The University of Virginia football program has scored its first 4-star commitment in the class of 2021. Josh McCarron, a 6’4”, 215-pound outside linebacker prospect out of Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett, Washington, has announced his pledge to head coach Bronco Mendenhall and the Cavaliers.
“I will be attending the University of Virginia,” an excited McCarron announced on Instagram Live with his family by his side (Click here to view on Instagram). “Go Hoos. Let’s go baby.”
“It’s crazy to say I’ve made it to this point,” McCarron wrote. “Looking back I never thought I would have done this and I am so grateful that God has granted me the gifts to accomplish my dream. I am so thankful for my family and all they have done throughout this process. Thank you to all the special coaches and people who have helped build me into the man I am today, especially FSP and Coach Jordan. You guys were a huge part of helping make something special happen. I couldn’t be more thankful for everyone who has supported me on this journey, all the people who have helped me back up when I fell down. I truly am appreciative for what you have done. Finally, thank you to all the coaches that have recruited me in this process. With that being said, I know where I want to spend the next 4-5 years of my life. I will be attending the University of Virginia. Go Hoos!!!”
McCarron, who is rated by Rivals.com as a 4-star prospect and the no. 5 high school junior in Washington, chose UVA over a list of finalists that included Boise State, California, Northwestern, Virginia Tech and Washington State. He also held scholarship offers from Air Force, Colorado, Nevada, San Diego State, Utah and Utah State, as well as Ivy League opportunities such as Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton and Yale.
From defensive end to linebacker to wide receiver, tight end and H-back, McCarron lined up all over the field for Archbishop Murphy last season. He tallied 26 receptions for 391 yards and three touchdowns on offense. Defense, however, was where he produced staggering numbers.
McCarron earned The Herald Defensive Player of the Year honors following a junior season in which he totaled 89 tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 21 sacks. He guided his team to an 8-3 record.
“He is a game-changer that offenses must game-plan around,” Lakewood coach Dan Teeter, whose team lost to Archbishop Murphy 35-27 last fall, told Zac Hereth of The Herald in this article.
Archbishop Murphy head coach Mark Leone raved about McCarron’s constant intensity, telling The Herald, “I think Josh’s quality is that Josh goes 110% on every single snap, which gives him the ability to make plays every single time.”
In addition to the 4-star and state ranking, Rivals considers McCarron the no. 11 weakside defensive end and the no. 221 overall prospect in his class. 247Sports ranks the talented prospect as a 3-star recruit, the no. 11 junior in Washington, and the no. 25 weakside defensive end in the nation in his class. 247Sports’ Composite ranking has the future Hoo as a 4-star and the no. 330 junior in the country.
Virginia is recruiting McCarron to play defense, where he would fit in well as an outside linebacker.
McCarron, who becomes UVA’s most highly rated commitment in the class of 2021, boosts the Cavaliers’ class to six commits. He and Christ School (Arden, N.C.) prospect Langston Long are projected to play defense. Long, who played at Hylton (Woodbridge, VA) before heading to Christ School, is likely to end up at linebacker as well.
UVA’s other four commits all project to play on offense. Joining quarterback Jay Woolfolk are running back Amaad Foston, wide receiver Jesiah Davis, and likely wide receiver Malachi Fields. The 6’4” Fields is listed as an “athlete.”
