Cardinal Mooney grad Jack McKinnon will be with Michigan at the CFP National Championship game

Jack MacKinnon opted to play football at the University of Michigan instead of baseball at the University of South Florida.

Jack MacKinnon had a big decision to make during his senior year at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School.

A two-sport athlete playing baseball and football, MacKinnon originally chose baseball. The pitcher/outfielder accepted a scholarship at the University of South Florida during the early signing period.

After walking off the field during his final football game with the Cougars, a playoff loss to John Carroll Catholic in Fort Pierce, MacKinnon began to have second thoughts.

He did not want the 38-7 loss in the regional quarterfinals to the Rams to be his final football game.

MacKinnon continued to play baseball at Cardinal Mooney during his senior season, but decommitted from South Florida in pursuit of opportunities in football.

Virginia Tech, Indiana and Stanford showed interest in the defensive end/linebacker as a football player.

And then there was the University of Michigan.

Former Cardinal Mooney Catholic High defensive end Jack MacKinnon, second from left, poses for a photo with his mother Kelly, University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, and his faher Steve.

Jack Harbaugh, father of Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh, had seen MacKinnon play. Jack’s daughter Joani is the wife of former men’s college basketball coach Tom Creen, who are Lakewood Ranch residents.

It was Jack Harbaugh who recommended MacKinnon to Jim Harbaugh. Before long, it led to Michigan offering MacKinnon the opportunity as a preferred walk-on.

MacKinnon has only seen the field from the sidelines this season, but that has been an experience in itself, as the Wolverines are in Monday night’s National Championship Game against the University of Washington in Houston.

Another area player and MacKinnon’s teammate,…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinal-mooney-grad-jack-mckinnon-102122538.html

Author : Herald-Tribune

Publish date : 2024-01-05 10:21:22

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