Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, he announced Sunday.
McCarthy spent three seasons at Michigan and is coming off a national championship victory over Washington. He totaled 171 yards and 10 completions on 18 attempts in the contest.
“No matter what decision comes of this, Michigan will forever be in my heart,” McCarthy said Saturday, according to Tom VanHaaren of ESPN. “And I will be proud to be known as a Michigan man.”
Michigan’s leading wide receiver Roman Wilson also joined McCarthy in entering the draft on Sunday.
“I’ve never felt so blessed to be a part of such a team and community,” Wilson wrote in a statement. “A legendary team that never lost to Ohio State, won the Big Ten championship three times, and brought the state of Michigan a national championship.”
McCarthy and Wilson led the Wolverines to a 15-0 record this season. The offense averaged 35.9 points per game, ranking second in the Big 10 behind Penn State.
The 20-year-old passer finished the 2023 campaign having completed 72% of his throws for 2,991 yards with 22 touchdowns and only four interceptions.
Meanwhile, Wilson led the team with 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023.
McCarthy is the fifth-ranked quarterback on ESPN’s 2024 draft rankings, behind Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and Michael Penix Jr. There are questions about McCarthy’s ability to be a prolific passer at the next level, as he averaged just 152 passing yards per game in 2023.
The Illinois native finishes his college career with 6,858 total yards and 59 touchdowns.
