For the past two years, Mike Carroll’s school day has been a little different than most.
Yes, he wakes up early, around 6:30 a.m., like most high school students, to get ready, but when he checks his phone, things are a little different.
“My phone never stops with texts and lots of calls,” Carroll said. “And even different coaches from the same school come up to me a lot to say hello or ask how I am. It’s really just text after text all the time.”
That’s how it goes when you’re one of the best football recruits in the country. And Carroll, a Central Bucks East junior, truly is. He was ranked as the No. 2 interior offensive lineman and No. 27 overall recruit in the country by recruiting service On3.
“It’s been a parade of coaches coming to see him,” CB East coach John Donnelly said. “Of all the great shows.”
A typical day for the 6-foot-5, 310-pound player includes school starting around 7:30 a.m.; a college coach, or several college coaches, showing up at school to meet him during a break in his school day; lifting weights or watching movies after school; followed by homework before bed.
“My days are really full,” Carroll said with a laugh. “It will be a relief when I choose a school. I have a pile of mail with things from different schools that I don’t have time to look at. With school and getting ready for next season at such a time of day it can be very tiring, honestly.”
“I’m almost making my decision about my college choice. I just want to make the right decision and it will feel good when I do.”
Top recruit Mike Carroll narrows college options to Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Penn State
The critical moment began for the Doylestown native after making numerous “unofficial” visits to major football programs last year. Carroll has narrowed his list to four schools and will make an “official” visit to each of them next month, spending a few days at each school.
The final four include Georgia, Alabama, Penn State and Michigan.
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With official visits, colleges can pay for transportation to and from campus, housing, three meals a day for the recruit and his parents, and entertainment expenses, including three tickets to a home sporting event.
A recruit can make as many unofficial visits as they wish, but the cost falls on the recruit and not the school.
“I took a couple of unofficial visits last season so I could see what the atmosphere was like during games and throughout the season,” Carroll said.
CB East’s Carroll has great offers: CB East’s Carroll, a four-star recruit, has offers from Alabama, Penn State and more
“The next official visits will be another opportunity to get to know the schools, meet the coaches and get to know each place. I know it will be a relief when I make my decision.
“I hope to do it probably in early July.”
Meeting Alabama Legend Nick Saban
On an unofficial visit to Alabama just over a month ago, Carroll met one of his idols, former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban, who won six national titles at Alabama before stepping down after last season.
“That was really cool,” said Carroll, who will likely play both ways for the Patriots in the fall.
“There was a group of recruits in a room, and they came in, pulled some of us out and took us to meet him. .”
Penn State makes offer to Mike Carroll’s younger brother
There has been speculation on social media that the Nittany Lions are on track to receive a commitment from Carroll.
CB East’s list of featured Carroll finishes: Football Recruiting: CB East’s Carroll Narrows College List to 12, Including Penn State
Yes, Carroll’s father, Michael Sr., played linebacker for the Nits in the mid-1990s, but a recent twist added to the hype when Carroll’s younger brother, Liam, a freshman wide receiver/defensive back at East , just received an offer from Penn State.
“That’s great for Liam,” Carroll said. “My first offer came from Temple at the end of my freshman year and it was really exciting.
“He’s going to be a really good player and get more offers, for sure. I’m really excited to see him start his (recruiting) journey. To me, it’s two separate things, with him getting an offer from Penn State, too. I’ll try to help him in any way I can.”
College choice is getting harder for CB East’s Mike Carroll
In early April, Carroll narrowed his list of schools from a dozen to the current four.
And telling coaches at powerhouses like Clemson, Florida, Texas and Wisconsin, among others, wasn’t easy.
“I was very fortunate to be recruited by so many great programs,” Carroll said.
“And having to thank all these great coaches, but I’m looking at other schools was tough. I want to go to a school that competes for national titles and hopefully prepares me to play in the NFL, if I’m very lucky. All the remaining schools on my list can do this.
Drew Markol covers local sports for PhillyBurbs. with. Support our journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared in the Bucks County Courier Times: CB East’s Mike Carroll inches closer to college football decision as top recruit
