As IMG Academy prepared for its Saturday night matchup against The St. James Performance Academy out of Virginia, the linebacker and several teammates turned their attention to a different challenge: hitting the crossbar.

The competition came with plenty of banter and trash talk. Players who missed their attempts were mocked by their teammates, and the coaches weren't spared either. It was all part of the fun as the group enjoyed a lighter moment during the Friday walkthrough, with individual position groups continuing their preparations nearby.

For a few minutes, the focus shifted away from the demands of preparing for an opponent. The players were simply teammates giving one another a hard time, enjoying the competition and making the most of a moment together.

For Irvin, a Virginia Tech commit, those moments are an important part of life at IMG Academy, where the pursuit of football excellence is balanced by the relationships formed along the way.

Irvin knows the demands that await him each day, beginning with a wake-up call around 6 a.m. and continuing through football meetings, practice, strength training and afternoon classes. But he also understands the value of taking a moment to enjoy the experience.

“It's really football and I'm with my brothers at the end of the day,” Irvin said. “And I should be grateful.”

A routine that starts before sunrise

By the time many students are beginning their school day, Irvin has already spent hours preparing for football.

His morning begins around 6 a.m., followed by breakfast around 6:15 or 6:20 and treatment at approximately 6:30. Team meetings begin around 7:30, setting the stage for the day's football activities.

Breakfast is one area where Irvin has developed new habits since arriving at IMG.

His go-to meal is yogurt, granola, or fruit, a combination he found with help from the school's nutrition staff. Before coming to IMG, breakfast wasn't always a priority. His mother would prepare something if he asked, but on many mornings, he would grab a bar or go without a substantial meal.

At IMG, he has learned to appreciate the role nutrition plays in preparing his body for the day ahead.

“I'm not so hungry to eat a ton of stuff,” Irvin said of his early mornings. “So, getting with them, I kind of found something for me.”

The goal is to find something that provides energy without forcing him to eat a large meal immediately after waking up.

Treatment is another part of that process.

Irvin described the school's recovery room as a lifesaver, emphasizing that players are encouraged to receive treatment even when they aren't injured. The idea is to make recovery and preventive care consistent parts of their routines rather than something reserved for when a problem develops.

He singled out athletic trainers Autumn Pisano and Jaden Harris for creating an environment where players feel comfortable seeking help. Irvin appreciates that they encourage preventive treatment and make themselves available for conversations about life beyond football, too.

"Some trainers, they'll be tired from the day and when they get to you, they don't have the best attitude, or you getting treatment comes off as a burden on them. For them, they really encourage it and want to see us... It's a good room that builds relationships and saves lives."

Preparing for the opponent

The morning's football preparation continues with team, unit and position meetings.

Irvin described a process that begins with the entire team discussing the week before players separate into special teams, offense and defense. From there, position groups break down the finer details of the upcoming opponent.

For the defense, those sessions involve studying formations, identifying potential advantages and understanding what the opposing offense might try to exploit.

The defense has its own way of setting the tone before the work begins. Irvin described a meeting ritual in which a player calls out “attitude” and the defense responds with its three defining words: “violence, tackling, and takeaways.”

“We have to create our own juice,” Irvin said, explaining how the routine helps the defense prepare to attack the day.

Film study also plays a role, allowing players to review practice and refine their understanding of their assignments.

The preparation begins on Monday, when the team emphasizes starting the week with energy and focus. Irvin said players can feel tired at the start of the week and be tempted to put off the work, making it important to establish the right mindset from the outset.

“Monday has to be our best day. We have to come in Monday, lock in, be ready,” Irvin said.

As a linebacker, Irvin must know more than his own responsibilities. He also needs to understand how the defensive line and defensive backs fit into the larger scheme.

Two influential figures, former NFLer Mike Sellers, and former North Carolina linebacker Parks Cochrane help the linebackers break down opponents and prepare to play fast and react.

The linebacker room, he said, is filled with smart players who push one another to improve. The group knows how to joke around but also recognizes when it's time to get serious.

That balance is important to Irvin, who has grown into a leadership role during his time at IMG. As a senior, he understands that younger teammates are watching how he approaches his work.

He believes leadership begins with consistency. Even on mornings when he feels tired or doesn't particularly want to be vocal, he still has a responsibility to set an example.

“The work has to get done no matter what,” Irvin said.

But he has also learned that being a leader doesn't mean constantly demanding more from teammates through criticism or raised voices.

Some players respond to direct instruction. Others respond better to a conversation that makes clear what needs to improve without creating unnecessary tension.

