend plays with their legs. What McCarthy may hold over Nix, under a direct comparison, is that prestigious National Championship on his resume, and the fact he’s nearly four years his junior.
McCarthy was groomed for the professional game by his private throwing coach, Greg Holcomb, who owns Next Level Athletix. As Holcomb worked McCarthy into NFL shape, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was used as a notable case study.
“I take a lot of video,” McCarthy said his process via Jori Parys of CBS News Chicago. “I’ll record a game like you know, Patrick Mahomes, for example, is kind of a like go-to —and then show our kids that, and then we try to like put a drill together around that, and J’J.was the kind of kid who would nail it on the first throw.”
Using Mahomes’ game as an inspiration is understandable, considering his NFL accomplishments, but Holcomb also lifted the lid on the vast array of source material McCarthy taps into to develop his ever-evolving skills as a quarterback.
“He’s just so mature—I mean, you saw, like, he does his mental and all the things that he does before the game,” Holcomb said. “I mean, he reads books on Navy SEALS and meditation. I think he is the best quarterback to come through Michigan, and I think he’s got a ton of potential in front of him.”
As we wrote about not even two weeks ago, McCarthy’s coach at Michigan, Jim Harbaugh, whom the Los Angeles Chargers just hired as head coach, made it clear how he feels about his protege’s NFL readiness.
“I can’t lie and say I don’t think he’s NFL-ready,” Harbaugh said. “I very much think he’s NFL-ready.