No team has sent more players to test out for the NFL in the scouting combine than Michigan football has in 2024. The Wolverines brought 18 former players to Indianapolis, breaking the record for the most representatives from a single school in NFL scouting combine history.
And there, the boys showed out.
The biggest name to watch was quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who thrived in his throwing session. But there were other big players who made names for themselves — from running back Blake Corum, wide receiver Cornelius Johnson, and nickel back Mike Sainristil (who may have made the biggest rise after his performance).
With that in mind, here is how every former Michigan football player who took part of the NFL scouting combine did.
40-yard dash: Did not participate
10-yard split: Did not participate
Vertical jump: Did not participate
Broad jump: Did not participate
3-cone drill: 6.82 seconds (6th-best at combine, top quarterback)
20-yard shuttle: 4.23 seconds (tied 1st for quarterbacks)
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 6.39
NFL.com says: Enigmatic quarterback lacking the measurables and splash throws associated with early round quarterbacks but possessing elements that require more study and consideration. McCarthy lacks frame thickness and a plus arm. He’s fairly poised in the pocket but is average as a pocket passer. His ball placement and timing need to improve to help mitigate an average operation time due to a windup release. McCarthy doesn’t seek to play out of structure but is fairly consistent at making positive plays when it happens and ramps up his focus late in games and on third downs. He is confident and seems to have the ability to take slights and digest it as competitive fuel. McCarthy should continue to improve as a passer, but he fails to stand out in many of the areas that tend to be predictive of top-level success in the NFL. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds
10-yard split: 1.58 seconds
Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
Broad jump: Did not participate
3-cone drill: 6.82 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.12 seconds
Bench press: 27 reps (most of all running backs)
NFL.com prospect grade: 6.15
NFL.com says: Compact runner with average size, outstanding contact balance and a rare talent for finding and fitting into small crevices for short-yardage conversions and touchdowns. Corum is a bit of a one-speed runner lacking sizzle and wiggle but gets it downhill with timing and finishes runs with good forward lean. He has the hard-hat mentality to handle heavy workloads and can exploit defenses that fatigue or miss their run fits. The talent doesn’t stand out on its own, but he’s strong, competitive and team-oriented with exceptional football character. He can catch it when needed and is above average in picking up the blitz, which could earn him status as a three-down backup with a chance to find early carries as an RB2/3. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: 4.47 seconds
10-yard split: 1.51 seconds
Vertical jump: 40 inches
Broad jump: 10-feet, 11-inches
3-cone drill: 6.99 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.01 seconds (2nd amongst cornerbacks)
Bench press: 14 reps
NFL.com prospect grade: 6.20
NFL.com says: Reliable and tough with the athleticism and upside to keep getting better as a nickel corner. Sainristil is a former receiver who plays with surprising field awareness and attention to detail as a zone defender. He has the twitch and footwork to stay connected with routes in man coverage but needs more experience at the position to operate with better recognition and feel for the routes. He showed off top-notch ball skills with six interceptions (two for scores) in 2023 and has no problem stepping up and doing his part as a run defender. Sainristil isn’t there yet but should keep improving and has a chance to become a starting nickel in time. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: 4.39 seconds
10-yard split: 1.52 seconds
Vertical jump: Did not participate
Broad jump: Did not participate
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: Did not participate
Bench press: 12
NFL.com prospect grade: 6.35
NFL.com says: Smooth strider with alarming speed once he touches top gear. Wilson primarily focused on attacking the intermediate and deep portions of the field, adding an explosive element to the Wolverines’ ground-and-pound approach. Wilson will be an electric athletic tester, which could push his stock up, but he’ll need to learn to level up his skill getting from Point A to Point B as a route runner. Wilson has good hands and can run after the catch down the field, but he’s not really a catch-and-go option underneath. He has the separation potential to make a quarterback’s life easier and figures to continue his ascension as a starting slot talent. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: 4.44 seconds
10-yard split: 1.55 seconds
Vertical jump: 37.5 inches
Broad jump: 10-feet, 7-inches
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: Did not participate
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 5.96
NFL.com says: Johnson was a three-year starter, with all three seasons including action in the College Football Playoff. He’s a big, tough target who displayed improvement making the difficult catch in 2023. He has decent speed but is encumbered by ragged route running that fails to hit the mark with footwork or timing. Johnson’s play strength and competitiveness can become a problem for smaller cornerbacks when the action heads down the field. He’s a chippy run blocker with the potential to become a weapon as a perimeter blocker. Johnson’s size and traits will be lauded, but he might need a simpler route tree to be at his best as a pro backup. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: 4.91 seconds
10-yard split: 1.7 seconds
Vertical jump: 30 inches
Broad jump: 9-feet, 7-inches
