Jimmy McHugh '15 Recruiting Profile

Update 8/11/14:

Selected as one of only 50 NJ high school football players to receive the Mini-Maxwell award.  Selected to Top 300 All American Team by Prepstar (previously selected to The Preseason All Eastern Team) and a Top DE Prospect. I currently hold Offers from multiple D1 schools.  Captain this year - vote by teammates.   Selected  -Preseason All South Jersey Lineman by The Phila. Inq.   

In 3rd grade, when I found out that my 5th grade brother was playing football, I knew that I wanted to play. My dad said that I was not allowed to play until I was older. Well, I begged and cried to him until he let me play for the Moorestown Quakers 75 lb. team. Since then, I have loved the game of football more than anything else. In my last year of Pop Warner football in 8th grade, I was captain of the unlimited weight class. Our team had so much heart that year that I’ll never forget how much it hurt to lose 14-12 in the championship game. That loss still burns deep in my gut every time I get ready to play. I hate losing. I will do everything in my power my high school senior season to prepare my team to win a state championship.

As a two-way starter (C and DE) and team captain my freshman year, I helped to lead my team to a season with only one loss. My sophomore year I varsity-lettered and started both ways as a captain on JV.  This year, as a junior, I was one of the only two-way linemen, starting as both an Offensive Guard and Defensive Tackle/End.

On the defensive side of the ball I was double-teamed more often than not; still, I battled across the line every play, causing at least 3 fumbles that we recovered and making numerous sacks. As our primary pass rushing lineman, I caused a hurry most pass plays and tipped or swatted the football multiple times. Two of my blocked passes this past season resulted in my team getting an interception. I know where the ball carrier is on the field at all times and I am able to make plays without violating my role on defense.

On offense, as our left guard, I was able to use my size and speed to pancake players all over the field. I get so excited every time my quarterback comes into the huddle with a play where I get to pull and kick out at full throttle. I have played every position on the Offensive and Defensive line which gives me a very good understanding of the game and the responsibilities of everyone around me, no matter what position I play. In my upcoming senior year, Coach Lynch, my offensive line coach says that he may need me at left tackle, but I hope to be able to run the O line as a center. Currently, I represent my team in the Student Athlete Advisory Counsel to our athletic director. I am very proud to represent my team in this organization as my head coach, Coach Sherry, appointed me as one of the two team representatives.

Wherever I play, I want to become a better football player every single day. I play to the whistle on every down and go 100 percent all the time. I am currently running captains’ practice as often as I can this winter; and, I will be able to ramp things up in preparation for our 2014 season as the weather starts to warm up. I pursue high achievement on and off the field. I pride in being a member of the Honors and Service Society with a cumulative 4.13 GPA calculated for my freshman and sophomore year. I have earned 5 consecutive scholar athlete awards in football and lacrosse since my first high school football season. I would like to attend an academically challenging college or university. Right now I think that I want to attain a graduate education in law school after college, but I am still young and that could easily change.

One last matter that I feel is relevant to mention is that I stepped down from the lacrosse team this year so that I could focus solely football. It was a tremendously difficult decision for me to make as I played varsity as a freshman and sophomore and held an important role as a faceoff specialist.  It was not easy to tell my coaches and teammates that I would not be playing this year; nonetheless, it was the only decision that was fair to them, because even if I chose to play this spring, my heart and mind would be focused on how to get ready for this fall.