Versatile Old Mill Athlete Commits to Play Football at Towson

Joe McCargo found himself playing linebacker almost by accident.

After taking a full year “off” from football, the 6-foot, 195-pound senior walked onto Old Mill’s varsity tryouts and established himself at a position he will now play for at Towson University.

McCargo started playing football when he was 10, but he never imagined going to college for it.

“At first, I viewed myself as a basketball kid and I took a year off [in high school] to focus on basketball,” he said.

His love for the game only materialized after he spent his sophomore year away from the sport.

“I built a really strong love for football. I look back and know [taking a year off] was dumb. It was a dumb decision,” he said.

Without having played a single down the previous year, McCargo, quickly impressed his coaches. During a conventional 7-on-7 drill, a few players went down with injuries, forcing the coaches to put the junior into the linebacker role merely to “fill a hole.”

From there, McCargo flourished into what the coaches called, “a triple threat.”

In his senior year, the 18-year old played linebacker, wide receiver, safety and long snapper.

“He’s such a versatile athlete, we could almost put him anywhere,” said Old Mill Assistant Coach Chad McCormick. “He was a valuable player on all three phases of the game, [offense, defense, special teams]. He was very instrumental to our success the past two years ago.

Good Enough

It was during his junior year that McCargo recognized he might have what it takes to play college football. The Patriots won Maryland’s 4A State Football Championship in 2009, where the Towson-bound athlete made what he called, “my best play.” 

With a few seconds on the clock and only ahead by one, McCargo chased down the opposing quarterback to put an end to the game and solidify his team’s victory.

“He’s a big physical type of kid. Maybe not as quick as some of the players I’ve had in the past, but certainly one of the strongest players I’ve ever had,” said McCormick.

Speed is the first indication of college-quality football players, said Damien Ferregamo, former head coach for Old Mill. While not being the fastest man on the field, McCargo worked tirelessly off it to get to the next level, he said.

“I think his work ethic, especially in the weight room, is definitely a strong suit for him,” said McCormick. Ferragamo, last year's head coach, strongly agreed with McCormick's assessment of McCargo.

“We wouldn’t be here talking [about Towson] if it wasn’t,” Ferregamo said.

While McCargo was recruited to play as a linebacker for the Towson Tigers, the senior admitted he is somewhat of a ball hog and constantly looks for opportunities to score. That’s something he may have to purge from himself while playing in college.

“They’re not going to ask his opinion,” said Ferregamo. “They’re going to stick him where they want him.”

Towson Bound 

McCargo isn’t the first football star from Old Mill to play college ball. In fact, it was the recruitment of another that helped pave the way for the 18-year-old.

Josh Furman, a 6’3”, 185-pound running back from Old Mill was recruited by the University of Michigan last year and really helped put the high school on the map, said McCargo and his coaches.

“[Furman] really brought exposure to Anne Arundel County. He had people interested from all over the country,” said McCormick.

When it came to choosing a school, McCargo said Towson was the most honest about their recruitment process. It was Towson’s transparency that ultimately sold McCargo on their program and his desire to play there.

“From the jump, Towson were up front about other prospects and myself,” he said. “You can get your emotions into it with recruiting. But in hindsight, you could be just another name on the list.”

McCormick agreed, saying, “That’s the difference when you go to the next level. Everyone is the best player.”

Off the Field

Despite being a athletic monster on the gridiron, McCargo maintains a calm demeanor both on and off the field, something that McCormick said contributed to his leadership abilities.

McCargo is actively involved City of Hope International Worship Center in Columbia, MD, a church run by his father. There, McCargo plays the drum set in the worship band and has gone on several missions trips to Baltimore, Jamaica and other locales.

“I’m a preacher’s kid. Faith in God is my number one thing,” he said.

One of his favorite parts of the week is when he plays the drums and children in the church gather around his set.

“I love little kids man, that’s a passion of mine.”

He even enjoys soccer and said he watched almost every game of the World Cup this past summer with fellow Old Mill star and Naval Academy-bound running back, Demond Brown.

Behind the pads and the clash of helmets, McCargo hopes to perform similarly at Towson as he did at Old Mill, maintaining a 3.4 GPA all while delivering bone-crushing tackles.