Fordham Prep quarterback McHale picks Holy Cross

Fordham Prep quarterback James McHale had fallen out of touch with the Holy Cross staff over the summer. He wasn’t able to make it to the camp and felt their focus may have turned to other recruits.

The Crusaders program was one of the ones he liked the most and the senior decided to give it one last shot in September and emailed assistant coach Chris Nugai.

“I emailed me and he was all excited,” McHale said. “A couple guys went else were and they were really interested in me. I just kept in contact.”

He gave Holy Cross another reason to be excited when he verbally committed to play football there after this official visit two weeks ago. McHale chose the Crusaders over Dartmouth. He completed a four-year goal of playing Division-I football after being put at quarterback as a freshman.

“It means the world,” McHale said. “It’s always been my dream to play Division I football.”

He felt Holy Cross gave him the best balance of athletics and academics. McHale sees a chance to be able to compete for a starting job down the road as the Crusaders roster has five quarterbacks, four of which will be seniors next season. Holy Cross also plays in a pass happy spread offense, something that was music to McHale’s

“I definitely like throw it around,” he said. “It’s definitely one of the main things I like.”

McHale, a four-year varsity player and three-year starter, was one of the top quarterbacks in the CHSFL. He helped lead the Rams on the Class AA title as a sophomore and to the semifinals the following season. The All-Bronx first team selection by the Bronx Times was asked to do a lot this season as the Rams struggled without injured running back Malik Crossdale. McHale led the CHSFL in passing yards by completing 170 of 359 passes for 2,060 yards and 10 touchdowns

“I felt like it was all on me for most of the year,” he said. “I was the senior I was the leader. I had to step up and help the team as much as I could.”

McHale feels the pressure is off him now that he has a school with National Signing Day approaching on Feb. 5

“I knew I had to make a decision soon,” McHale said. “I kind of wanted to end it all and know where I was going.”

Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.