‘He’s a dawg,’ Will Johnson is officially back and ‘special’ Mason Graham: Three key quotes from Michigan win over Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Michigan Wolverines football dismantled Minnesota, 52-10, Saturday night to improve to 6-0. Here are three key quotes from the postgame and our analysis.

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1. J.J. McCarthy is a ‘dawg’

Head coach Jim Harbaugh on junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy: “It’s like the young people say … ‘yeah, he’s a dawg.’ D.A.W.G. — disciplined athlete with grit. I put an acronym to it.”

Thoughts: Harbaugh was talking about McCarthy’s running ability, which led to 2 touchdowns in the red zone, flashing another weapon that Michigan has in its arsenal. But he’s really been the catalyst of this offense all season long, and he’s only picking up steam. His efficiency is off the charts — he completed 14 of his 20 passes for 219 yards Saturday — and he keeps adding tools to his toolbox. Last week, the way he extended pass plays and scrambled stood out. This week, it was his physicality as a runner on read options.

Harbaugh added that he’s watched many of the quarterbacks across college football this season but that he believes McCarthy is the best. He may not be that far off, even though McCarthy doesn’t have the crazy, video game numbers that can be racked up in the Pac-12 or different offenses, on teams that aren’t winning by 24-plus every game. Remember, McCarthy has only attempted 4 fourth-quarter passes this season. However, he’s right up there with the best of them.

“Play for play, J.J. McCarthy — maybe I’m a little biased, but trying not to be — I think he’s the best one,” the Michigan coach said. “I really do. Certainly nobody we’d rather have. Just so good. So proud of him. And everybody else, too. Great game.”

If it’s the case, or even if McCarthy is indeed one of the best, he may be the guy to lead Michigan to its first national title since 1997.

2. Will Johnson is back

Sophomore cornerback Will Johnson on his pick six to open the scoring: “It gives us a lot of momentum, a lot of confidence. It feels great as a team, feel like we’re up, so keep it rolling after that.”

Thoughts: It also had to feel good for Johnson personally to get his first interception of the season, even if it came just before the season’s midway point. Johnson has a few plays he would’ve liked to have back the last couple weeks but is still getting back into the swing of things after missing time while recovering from a knee injury. He said late Saturday night that he’s now 100 percent.

“Really just a testament to my faith in God, and Him allowing me to be back out there and get back out there this soon, being able to make plays,” the Michigan cornerback said. “Just always having faith, and it showed up today.”

One of the things Johnson improved at most during his freshman season at Michigan was learning how to really study film and apply that to his on-field performance. He showed that by jumping a slant route in the 2022 Big Ten championship game. He also did so by making Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis think he was in man coverage when he was really playing his zone in cover 2. He hopped the route, grabbed the ball and was home free for the touchdown, the first pick six and fourth interception of his career. Go back and watch his eyes — he knew what was coming and went and executed it.

3. Mason Graham is ‘special’

J.J. McCarthy on sophomore defensive tackle Mason Graham: “Dawg. Dawg. I don’t want to gas him up too much, but that dude’s special.”

Mason Graham: “Just been out the last two weeks, just been hungry to get back on the field with my guys, get back out with the defense and the team. So I was just waiting for my opportunity.

Thoughts: Graham posted 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 2 pressures while playing with a large white cast on his left hand (the use of his hands are one of his best attributes). He had surgery two weeks prior, per Johnson, and was still able to have the impact he did.

‘I’ve just been getting used to playing basically with one hand, so just gotta find ways to get it done,” Graham said. “No pain. It’s all casted up and everything, so it’s protected as much as it should be.”

He was flat out dominant and unblockable. Swim moves, bull rushes — you name it, he did it. The Michigan defensive line didn’t miss a beat without him, but maybe it would’ve been that much better with him in there. He was great for a freshman last year. Now he looks just ‘great.’

“I think he really missed being out there,” Harbaugh added. “Club, no club, he’s a great football player. He had a great game tonight. Really dominant.”

Graham said that he expects his cast to get smaller and smaller by the week.

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