Football recruiting: Washington Township’s Joe McKillop overcame a serious injury to earn a scholarship offer

In the first offensive series of the first game of his final season, most of Joe McKillop’s body went one way, and his left knee went another.

His heart went a third. Straight down.

“It was devastating,” McKillop said of the injury he suffered in Washington Township’s football season opener on Sept. 8 against Kingsway.

An all-purpose standout and three-year starter, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound McKillop was poised for a standout senior season. He had been the Minutemen’s team MVP as a junior because of his impact on both sides of the football.

McKillop worked hard to return from the knee injury and took the field again in Week 5 against Egg Harbor Township. But he was never quite the same.

“I had to wear a brace, and I didn’t feel like I had my speed,” McKilliop said.

Washington Township coach Mike Schatzman said McKillop came back sooner than expected and probably wasn’t in full game shape until the second half of the season.

“He had a limited role, especially on offense, because of the brace,” Schatzman said.

McKillop was disappointed that he couldn’t make as much of an impact as he had hoped for the Minutemen, who finished with a 3-7 record.

“I had such high expectations for the team and for myself,” McKillop said.

There was another area of concern. His injury-slowed senior season limited his opportunities to impress college recruiters.

But things have taken a positive turn for McKillop. He made a recruiting trip to American International College in Springfield, Mass., this week and received a scholarship offer from the coaching staff.

American International is an NCAA Division II program that plays in the Northeast 10 Conference with teams such as LIU-Post and Pace.

“I loved it there,” McKillop said. “Everybody on campus was so welcoming.”

McKillop has not yet committed to American International, although he’s leaning in that direction in advance of the next national signing day for football on Feb. 6.

“I could definitely see myself going there,” McKillop said.

Williamstown quarterback/defensive back J.C. Collins committed to New Hampshire after an official visit last weekend.

Collins, who led Wiliamstown to a 12-1 record and the South Jersey Group 5 title, had originally committed to Massachusetts last summer, then lost his scholarship when the new coaching staff pulled its offer in early December.

“Great spot for him,” Williamstown coach Frank Fucetola said of New Hampshire. “I told him, ‘One door closes, another opens.’”

New Hampshire is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association, along with programs such as James Madison, Delaware and Villanova.

Shawnee senior all-purpose standout Joe Dalsey has committed to Princeton, where he projects as a linebacker. Shawnee senior lineman J.C. Dobis has narrowed his choices to Marist, Lehigh, and Brown, while Renegades senior lineman Beau Lanzidelle has visits planned to Monmouth and Central Connecticut.

Deptford senior running back/defensive back Kh’ion Smith, who ran for 888 yards and six touchdowns and lifted six interceptions, has committed to Shippensburg University, an NCAA Division II program that competes in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference with programs such as West Chester.

Williamstown senior defensive back/wide receiver Damonte Campbell has committed to New Mexico Highlands, an NCAA Division II program that competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Campbell caught 30 passes for 480 yards and six touchdowns.

Holy Spirit senior quarterback Ryan Yost planned to visit Wagner over the weekend. ... Woodrow Wilson junior running back/linebacker Muheem McCargo has picked up an offer from Western Michigan. ... Camden junior linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave landed offers last week from Syracuse and West Virginia. ... Highland senior punter/kicker Brian Cooey has made a visit to Rutgers and planned another visit over the weekend to Maine.

Shawnee and Rancocas Valley have agreed to move their game, which originally was scheduled for Week 8, to the 2019 season opener for both squads.

Shawnee will play at Rancocas Valley on Friday, Sept. 6, with kickoff at 7 p.m. The change will allow both schools to have a bye the week before the start of the playoffs.

St. Joseph still is looking to add a game. St. Joseph and Willingboro, which also is looking to add a game after playing just eight regular-season games in 2018, have been in discussions about a matchup in the season opener, but nothing is official.

“Strong possibility,” Willingboro coach Steve Everette said of the matchup of teams that advanced to MetLife Stadium last season.