Morgantown specialist McConnell makes Mohigans special
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (BVM) — Morgantown High School senior John McConnell Jr. has been kicking the football for the Mohigans for years. Though he comes out to score points as the team鈥檚 placekicker, he may be even better as a punter. Averaging over 40 yards a punt and landing over 60% of his kicks inside the 20-yard line, McConnell is a weapon for the Mohigans as he is able to change the team鈥檚 field position with a simple swing of the leg.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 very important,鈥� McConnell said. 鈥淚 want to be as effective as I can be. I want to be able to put the team in the best position we can possibly be put in.鈥�
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His kicking isn鈥檛 too bad either as he converted four of six field goals last fall including a 42-yard attempt. For his efforts, McConnell was a Class AAA all-state special honorable mention.
鈥淚 was definitely excited,鈥� McConnell said. 鈥淚 was hoping to do a little bit better during the season, but there are always some tough situations, but I was really excited and grateful for earning that.鈥�
Though specialists tend to get a bad rap in terms of popularity, many becoming the scapegoat for when a team fails to meet expectations and lose on a play by the specialist, McConnell isn鈥檛 worried about garnering attention. He understands that it isn鈥檛 about how people on the outside of the team treat you, but rather how those next to you on the field care about you.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those things that I鈥檝e just kind of gotten used to,鈥� McConnell said. 鈥淓veryone on the team appreciates what I do and all the coaches do and that鈥檚 all that really matters. All the people that need to appreciate you are, so it鈥檚 fine.鈥澛�
McConnell is ranked among the top specialists in the country. He has participated in numerous kicking and punting camps and competitions across the country since the end of his freshman season including the 2019 Vegas XXXIII where he was the field goal last man standing champion and punt champion for the Class of 2021, the Top 12 camp where he was the 2019 overall punt champion and the Class of 2021 Punting Champion this year. He was also selected as the 2020 Vegas XXXV All-American Bowl member as an NBC punting finalist.
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome,鈥� McConnell said. 鈥淚t really means a lot. There are a lot of guys that are really good so to be able to beat those guys really feels good.鈥�
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The camps not only work as a measuring stick for McConnell to see where he stacks up among the nation鈥檚 best, but also as a learning experience. With many former specialists leading the camps and competitions, McConnell has been able to see improvement in his craft since his attendance.
鈥淭hey have helped so much,鈥� McConnell said. 鈥淚 have learned from a lot of good kickers and punters and made a lot of really close friends. Most of those guys I talk to every day and we鈥檒l compare film and talk about stuff like that and watch other guys punt. It鈥檚 really exciting to see and you learn a lot.鈥�
With his participation in the national camps, McConnell also garnered plenty of attention from the scouting community specifically at the Division I level. During his recruitment campaign, McConnell had numerous visits across the country including Auburn University, University of North Carolina, University of Alabama, University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University, among others.聽
Although he received plenty of love from the Division I programs, it wasn鈥檛 until May that McConnell received his first Division I offer from Marshall University in nearby Huntington, W.Va. Marshall was among the first visits McConnell had made to a Division I team, attending a game in Nov. 2018. From that moment on, Marshall seemed to keep the foot on the gas in their pursuit of the young specialist and he appreciated it all the way up to his commitment.聽
鈥淭hey were the first ones to offer and really say they wanted me there,鈥� McConnell said. 鈥淭hey were always very persistent during the recruiting process. They were always hitting me up, always texting me and whatnot. When they were the first to offer it was already a school I really liked because it was close to home and a really good school. They do things the right way there so I knew it was the right fit.鈥�
The scholarship offer left such a strong impression on McConnell that only a couple of weeks after he received the official offer, he committed to the Thundering Herd. While other senior athletes await the uncertain season due to COVID-19, McConnell is happy to have a certain future to alleviate any added pressure this season.
鈥淚t takes off a lot of pressure definitely,鈥� McConnell said. 鈥�(I鈥檓) happy to have a home and nothing to worry about my senior year.鈥�
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Although he was recruited by his hometown Mountaineers, McConnell felt more drawn to the Thundering Herd. While he does get a little flack from his peers, McConnell feels that most everyone is just happy he stayed in the state.
鈥淚鈥檒l get it from my friends and whatnot a lot of people like, 鈥楳an you chose the wrong school,鈥� but there hasn鈥檛 been too much,鈥� McConnell said. 鈥淎 lot of people around here don鈥檛 love Marshall, but they support Marshall. It鈥檇 be a lot worse if I was going to Pitt I will say that. 鈥� I wanted to stay close to home and being able to stay in West Virginia is really awesome. Marshall is a great tradition football school, they have always done things the right way and they have a really great fanbase in Huntington.鈥�
Marshall has had successes with special teams over the past few years. Marshall鈥檚 kicker last year, C-USA special teams player of the year Justin Rohrwasser, graduated from the university before being selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Marshall鈥檚 projected punter this season, Robert LeFevre, will be a redshirt senior this fall, leaving the door of opportunity open for McConnell in 2021, who will primarily be used as a punter for the Thundering Herd.
Entering his senior season at Morgantown, McConnell doesn鈥檛 have many statistical aspirations, instead he wants to do the best for his team both in his kicking as well as a leader.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to it,鈥� McConnell said. 鈥淚 think everyone on the team is really prepared and worked hard all summer long so we鈥檙e really excited for the season. 鈥� I鈥檓 just looking to be very effective and be a good role model for the younger players on the team.鈥�
