J.J. McCarthy Pens Emotional Letter to Family, Girlfriend Katya in Draft Announcement

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy made sure to thank his support system as he declared for the 2024 NFL draft on Sunday.

While making his announcement, McCarthy gave special shoutouts to his family as well as to his longtime girlfriend, Katya.

Rebecca Aizin of People noted McCarthy and Katya have been dating for more than five years and since they were in high school together.

This has been quite the week for the quarterback.

He helped lead the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff national championship on Monday with a commanding 34-13 victory over Washington. While the rushing attack did most of the heavy lifting on the offensive side, he completed 10-of-18 passes for 140 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department listed McCarthy as the 99th-best player and seventh-best quarterback in its most recent big board of the top prospects. He was not projected as a first-round pick in its most recent mock draft.

He will have an opportunity to move up draft boards ahead of April's event at pro days and the NFL Scouting Combine. The quarterback position can also be somewhat unpredictable on draft day as teams trade up with an eye on the cornerstone position.

Regardless of how his NFL career unfolds, though, McCarthy will forever be a Michigan legend.

He helped flip the rivalry with Ohio State, which the Buckeyes dominated for two decades prior to his arrival. The Wolverines have now won three straight head-to-head matchups and turned those victories into Big Ten championships all three years.

They also won their first CFP national championship since the playoff system was established for the 2014 season and have reestablished themselves as one of the sport's premier programs.