IN PHOTOS: Inside IMG Academy's 600-acre facility once attended by NFL players like J.J. McCarthy and JC Latham

Modified Sep 26, 2024 18:58 GMT

IMG Academy, a world-class preparatory school in Bradenton, Florida, spans an impressive 600 acres and has been a launching pad for NFL stars like J.J. McCarthy and JC Latham. What began in 1978 as a tennis academy, founded by renowned coach Nick Bollettieri, has grown into a multi-sport training complex.

Today, IMG Academy offers programs in numerous sports such as football, basketball, soccer, tennis, and golf, catering to students from grades 6 through 12, as well as post-graduate options.

The campus, located on 450 acres, broke ground on another 100-acre area in 2011. It then experimented further by adding an extra 24 acres in 2014. These developments back up IMG's west campus improvements. The campus is the home of its modern sports performance center.

The academy’s football program gained prominence with the announcement of the John Madden Football Academy in 2010. It offers various residency programs and training camps ranging from three days to five weeks.

Former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke initially led the program, and IMG fielded its first high school football team in 2013.

By 2015, under head coach Kevin Wright, the team completed its first undefeated regular season (9–0), solidifying IMG’s reputation as one of the nation's premier high school football programs. MaxPreps has even dubbed IMG Academy the "nation's top high school football facility."

J.J. McCarthy's rookie season on hold, but Vikings' Jefferson looks to build future chemistry

In April 2024, the Minnesota Vikings used their No. 10 pick in the NFL Draft to select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, fresh off a National Championship win under coach Jim Harbaugh. McCarthy made an impressive preseason debut, but his rookie season came to a halt due to a torn meniscus.

Though veteran quarterback Sam Darnold was set to start the season, the injury was still a setback for wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Interestingly, Jefferson’s locker at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center sits right next to J.J. McCarthy’s, a strategic decision by the team.

"I think it's intentional for them to get the quarterback and receiver together," Jefferson exclusively told Mirror US Sport. "Of course, he's the future of this franchise and someone we're about to have to count on later down the road, especially after his injury."

Jefferson added that the proximity allows him to bond with J.J. McCarthy, even off the field, which is crucial for their future connection.

"I guess they put his locker next to me for us to chop it up, to connect with one another, and to allow for our chemistry to grow more and more. And I guess for me to guide him. I'm the vet, the captain, and the leader of my team, so I'm really taking him under my wing,"

Entering his fifth NFL season, Jefferson has already followed in the footsteps of Vikings legend Randy Moss. In a dominant win over the 49ers, Jefferson tied Lance Alworth as the fastest player to reach 6,000 career receiving yards, doing so in just 62 games.

Jefferson also recently inked a massive four-year, $140 million contract extension, with $110 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.