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: 4.78 seconds
Bench press: 29 reps
NFL.com prospect grade: 6.30
NFL.com says:
Possesses rare pedigree with a college football national title under his belt and a father who was a four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle. Jenkins has a smaller frame for his position, but he plays with good strength in one-on-one power swaps. He can neutralize single blocks but has trouble fighting back to muddy his gap against double-teams. His motor stays engaged. He’s frequently running down ball-carriers and chasing quarterbacks by the end of the play. Jenkins flashes more rush talent than his sack production would indicate, but he still needs to work on developing more go-to moves to pair with his spin counter. Jenkins isn’t a natural two-gapper, but he can play upfield or read-and-react football on the next level as an eventual starter capable of creating disruptions. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: Did not participate
10-yard split: Did not participate
Vertical jump: Did not participate
Broad jump: Did not participate
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: Did not participate
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 5.67
NFL.com says: Six-year Wolverine who has shown steady improvement over the last two or three years. Barrett lacks ideal size to take on big blockers and doesn’t play proactively enough to stay ahead of blockers. His lateral burst to pursue bounce-wide runs is just average, but when he lines up his target, he can be a ferocious striker and wrap-up tackler. Barrett’s anticipation and instincts leave too much to be desired, but he might have enough cover talent and special teams ability to fight for a roster spot as a nickel/dime linebacker. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: Did not participate
10-yard split: Did not participate
Vertical jump: Did not participate
Broad jump: Did not participate
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: Did not participate
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 6.37
NFL.com says: Inside linebacker with an excellent combination of size and strength to take on blocks and patrol the action from the second level. Colson’s upper-body strength and body control stand out when battling blocks or finishing tackles. He has adequate sideline-to-sideline range but needs to play with faster recognition to keep from getting trapped by climbing blocks. He doesn’t play with a trigger-happy, downhill mindset, so he misses out on playmaking opportunities. Colson is a tough guy with good stopping power and can handle himself in coverage. He projects as a good three-down linebacker, but improving block recognition and taking a few more chances could elevate him into the next tier at the position. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: Did not participate
10-yard split: Did not participate
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
Broad jump: 10-feet
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: 4.35 seconds
Bench press: 13 reps
NFL.com prospect grade: 5.89
NFL.com says: Draftable prospect with slightly undersized frame as a wide cornerback. Wallace was a three-time captain at UMass before transferring to Michigan. He’s a natural leader with a history of searching out challenges and putting in the work to succeed. He plays with adequate athleticism in man but lacks the size and length to control bigger NFL targets. Wallace is a natural route-reader, which creates opportunities for early jumps and pass breakups but an average closing burst limits his takeaway total. He’s smart, can play in a variety of cover schemes and was a good tackle-finisher at Michigan. Wallace does his job and has the intangibles to compete for a backup spot but needs to put a decent 40-yard dash time on the board. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: Did not participate
10-yard split: Did not participate
Vertical jump: Did not participate
Broad jump: Did not participate
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: Did not participate
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 6.10
NFL.com says: In-line tight end who continues improving as a run blocker but is unlikely to offer much as a pass catcher. He was a captain at Indiana before transferring to Michigan, and scouts say he attacks practices and weight training with a single-minded obsession to get better and compete. He’s technically sound in the early stages of the run block but needs to improve with his positioning to create better lanes for the runner. He can handle some pass protection but needs to keep improving. Barner’s role might be a little limited as a blocking Y tight end with below-average pass-catching traits, but he should earn playing time in the future. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: 5.21 seconds
10-yard split: 1.76 seconds
Vertical jump: 29.5 inches
Broad jump: 9-feet, 3-inches
3-cone drill: 7.83 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.7 seconds
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 5.64
NFL.com says: After playing multiple positions at Michigan, Barnhart is likely an interior line prospect as a pro. He has decent size and length as a guard, but he doesn’t play with enough pop into contact. He’s missing twitchy, sudden hands to snap into pass rushers and run defenders for early leads in the rep. Barnhart is an adequate technician on double-teams and single blocks but rarely uproots and dumps opponents at the point of attack. He’s an athletic pull-blocker but fails to excite enough in any phase. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: 5.17 seconds
10-yard split: 1.79 seconds
Vertical jump: 27 inches
Broad jump: 9-feet, 1-inch
3-cone drill: 7.78 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.87 seconds
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 6.21
