Top 100 QB Brady Hart, a 'JJ McCarthy reincarnation,' heads into crucial visit with Michigan

All eyes are on a small group of elite 2025 recruits coming in for official visits this weekend. However, Michigan is also gearing up to host one of its most important targets in the 2026 class — Top 100 Cocoa (Fla.) High quarterback Brady Hart.

Hart has ascended up the rankings and established himself as one of the top young signal-callers nationally. And according to private quarterback coach Baylin Trujillo, Hart still has a ton of potential.

“Brady is an elite talent that has only played this position at a high level for a couple of years,” Trujillo said. “The best part of his game is he hasn’t even come close to his ceiling. He’s still learning day-by-day. The kid has everything. He’s got the accuracy the fluid motion. He’s a great kid and a high academic kid. Again, he’s constantly learning. When you’re constantly learning and you’re gifted, the sky is the limit. He’s just such a special talent and has family that supports him. He has a head coach that loves quarterbacks and played at a high level. He has me as his trainer. He has a lot of things working in his favor to be one of the top, if not, the top quarterback in his class.”

Hart, whose father, Alex, was an MLB pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, grew up playing baseball. However, he gravitated more towards football and has really blossomed as a pure passer over the last year.

Hart threw for 3,759 yards and 41 touchdowns en route to leading Cocoa to a Florida state championship as a sophomore.

“His motion is so fluid,” Trujillo said. “We did a lot of mechanical stuff when we first started developing him in his eighth grade year. He was a baseball kid, so he had a longer release and a couple of hitches in his throw. We’ve polished it to where, if you watch him, there is not a single hitch. He’s very accurate, he’s always in base, he’s got great weight transfer in his lower body and he’s always on time. Anywhere on the field, he’s on time every time.”

Hart has continued to develop this offseason and had a strong performance at the Elite 11 regional in Orlando. He has also developed physically and is continuing to add plenty of muscle mass to his impressive frame.

“He’s put on some size,” Trujillo said. “He’s up to 195 pounds whereas last year he was only at 170 if that. He’s put on 25 pounds of muscle. He’s worked out harder. Last year, he was nursing a back injury. He’s at full strength. He trains almost everyday when he’s not traveling. I call him ‘The Freak.’ It’s unreal what his body has been able to do at 6-foot-5. He looks so good. His lower body is huge. His upper body is lean and cut. Like I said, he’s ‘The Freak.’”

Clemson recently picked up a prediction to land Hart, but that pick may have been a bit premature. Michigan is all in on recruiting Hart this cycle and has made him a top priority. U-M quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell will have a chance to further move the needle this weekend.

With that said, Campbell already has a strong relationship with both Hart and Trujillo. Campbell flew down to Florida to see Hart at practice last month and has been in constant communication with Trujillo over the last several months.

“I’m all about relationships,” Trujillo said. “That’s going to be big for my guys. Coach Campbell, no joke, calls me three or four times a week. It’s not even just about Brady. It’s about life. I love Coach Campbell and how he recruits quarterbacks. He only has two or three top tier quarterbacks that he’ll allow to commit. Brady Hart is one of them. The focus has been on Brady Hart. He’s told me countless times and showed me the board. He’s No. 1 in the 2026 class. He’s got Brady Smigiel up there and maybe Troy Huhn. Those guys are in the top elite class.

“I know this weekend is going to be a huge weekend for him. Michigan stays at the top because of my relationship with Coach Campbell along with the communication they’ve had with Brady. They’ve prioritized him and made him feel that way. That’s not to mention they are coming off a national title. They are in the top echelon when it comes to recruiting. Also, he has a relationship with Sherrone (Moore). There is a family tie there. That also puts Michigan right at the top.”

Trujillo added that Hart, who is ranked as the No. 9 quarterback and No. 92 overall prospect nationally in 2026, would be a perfect fit in Michigan’s pro-style offense.

And he may even remind Michigan fans of a familiar name…

“Brady is a pro-style quarterback that’s able to do some RPO stuff,” Trujillo said. “You are able to run multiple formations. Michigan does a good job of that, which is why their quarterbacks have opportunities to be in the NFL. Michigan runs a multiple set pro-style offense, which gears quarterbacks to go to the next level and be ready. You see JJ McCarthy. He’s an athletic, pro-style quarterback. That’s who Brady Hart is. He is a reincarnation of JJ McCarthy.

“The offer for Brady came after Elite 11. Brady hadn’t even done anything with Michigan yet. Coach Campbell saw the Elite 11 tape and said ‘we’re offering Brady today.’ He goes ‘Brady reminds us of JJ McCarthy, and that’s what we’re looking for to win another national title.’ When you are compared to JJ McCarthy, and you look at who he is and how he ran that Michigan offense, they are looking for the next guy to do that. They believe Brady Hart is that guy.”