Every NFL Draft class comes with a national title game-winner. Yet, the 2024 event has the winning quarterback as one of the more highly touted prospects available.
What else is there to know about J.J. McCarthy? It is time to dive in.
How Tall Is J.J. McCarthy?
McCarthy has sparked debates about his height.
He’s listed as 6’2 1/2″ ahead of the first draft night, but some scouts believe he’s taller, with some listing him at 6’3″.
At the prep level, McCarthy stood around the 6’2″ range.
How Much Does McCarthy Weigh?
This is another trait that’s been highly debated for McCarthy, with some scouts and analysts believing he’s too thin.
McCarthy checks in at 219 pounds. However, he’s been listed much lower than that mark in the past.
MORE: Top QBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
While rising as a five-star QB for the 2021 class, McCarthy reportedly weighed in at 190 pounds. There were even reports McCarthy played at 197 pounds during the end of his college career.
The average NFL QB weighs 225 pounds, leaving many wondering if McCarthy needs to find a way to add more muscle to his frame before handling NFL defenses.
How Old Is McCarthy?
The signal-caller will be among the youngest prospects for this upcoming class.
McCarthy will be 21 years old when he enters the league on April 25. And he celebrated his 21st birthday after winning the 2023 National Championship.
Is McCarthy the youngest QB prospect ahead of the draft? He’s certainly one of the youngest, especially compared to fellow ’24 draft class members Michael Penix Jr., Jayden Daniels, and Jordan Travis — all of whom are 23.
What School Did McCarthy Go To?
McCarthy went on to join a QB lineage at the University of Michigan.
He committed to the Wolverines out of IMG Academy in Florida for the 2021 class. McCarthy turned down offers from Arizona State (which had Daniels at the time), LSU, plus Big Ten rivals Ohio State, Penn State, and Northwestern to join Michigan.
By choosing Michigan, he faced the pressure of joining the likes of Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Brian Griese, and Tom Brady as the next beloved Michigan QB. McCarthy didn’t disappoint the “Go Blue” crowd in the end.
Revisiting McCarthy’s College Career
McCarthy became revered in Ann Arbor for helping end a 26-year title dry spell.
In his final collegiate season, McCarthy completed 72.3% of his passes and tossed 22 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. But Michigan fans will forever remember how McCarthy ended his final run with the Wolverines — by winning the national title.
For his career, McCarthy tallied 6,226 yards, 49 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions, producing no more than five picks in all three seasons he played.
Arguably, his best collegiate mark is 27-1 … which represents his win/loss record from his final two CFB seasons.
McCarthy’s Potential in the NFL
Are we looking at the highest-drafted Wolverines QB in school history?
As revered as the seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady was, many NFL fans remember how he fell in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.
Griese, Michigan’s previous national title-winning QB before McCarthy, was a third-rounder. The highest-drafted Michigan QB was McCarthy’s head coach Harbaugh, who went No. 26 to the Chicago Bears in 1987.
McCarthy has been called “polarizing” in some of his draft evaluation descriptions. Some fans and analysts have argued he benefitted more from coaching and the talent around him at Michigan.
However, PFN’s Ian Cummings is one who’s high on McCarthy.
“Whether it’s athleticism, arm talent, pedigree, youth, or collegiate success — McCarthy checks every box he needs to check on the surface,” Cummings wrote.
There’s more praise coming from Cummings. He grew impressed with McCarthy’s arm velocity, athleticism in escaping pass rushes, plus accuracy when evaluating McCarthy.
Overall, Cummings views McCarthy as a threat to become the third QB taken on Day 1 of the draft, which means potentially going in front of one of the Heisman winners.
“McCarthy grades out as a top-25 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s a contender for QB3 alongside LSU’s Jayden Daniels. Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are separated as the top QB prospects, but McCarthy is in the next tier down, and with his profile and youth, he could command early first-round capital,” Cummings said.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of J.J. McCarthy
Lastly, Cummings believes McCarthy can thrive in the right place.
“In the right scheme — one that gives McCarthy easy solutions early on while also playing to his primary strengths of arm talent, creation capacity, and fearlessness over the middle — he can be an early NFL starter, with impact starter upside,” Cummings said.
Draft with your friends today! PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator now supports multiple drafters during the same draft! Find out how the PFN Scouting Department ranks this year’s prospects with our 2024 NFL Draft Big Board and follow along throughout the draft with our NFL team needs tracker.