For Irvin, knowing how to communicate starts with getting to know the people around him and earning their respect.

Finding room for fun

The crossbar challenge during Friday's walkthrough offered a glimpse of how the players make room for fun within an otherwise demanding schedule.

Irvin credited coach Greg Studrawa with helping introduce activities designed to build team chemistry. The coach brought more opportunities for fun into the schedule, including the 10-minute periods players get during certain trips.

Those moments can be particularly meaningful when players are away from home. For much of the day, their time is organized around football and academics. A chance to joke around with teammates provides a break from that structure.

Irvin appreciates the opportunity to feel like a kid again. But as his senior year progresses, he is also becoming more aware of how quickly those moments are passing.

With senior night approaching, Irvin had begun thinking about how much time remained in his high school career. He transferred to the Bradenton-area school before the start of his sophomore year, and now the end of his time at IMG is getting closer.

“I was thinking like, wow, I had a lot of these and it kind of went by fast,” Irvin said.

The student behind the athlete

Football is only part of Irvin's schedule.

After his morning activities, he transitions to academics, with classes beginning around 1:40 p.m. and ending at approximately 5:20 p.m. The schedule he described includes three classes each afternoon, along with opportunities for additional help during office hours.

Adjusting to that routine required a change in perspective.

Irvin said he looked to older players for guidance, including current Oregon linebacker Gavin Nix, whom he considered a good example of leadership. Seeing teammates navigate the same demands helped him understand how to balance football with school.

He has also learned to view the schedule as preparation for college rather than simply another obstacle to manage.

“It's also a blessing being here and having that schedule, that type of schedule like you'll have in college,” Irvin said.

Irvin credited his statistics teacher, Eric Koeller, and his counselor, Mel Keller, with helping him stay on track. He appreciated that they understood the demands student-athletes faced while still holding them accountable for their schoolwork.

Their approach, he said, was supportive and respectful. They encouraged students to ask questions, seek help and finish their assignments while recognizing the demands of their schedules.

Among the classes he looks forward to most are NIL education and forensics.

The NIL class is particularly relevant to his plans for the future. Irvin intends to major in business in college, although he hasn't decided on a specific concentration. He said the class covers subjects including financial management and professional networking, giving students an early introduction to responsibilities they may encounter beyond high school.

“It's a class that really focuses on what I'll be going through in the future,” Irvin said.

Teammates become family

When the school day ends, Irvin's schedule leaves room for dinner, homework and time with friends. Very much into forensics, Law & Order might find its way onto the TV. That interest carries into the classroom, where he studies the subject under Cassandra Brennan.

At IMG, his friends often include the same teammates he has spent the morning preparing to play alongside.

Irvin said he regularly goes out to eat with teammates, especially through trips to Chipotle. It's a simple routine, but one he believes helps strengthen the relationships that develop on campus.

“Wherever I go to eat, I always have a teammate with me,” he said.

The experience differs from returning home after a conventional school day. Instead of leaving classmates behind, Irvin returns to a residential environment where teammates may live in the same dorm or just a short distance away.

Irvin has shared a room with Chuck Roberts, a safety committed to Maryland, since the previous year. Living alongside a teammate allows the two to maintain their friendship outside practices and meetings.

The campus courtyard also gives students a place to meet athletes from other sports and connect with people from different parts of the country and the world.

Evenings follow a structured schedule. Irvin said players have a 9 p.m. curfew and must be in their rooms by 10 p.m.

Living away from home can be an adjustment, but Irvin said the people around him have become an important support system. Spending time together away from football gives teammates the opportunity to build relationships that carry over onto the field.

Making the most of senior year

Irvin's days at IMG follow a demanding rhythm. Mornings are devoted to football preparation, afternoons are filled with classes, and evenings bring time for dinner, homework and teammates.

The routine is designed to prepare him for the next level. At Virginia Tech, where he plans to continue his football career and get that business degree, he'll have to manage the demands of college athletics alongside his academic responsibilities.

But as his senior season moves forward, Irvin is also learning to appreciate the moments that fall outside the schedule.

During that Friday walkthrough, the crossbar challenge offered a few minutes of laughter and friendly competition. It was a small moment in a day built around preparation, but one that carried more meaning as Irvin considered how little time remained.

He knows there are games to prepare for, classes to attend and expectations to meet. But with his senior season moving quickly, Irvin also knows there's still time to enjoy the experience, including a few more walkthroughs with his teammates before vying for a coveted national championship.

"It's preparing yourself for your future," Irvin said. "How you attack it here is how you attack in college."