NFL.com says: Jones has limited starts and relatively few offensive snaps by NFL offensive line standards but he’s put outstanding flashes on tape. He lacks the size and length teams look for at tackle or guard, but he’s talented enough to play at either spot. He loses reps due to poor positioning or overstepping his landmarks but is rarely beaten by an opponent’s quickness or power. Jones is highly athletic, with the ability to bend and drive opponents off the spot or stall the rush with his punch and cinch. He has the talent to play in all blocking schemes and should become a solid starter at guard in the future. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: Did not participate
10-yard split: Did not participate
Vertical jump: Did not participate
Broad jump: Did not participate
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: Did not participate
Bench press: 20
NFL.com prospect grade: 5.64
NFL.com says: Offensive tackle with decent athletic traits and above-average physical traits, but his game tape simply doesn’t show enough consistency. Henderson’s size and length will check boxes, but his play against the likes of Iowa, Alabama and opponents at the Senior Bowl left a lot to be desired. He needs to improve his anchor strength in protection, but he appears to have enough lower-body drive to generate some movement in the run game. Ultimately, an inordinate amount of mental mistakes and a lack of instincts will be hard for offensive line coaches to overlook. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: Did not participate
10-yard split: Did not participate
Vertical jump: Did not participate
Broad jump: Did not participate
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: Did not participate
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 6.24
NFL.com says: Zinter enters the league with NFL size, toughness and technique. He is an average athlete in short spaces but is very capable of climbing to the second level with good angles and making hits on short pulls. He can be stood up and neutralized by two-gapping pluggers but is rarely beaten soundly. His pass protection will be average by NFL standards. Active rushers will give him more issues than you might like. Zinter’s draft stock might be hindered by the recovery from his injury, but the tape suggests he’s a starter on the next level.
40-yard dash: 5.24 seconds
10-yard split: 1.78 seconds
Vertical jump: 30.5 inches
Broad jump: 8-feet, 11-inches
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: Did not participate
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 6.11
NFL.com says: Three-year starting guard with good size, great makeup and robust experience in big games. Keegan is part of a Michigan brotherhood up front that won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards (best college football offensive line unit) and made it to the College Football Playoff in three straight seasons. He plays with average hand placement but above-average strain and is extremely consistent in the duo blocking scheme Michigan features so frequently. He’s always hunting extra work and is made for the physicality of the league but could struggle against the length and athleticism he will see in front of him on passing downs. Keegan has Day 3 draft value but might be able to rise from backup status to eventual starter for a run-heavy team. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: 5.23 seconds
10-yard split: 1.83 seconds
Vertical jump: 29.5 inches
Broad jump: 8-feet, 50-inches
3-cone drill: 7.33 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.5 seconds
Bench press: 25 reps
NFL.com prospect grade: 5.69
NFL.com says: Nugent comes from NFL bloodlines (his father, Terry Nugent, played for the Colts and Browns) and an extended family with a college football background (his uncle, Brian, played at Washington State). The former high school shot-put champ is stout and powerful through his upper body but lacks the size, length and leverage many teams will be looking for. He’s well-versed as a technician but might see his success decrease away from home base. Nugent does well at protecting his gaps in pass protection and battles back against bull rushers but doesn’t have the foot quickness to survive on an island if isolated against an athletic rusher. Nugent has a shot at making an NFL roster, but the ceiling could be fairly low for him. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: Did not participate
10-yard split: Did not participate
Vertical jump: Did not participate
Broad jump: Did not participate
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: Did not participate
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 5.98
NFL.com says: McGregor has good size and length for a stand-up rusher. Teams will like the frame and the toughness, but he’s not a natural knee-bender at the point of attack. There is room for better hand placement as a run defender and hand skill as a pass rusher. He won’t overwhelm opponents with twitch or short-area quickness, so it might be important for McGregor to keep adding play strength in order to become a more willful challenger as a backup edge in odd or even fronts. -Lance Zierlein
40-yard dash: Did not participate
10-yard split: Did not participate
Vertical jump: 37 inches
Broad jump: 9-feet, 10-inches
3-cone drill: Did not participate
20-yard shuttle: Did not participate
Bench press: Did not participate
NFL.com prospect grade: 5.86
NFL.com says: Good athlete but lacking size, play strength and aggression to thrive as an edge defender on the next level. Harrell fails to strike and take command of blocks early on and can be widened out by stronger run-blocking tight ends. He’s fairly talented at ungluing from blocks and darting laterally to get in on tackles. His pass rush will need to become his bread and butter if he is to make an NFL squad. He has a legitimate spin counter but will need to prove he can win around the corner with quickness and hand work. Harrell could be a Day 3 selection, and teams might eventually give him a shot as an off-ball linebacker. -Lance Zierlein