MONROVIA (Calif.) -- Defensive lineman Ellis McCarthy has become the big recruiting prize in Southern California, as schools from across the country have made it a priority to sign the 6-foot-4, 305-pound athlete.
USC and UCLA sent two coaches each to Monrovia High School's opening football game this past Thursday. Fellow Pac-12 schools California, Washington and Oregon have done everything they can to stay relevant in the race for McCarthy. And Florida, a childhood favorite, continues to come on strong.
Maybe it's because McCarthy is still regarded as arguably the second-best athlete at the dinner table -- his younger sister, Elise, is a star on the Monrovia softball team as a freshman -- but he said life hasn't changed much for him, despite the attention.