by Lee Brecheen
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| Nik McCarty |
June 6, 2011 - In 2010, while watching film I saw only one Quarterback in the 2012 Class from the Shreveport area that could play DI football, and that was Nik McCarty from Calvary Baptist High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. If you’re a fan of recruiting and you only saw the Calvary/East Feliciana playoff game or the Evangel Christian rival game during the season in 2010, you might be asking why I’m ranking this kid as a DI player. That’s what’s so great about recruiting. I saw this kid in 15 games over the last 2 years since he became a starter as a sophomore and saw some really great things from this young man.
I saw a kid with a rocket quick release, a command of the offense, great feet in the pocket, and a tall slender build that you know in time will fill out into a big kid in college. Nik is 6-3, 170 pounds now, but in two years or even one year out of high school, he will be in the 195 to 205 range soon, and could end up 220 when he’s done filling out. When you turn on the tape against Evangel High School last year there were a lot of dropped balls, that usually were caught. Against East Feliciana High School QB Beckwith, who is probably the top QB in the 2013 class and top athlete in Louisiana, was just on fire that night and so was the whole team at their stadium. Nik has that look. The more you watch him the more you like him as a recruit. Nik plays under center and shot gun, and knowing both will help him in college.
He’s a super smart kid too in the classroom with a high GPA of 3.85 and an ACT score of a 19. Nik, like many drop back Quarterbacks doesn’t run a big time forty yard dash (4.9), but again he has great feet and command in the pocket. To me the best college recruiters can see what a kid has inside and his upside for the Quarterback position. If you’re just looking at the forty time, you’re really missing out on a great Quarterback sometimes, that is a leader and has a quick release like Nik McCarty of Calvary Baptist High School.
I remember a kid several years ago coming out of Teurlings Catholic that was skinny and tall, and could not run a great forty and that kid was Jake Delhomme. Do I need to say more? Jake has played in a Super Bowl and several years in the NFL, and played for USL college now UL in Lafayette. I remember Jake got hardly any offers from DI schools, but the late Nelson Stockley took a chance and it paid off. I’m not comparing Nik with Jake, but the point I’m making is never get caught up into how much a kid weighs or what he runs in the forty as a QB. Go by what you see on film and the leadership a kid brings to the table for the Quarterback position.
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| Brandon Wilson |
I predict a great year for Calvary Baptist High School and Nik McCarty. I think what hurt Nik and the whole Calvary team from advancing in the playoffs, was losing their star RB Brandon Wilson early to an injury for the whole season, which affected the running game for the rest of the year. Brandon is back and 100 % for the 2011 season.
I’m curious what college team will offer and give this kid a chance in the end, and whoever does I think will get a really good Quarterback with a bright future. I will have more on Nik McCarty and his teammates in the 2011 Louisiana Football Magazine preview. You can pre-order the magazine by visiting www.lafootballmagazine.com/store.
I hope you enjoy the interview below with Taylor Williams
Interview by Taylor Williams
LAFM: Was football a big part of your family growing up?
NM: Yes, sir, I can’t even remember how long it’s been since I first started playing. My dad played at ULM for four years; he was actually a linebacker and fullback cause he’s got a little more of a stocky build.
LAFM: Are you originally from Louisiana, and are you trying to stay close to home and keep family and friends close?
NM: Yes, I was born in Ruston and grew up in Bossier. And I would rather stay in Louisiana, my brother already goes to ULL and he’s already in-state and that’s what I’d like to do too.
LAFM: So what are some schools you’ve gotten looks from at this point?
NM: I’ve gotten some letters from Ivy League schools, just not like acceptance letters or offers for scholarships, just letters asking me to come look at the campus and that kind of stuff. But my options are open and I’m kind of keeping it that way till the last minute.
LAFM: Have you been to any camps yet?
NM: I went to an LSU camp in the summer last year, but that’s it.
LAFM: Have you played any other positions that you could possibly switch to at the college level?
NM: Probably not, I’m pretty much just strictly a quarterback.
LAFM: And lastly on the subject of colleges, have you thought about what you might want to study in school?
NM: Yeah, actually, I want to major in business.
LAFM: As a player and quarterback, what would say is your biggest area for improvement?
NM: Being mentally tough and understanding the game better. As a quarterback, its just all about leadership and getting the team to where we want to be, which is the State Championship.
LAFM: And has your squad had some good playoff runs in your career?
NM: Well, last year we went to the quarterfinals and lost to East Feliciana, who lost to John Curtis in the next round. But as for playoff runs before I actually started playing, we made two semi-final runs. We’re right there on the edge; we just need to get it done this year.
LAFM: What’s it been like playing for your head coach, and how has he helped you improve as a player?
NM: Well, I’ve actually had three head coaches. Starting with Doug Peterson, I’d have to say he probably did the most for me; I was ineligible that first year that I played and practiced with him and I learned more about the game from him than anyone else my whole career. And Bo Meeks was my coach the last two years; he helped me a lot with mechanics and the likes of that. And now we have a new head coach John Bachman, Sr. and things are going really well with him too.
LAFM: What about some games that stand out as especially memorable for a personal or team performance?
NM: I think my sophomore year and first year I played, our first playoff win was a blowout win against Dunham. I think that was a good win for our team because we were mostly sophomores that year.
LAFM: What’s your biggest rivalry, year in and year out?
NM: Evangel, by far.
LAFM: What are some other goals you and your teammates have for next season?
NM: Just bonding together; we’ve all been talking about the same thing for three years: getting to State, and I think that’s our main goal right now. That, and always trying to get bigger and stronger as every team does, but right now our focus is on the Dome.
LAFM: And finally, what are your current height and weight?
NM: 6-foot-3, 170.
LAFM: And what’s your most recent forty time?
NM: 4.9.
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