Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy holds the National Championship Trophy alongside Blake Corum . Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

National champion Michigan makes NFL combine history

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Feb 13, 2024 7:37 PM ET

Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh boldly stated last July that he believed the Wolverines would break the 2022 Georgia Bulldogs’ record of 15 players taken in a single NFL Draft.

If Tuesday’s release of the 321 players invited to the 2024 NFL combine is any indication, Harbaugh just may be proved right as 18 Michigan players made the cut, setting a new NFL record for the most invitees from one school.

The previous record was 16 by the 2019-20 LSU Tigers. Of those 16 combine attendees, 14 of them were drafted, including five first-rounders (QB Joe Burrow, LB K’Lavon Chaisson, WR Justin Jefferson, LB Patrick Queen and RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire).

Of Michigan’s 18, only two — quarterback J.J. McCarthy and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins — are projected to be picked in the first round.

McCarthy was 27-1 as Michigan’s starting QB, throwing for 6,226 yards, 49 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading UM to three straight Big Ten championships and consecutive College Football Playoff berths.

Jenkins recorded 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble this season and was voted a second-team All-American and Second Team All-Big Ten selection. He totaled 113 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks over three years in Ann Arbor.

All of the Michigan players who were invited to the 2024 NFL combine are listed below:

J.J. McCarthy, QB
Blake Corum, RB
Cornelius Johnson, WR
Roman Wilson, WR
AJ Barner, TE
Karsen Barnhart, OL
LaDarius Henderson, OL
Trente Jones, OL
Trevor Keegan, OL
Drake Nugent, OL
Zak Zinter, OL
Jaylen Harrell, DE
Braiden McGregor, DE
Kris Jenkins, DT
Michael Barrett, LB
Junior Colson, LB
Mike Sainristil, DB
Josh Wallace, DB

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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