Former Michigan football signee sets NFL combine record in 40-yard dash

Losing Xavier Worthy was one of the biggest recruiting snafus of the Jim Harbaugh era. Worthy signed with Michigan football in the 2021 recruiting class alongside J.J. McCarthy and Donovan Edwards. However, due to some paperwork issues and other problems with him being an early enrollee, Worthy asked out of his letter of intent. He eventually went to Texas and had a stellar career.

Former Michigan football signee sets NFL combine record in 40-yard dash

After watching Worthy explode for Texas over the past three seasons, Michigan football fans got one final reminder of what could have been. Saturday, at the NFL draft combine, Worthy set the NFL combine record for the fastest time in the 40-yard dash with a 4.21.

Worthy caught 197 passes for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns during his three-year career with the Longhorns. The former top-50 recruit who signed with the Wolverines on Signing Day in 2021, averaged 14 yards per reception and surely cemented himself as a first-round pick with his showing in the combine.

OFFICIAL: 4.21

XAVIER WORTHY HOLDS THE NEW 40-YARD DASH RECORD pic.twitter.com/IrXf3WyemB

— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024

While Michigan football fans can wonder what if, especially after watching J.J. McCarthy throw darts at the combine, it was still cool to see McCarthy and Roman Wilson congratulate Worthy on his achievement. Wilson ran a respectable 4.40 in the 40-yard dash. Cornelius Johnson ran a 4.46. The Wolverines also didn’t miss Worthy much, seeing as they still won the national championship without him. But when you see McCarthy throw the ball 60 yards with ease, it makes you wonder how good those two would have been together.

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