It’s a tale as old as time – the story of the wide receiver and the quarterback throwing to him.
Michigan’s star wideout Roman Wilson and quarterback JJ McCarthy have been a dynamic one-two punch throughout the early part of the 2023 campaign. The duo has connected for five touchdowns, a mark that puts the 6-foot, 192-pound senior receiver atop the Big Ten in scoring at the position.
Hard work pays off
Last year, Wilson finished with just four touchdowns across 12 games. Averaging just two receptions a game, he made 25 catches for 376 yards while adding two additional scores on the ground. Just two games into the new season, Wilson has already made a big leap from where he was last season. This doesn’t surprise him, however.
“Not in a cocky way, but no, not really,” he said when asked following Michigan’s 35-7 win over UNLV last week. “I’ve been putting a lot of work in this offseason. And not just this offseason but since I was a freshman, and it’s just finally paying off.
“It just feels really good. It’s been a lot of long nights and a lot of sneaking into the gym late at night putting in work. … I’m not going to say I am surprised because I am just going to focus on whatever happens next.”
So far, Wilson has hauled in 10 catches for 167 yards. While he doesn’t lead in total receptions, total yards or many other statistical categories, he is leading in the one that matters most. No other receiver in the Big Ten has more than two touchdowns.
Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy kneels in the endzone to take a moment to honor his lost friend, former UNLV defensive lineman Ryan Keeler. McCarthy connected with Roman Wilson on a 47-yard touchdown throw in the third quarter Saturday against UNLV. (Tony Patroske/The Pit Media)
His longest came last week, when McCarthy connected with him on a 47-yard bomb in the third quarter.
“That’s just JJ, bro,” he said. “I just saw the play, the way he stepped up in the pocket. Like, that’s a vet play. I’m just doing my job. I wasn’t sure if I was going to go over or under the nickel, I decided to go under and just went with speed. I see him step up in the pocket and make a throw. I’m like in open field, I got to score – that’s just something I’ve got to do.”
That touchdown held special meaning to McCarthy beyond football.
During the game, he had written 47 on his hand in honor of former UNLV defensive lineman Ryan Keeler, a childhood friend and teammate of McCarthy’s. Keeler passed away in February at the age of 20 due to heart arrhythmia, and the Michigan QB wished to honor his friend.
‘The real JJ McCarthy’
Wilson was quick to hype up his quarterback after that game.
“This was, like, the real JJ McCarthy,” said Wilson. “He put in a lot more work in the offseason. It’s just him being a lot more natural and relaxed back in the game. It’s not easy to come in and be a starting QB.”
After just two games, McCarthy is the highest rated quarterback in the Big Ten according to Pro Football Focus with a 94.4 grade. He has completed 48 of 55 passes through two weeks with 558 yards and five touchdowns.
McCarthy said he has noticed a step-up in his play from last year.
“It’s definitely night and day,” said McCarthy. “With every rep, every practice, every game — I get more and more comfortable.
Still, McCarthy believes there is room for improvement.
“There’s still a big gap for me to improve and I’m sure I’ll fill that gap as much as possible every day.
“I just feel like it’s staying in the present moment no matter what and just going back to the tape. I think PFF rated my last week performance a 93 and then my coach gave me like an 86, so there’s more things to improve on every single week. And little details that I don’t know about yet but I just can’t wait to dive into them.”
Michigan will host Bowling Green on Saturday at 7:30pm EST in Ann Arbor, giving the dynamic duo another opportunity to shine before moving into the Big Ten Conference schedule.
