INDIANAPOLIS -- Two second-level quarterbacks with perhaps the most to gain at the NFL Scouting Combine this week have made decisions to throw for scouts, sources informed of the players' decisions told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport Thursday evening.
Alabama's AJ McCarron, who declined an invitation to the Senior Bowl last month, and Eastern Illinois' Jimmy Garappolo, who accepted a pair of post-season all-star invites, will both throw Sunday when quarterbacks take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for workouts.
Many were surprised when McCarron turned down Senior Bowl officials because he was coming off a poor performance in Alabama's 45-31 Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma. While Bama's quarterback threw for 387 yards in that season-ending defeat, his two interceptions were turned into 14 Oklahoma points, the final margin of the game. McCarron blamed his Senior Bowl scratch on health issues.
McCarron's decision to throw comes just three weeks after going on a national radio show in which he cast doubt on a full combine participation, saying, "It's hard to get timing with guys you've never repped with."
Garappolo, according to Rapoport, will also do other drills, but might refrain from the bench press.
It was Garappolo's impressive performance in the East-West Shrine Game that got him a second look in Mobile, Ala., where he produced a solid week of Senior Bowl practices.
Both McCarron and Garoppolo are projected as second-day draft picks (second or third round). How they perform in front of representatives for all 32 teams Sunday could start to separate them some.
