J.J. McCarthy Won't Run 40-Yard Dash at 2024 NFL Combine Due to Hamstring Tightness

Former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be limited in drills at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this weekend.

McCarthy told reporters Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium that he will not participate in the 40-yard dash or any drills that require jumping due to hamstring tightness. He still intends to participating in throwing drills.

McCarthy is one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's class, though a number of his competitors have thrown more passes and far more touchdowns during their collegiate careers.

McCarthy made 654 pass attempts in two seasons as Michigan's starter. For example, both USC's Caleb Williams and UNC's Drake Maye had 500 pass attempts in just one season and Washington's Michael Penix Jr. had at least 550 pass attempts in each of the last two seasons.

The former Wolverine is at least taking part in throwing drills this weekend, though he isn't worried about how his statistics may or may not hurt him this spring regardless.

"You know, like, stats for me aren't really the big thing, and all I really cared about was being the best teammate I could be and being the best quarterback I could possibly be," McCarthy said Friday. "And the only stat I cared about was W's, and we did pretty good in that category."

Aside from the statistics, McCarthy is a proven winner. He led Michigan to 27 wins in 28 starts and led the Wolverines to an undefeated 2023 campaign en route to claiming their first-ever College Football Playoff national title.

McCarthy's numbers also weren't bad by any means, and his 6'3", 202-pound frame makes him more desirable to scouts. Last season, he completed 72.3 percent of his passes for 2,991 yards and 22 touchdowns against four interceptions in 15 games, in addition to rushing for 202 yards and three scores.

McCarthy told reporters Friday that he has met with most teams that own a selection in the upper half of the first round. He was also asked to give a scouting report of himself, and leaned on his desire to just win games.

"Tough, gritty guy who only cares about winning at the end of the day," he said. "Loves the game of football with a burning passion, loves his teammates, pretty much everything you want in a starting quarterback."

Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department lists McCarthy as the fourth-best quarterback available this spring behind Maye, Williams and LSU's Jayden Daniels. That likely won't change after the combine, though he could greatly improve his draft stock with a solid throwing performance.