J.J. McCarthy is headed to Florida.
The Michigan recruit, who recently completed his junior year at Nazareth, made a surprise announcement Monday that he would finish high school at IMG Academy in Bradenton. He indicated that restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic were at the heart of his decision.
McCarthy, a consensus five-star recruit, led the Roadrunners to the Class 7A state championship as a sophomore and a 7A runner-up trophy last fall. He was 26-2 as Nazareth’s starting quarterback.
McCarthy announced his decision on Twitter and cited the “uncertainty of fall sports” in Illinois as a main reason for his decision. IMG Academy has one of the nation’s premier prep football programs.
McCarthy is ranked as the No. 2 pro-style quarterback prospect in the recruiting class of 2021, as well as the No. 15 recruit overall, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He completed 189 of 315 passes for 2,820 yards with 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 14 games last season.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior was the 2019 Pioneer Press Offensive Player of the Year.
Nazareth coach Tim Racki said he understood McCarthy’s decision.
“I’m sad, not just because he’s a great player, but I’m close with the family. But I understand it,” Racki said. “He loves Nazareth, and Nazareth loves the McCarthys. We wish him the best. He will always be a Roadrunner. We will be rooting for him at Michigan and beyond.
“I talked to him personally and his father this morning. It was very emotional. It’s always hard to let go with seniors, it’s no different with J.J. You have players that are good, but this kid, in how he was raised, he gets it. He’s focused and motivated and grounded and a tremendous leader. I’m going to miss all the intangibles that you don’t see on the highlight film. I’m more sad that I’m not going to be with him for another season and year with him and his family.”
Nazareth junior wide receiver Landon Morris, a Syracuse recruit, played just one season with McCarthy, but he called him a special teammate.
“J.J. is a great quarterback and an even better teammate,” Morris said. “We spent hours together during the season. J.J. is definitely family to me. I wish him good luck throughout the rest of his high school career. I’ll definitely miss him and his family.”
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press