QB updates: AJ Duffy transfers to IMG; Costelli leaves MV
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Four star quarterback AJ Duffy AJ Duffy 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Rancho Verde | 2022 CA announced he is transferring from Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) to the IMG Academy of Bradenton, Florida. The hopes of a regular football…
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Continue ReadingFour star quarterback AJ Duffy AJ Duffy 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Rancho Verde | 2022 CA announced he is transferring from Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) to the IMG Academy of Bradenton, Florida.
The hopes of a regular football season happening in California are becoming more slim with each update from Governor Gavin Newsom. Duffy, whose father Pete is the head coach at Rancho Verde, is plugged into the situation in California and decided it was best to get out of the state.
“It was a tough decision for sure but it’s what we all thought was the best thing for me, short term and long term,” Duffy told Greg Biggins of 247Sports. “If we were guaranteed to have a season this year, I would have stayed but just talking with my dad (Rancho Verde head coach Pete Duffy) and seeing where things are trending, it’s not looking good.”
Duffy will enroll at IMG in February. He cited the NFL level facilities, training regimen and 24/7 attention as the main reasons for him choosing the Academy.
“Not being able to play for my dad my senior year will be tough and that was something we considered. We just felt like there was so much uncertainty going on. First our season was moved back to January and now it’s being moved back again,” Duffy said. “Who knows if there will be a spring ball for us or even a season next fall. We wanted to stay the course and see how it played out but it was a risk. Going to IMG, this is a sure thing in terms of working out, developing as a player and playing a great schedule and I couldn’t pass it up.”
Freshman QB AJ Duffy TD run gives Rancho Verde 14-7 lead over Alemany pic.twitter.com/QFFA6wt8iZ
— Football Recruit. (@FootballRecruit) November 10, 2018
Duffy is the No. 2 ranked quarterback in California’s 2022 class according to Prep Redzone. He completed 71 percent of his passes for 2568 yards and 26 touchdowns for the Mustangs last season and the team only had one loss. Duffy holds 37 offers and some experts consider Oregon to be the favorite.
The bleak outlook on football happening in Southern California led to another top quarterback leaving the state.
Eric Sondheimer of the LA Times reported that Peter Costelli Peter Costelli 6'3" | 210 lbs | QB Mission Viejo | 2021 State CA from Mission Viejo will graduate early and enroll at Utah in the fall.
Costelli originally planned to enroll early at Utah but then changed his mind and said he will play his senior season for the Diablos. He reverted back to his original plan during the holiday break.
He threw for just under 2000 yards in 12 games last season with 23 touchdowns and led Mission Viejo to an 11-1 season as a junior. He spent his freshman season at St. John Bosco and sophomore season as the varsity starter for Santa Margarita.
“My intention was always to graduate and enroll in Utah early after my senior season but with the indefinite delay of the spring high school season I had to make a decision before the window to enroll early closed,” Costelli told Dan Albano of the Orange County Register. “It was a tough decision and I am going to miss my coaches and teammates. I’m looking forward to getting an early start at Utah.”
Costelli is the No. 4 quarterback in California’s 2021 class according to Prep Redzone.