Erik McCarty is officially a Sooner.
The McAlester senior signed his National Letter of Intent to play school soccer for the University of Oklahoma on Wednesday throughout a signing ceremony at Bob Brumley Gymnasium.
McCarty stated it was a lifetime of labor culminating in a single second, and he’s proud to be fulfilling a long-time dream.
“It’s something else, man. It’s just something I’ve dreamed of as a little kid,” he stated. “From growing up outside the football stadium, running around and throwing the football around to finally getting the chance to be on the football field — it’s crazy. It’s a dream come true.”
“It means a lot to me (to be a Sooner),” he added. “I walk around with Oklahoma on my chest with pride. It’s something that I’m very proud of.”
But he noted that the work is only just beginning, as he begins a brand new chapter of his life playing in the secondary in Norman.
“My goal and what I’m looking at is to go up there and help change, make it back what it was,” he said. “I like being within the field, I like becoming, I like hitting individuals. It’s simply soccer, I adore it. No matter the place I’m taking part in, it doesn’t matter what place I’m taking part in at, I simply love the sport of soccer and I wish to do no matter I can to play.”
McCarty had profitable knee surgical procedure final week following a season-ending harm on Nov. 18. But he’ll now be graduating from McAlester early and start his school profession in Norman subsequent month, diving into OU power coach Jerry Schmidt’s exercises as he rehabs his approach again to full well being.
“It’s just getting this recovery process going,” McCarty stated. “I’m just ready to get on the road and get going so I can go up (to Norman) and be a Sooner.”
McCarty was in a position to take an official go to Dec. 11-13, the place he stated he bought to satisfy fellow members of the Sooners’ 2023 recruiting class, in addition to meet a few of his new teammates and coaches.
“It was amazing. All of us recruits hung out and got along, and we got to hang out with some of the players,” he stated. “I couldn’t have asked for a better time.”
McCarty is following within the footsteps of his father, Erik McCarty, Sr. — who joined the Sooners himself out of highschool as an offensive lineman. He stated it has been a life-long dream to go play for the college that has meant a lot to his household, and believes it would set him on the trail to achieve even additional objectives sooner or later.
Still, he admitted that it virtually doesn’t appear actual.
“I don’t think I’ve fully grasped it yet,” McCarty stated. “But it’s starting to set in a little bit more. Not every dream is fulfilled, but this is a huge one. This is one that was really big to me throughout my whole life — to be able to go out there and play for the Sooners, man, it’s amazing.”
McCarty credited his time at McAlester for constructing him into the participant and particular person he’s immediately.
He seemed again on every thing that has transpired the final 4 years, and stated it glided by in a blur. He stated there have been too many improbable reminiscences to depend, from large wins to record-setting moments.
McCarty recorded 4,627 speeding yards to be the second all-time rusher in program historical past, and scored 88 speeding touchdowns — breaking Kevin Brown’s file to be named the highest speeding scorer in McAlester historical past.
“Since I’ve been at McAlester, everything — from playing high school football for McAlester to being a Sooner — I don’t think I’d have enough time to just sit and look back at it all,” he stated.
But he’s nonetheless grateful for the journey his life has been on thus far. And though he’s heading to Norman to start out a brand new journey, he’ll always remember his time as a Buff and the those who made all of it so particular.
“Going through all the memories from freshmen year to the senior class we had, I grew close to a lot of those guys,” he stated. “There was never a moment at McAlester football that I didn’t like…it was always fun and great memories.”
Contact Derek Hatridge at [email protected].
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