The AJ Duffy Blog: An Introduction to IMG Academy's New Quarterback
AJ Duffy is one of the most highly-recruited junior quarterback prospects in America, collecting more than 30 scholarship offers from programs coast to coast. He has agreed to give Sports Illustrated exclusive access into his world by chronicling everything from his experience as a high-profile recruit to his home life and preparation for his senior season.
What's up?
My name is AJ Duffy, I'm a quarterback and just recently transferred to IMG Academy in Florida. I'm from SoCal, so pretty far of a move, 2,000 miles away from home.
IMG is a sports academy, so every kid at the school is a student-athlete. It's really just the best place in the country to get prepared to do what you do -- college or pro. There are pro tennis and golf players here, so it's the spot to be if you wanna be great.
We're not really having a season in Cali, it's been iffy, and we haven't been able to train. Gyms haven't been open so it's been harder to get in the work. Coming here is just training half the day, school half the day, so it's getting me ready for college.
I flew out here two weeks ago. It was interesting moving in because I had never really left home for any long amount of time. It's pretty much getting ready for college. I live in a dorm right now, get food at the caf (cafeteria), pretty much everything is at IMG so I don't have a reason to leave.
It's been a great experience with the workouts and just the best competition. The team is full of the best players, on top of the work outs that we do. On top of that I get to meet a bunch of kids from all around the world that are good at sports. We can connect and build relationships.
IMG was No. 1 in the nation last year and didn't lose a game. They recruited me because their quarterback left, so to fill his shoes. Honestly though, I don't feel any pressure. I know it's big shoes to fill but I'm ready for the task and am excited to get after it.
It's crazy thinking about, I'm really at IMG. You grow up and you're like, 'oh, it's IMG.' Then to be here it's really crazy. Everyone in the country knows IMG is the place to be.
As a kid, I'm pretty much just chill. I don't like to do too much. I just like to hang out, play the video game when I'm not busy with my sports. Academically I'm pretty good, 4.0 right now. I'm taking a lot of extra classes to I can graduate a semester early. That gets to be a little bit of a pain sometimes, but just got to get through it. Other than that I just hang out, hoop, and play football. That's about it.
When I don't have football, I'm sleeping, playing the game, listening to music or hanging with the fam. Now that I'm not with them, I'm pretty much just busy all day. I just relax and listen to music. I like Lil Durk, Lil Baby, those are probably my top two right now.
So right now I have 38 offers, so I'm just taking it all in. It's crazy to me, seeing all these big-time guys. When you end up being one of those guys, it's kind of crazy.
I just dropped a top four, so I'm narrowing it down soon. Can't give anything away yet...March 31 is my mom's birthday, so something could drop on that date.
Follow AJ on Twitter (@anthonyjduffy) and IG (ajduffy10)
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