A local football player is getting the chance to continue his career beyond high school.

Jeffrey McCracken (6’3, 270), who plays Offensive Line for the Fort McMurray Saints, has committed to Acadia University.

McCracken says his recruitment picked up near the start of his senior year of high school, with a CJFL team reaching out, but in the end, it was always about Acadia.

“The town itself is a beautiful spot, the university is a beautiful spot – you can’t go wrong, and it’s the number one undergraduate school in the country.”

Acadia is located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and competes in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference in U Sports.

Saints Head Coach Kevin Garbuio says Jeff will be a huge asset for the Acadia Axemen.

“His ability to do so many different things and be flexible (on the field), he’s going to be successful in football, in university but also as an adult.”

Garbuio says Jeff’s work ethic on and off the field is one of the main reasons he’s being recruited.

“Jeff is a humble kid, he does some great stuff in the community, he helped run the Santas Anonymous program at Father Mercredi since grade seven. This scholarship he’s getting isn’t just because he is a good football player who is tall and heavy. He handles his business in the classroom and in the community. He coaches. He’s a great ambassador for Fort McMurray, Father Mercredi, and for the Saints football program.”

Jeff’s response to the glowing review from his Head Coach.

“Yeah, well, I don’t know, that’s just the way I am.”