Ever since Drew McQuarrie was a kid, running around playing youth football in Goffstown, the only position he knew was quarterback. By the time he reached ninth grade, his skills and size solidified his vision of becoming a signal-caller for a Division I college program.
Then came a phone call this past summer. It was Boston College on the line, impressed with what it saw from McQuarrie during a four-day camp in Chestnut Hill, Mass. McQuarrie had also garnered interest from Temple, Harvard and the University of New Hampshire, but he didn’t hesitate in verbally committing to the Eagles in June.
The offer, however, didn’t come without a caveat: McQuarrie will be listed as a tight end on Boston College’s depth chart, meaning his playing days as a quarterback are likely numbered.
“My whole life I’ve put so much time into quarterbacking,” said McQuarrie, the John Stark product who’s listed as the No. 1 recruit in the state and the 111th in the region, per ESPN. “All the coaches I’ve seen, all the camps I’ve done and a lot of money has gone into it as well. When I was broke the news that (Boston College) didn’t want me to play quarterback, it was tough for me and it was a lot to get over. I still don’t think I’m over it 100 percent.”
As McQuarrie spoke while strapping up for practice in an equipment shed across from the Generals’ practice field Tuesday, he was careful not to sound bitter or disappointed. After all, his ultimate goal of playing college football at the highest level has been reached. It just may be a different experience than he was expecting.
“I went in as a quarterback there and they had me do a little bit of tight end and a little bit of quarterback,” McQuarrie said. “They kind of just decided that I was gonna play tight end, although my main goal ever since wanting to play in college was to be a quarterback. It didn’t work out but I think it’s cool that I get to play Division I football anyway.”
With a 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame, there’s no doubt that McQuarrie has the size and athleticism to transition into a tight end at the next level. Admittedly, he said he’s, “never played it in a game, ever,” but he isn’t backing down from the challenge.
Neither is McQuarrie’s father and head coach for the John Stark football team, Rod McQuarrie, who will be by Drew’s side to aid him every step of the way.
“Honestly, I’ve always said he’s more like a coach on the field,” Rod McQuarrie said. “When he comes off the field he gets so much information, whether we’re on offense or defense … He can play any position really and is probably getting sick of my voice after all these years.”
The Boston College football team is currently 3-3 under Coach Steve Addazio and is coming off a 56-10 loss at the hands of No. 3 Clemson. McQuarrie is one of two tight ends in BC’s recruiting class, along with San Diego native Patrick Brown.
“It’s been really exciting and to be honest, I had no clue (the recruiting process) starts this early,” Rod McQuarrie said. “Years ago, it used to be when the season’s over, they talk to you but at the end of the day, it’s Boston College, it’s Division I football and the education is phenomenal.”
He’s no stranger to the college game or the process. He played football at Minot State University in North Dakota and was part of the 1992 team which was recently inducted into Minot’s Athletic Hall of Fame after finishing 9-3 and enjoying a historic postseason run.
He understands the college game has changed since then and knows that changing from a high school position is common.
“I know they look at the frame basically and they know what they can put on you,” Coach McQuarrie said. “They’ve got things down to a science these days as far as colleges go and they can look at a kid and know what he’s going to be.”
Of course, before Drew McQuarrie can daydream about scoring touchdowns at Alumni Stadium donning Boston College’s maroon and gold jerseys, he has business to take care of in the Generals red.
John Stark is currently 6-0 in Division II with three of its biggest games of the year still on tap. First up is a much-anticipated clash against Plymouth (6-0) in Weare on Saturday – a game that will go a long way in deciding the winner of the North Conference.
McQuarrie said now that his future is taken care of, his focus is locked on bringing a championship to Stark.
“After I verbally committed, it was a huge weight of stress taken off my shoulders and that was very helpful because now I am just able to focus on school and my senior season,” he said. “After every game, we always tell ourselves we’re 1-0 after we get the win and we enjoy it until Sunday night and then Monday morning comes around and we’re 0-0 again.
“We don’t look past any team, every team is a challenge and especially Plymouth this week. It’s gonna be our biggest game of the year, by far, and everybody knows that.”
(Jay McAree can be reached at 369-3340 or at jmcaree@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @jaymcaree.)