TJ’s Mac Duda bound for Ivy League

By Jose Negron

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Mac Duda is preparing to take the leap from the WPIAL’s Big 8 Conference to the Ivy League. 

A former standout offensive lineman at Thomas Jefferson, Duda will soon be taking his talents to New Jersey as he will be continuing his academic and football careers at Princeton University. 

Duda committed last summer to play for veteran head coach Bob Surace and the Tigers, who went 8-2 last season. 

“My parents taught me the importance of academics from a young age and to be able to attend a school as prestigious as Princeton is something that I will never take for granted,” said Duda, the son of Don and Patti Duda of Jefferson Hills. “I’m thrilled that I get the chance to play the game I love for four more years.”

When he committed to Princeton, Duda had a total of 26 Division I offers. 

However, the opportunity to play for and attend an Ivy League school was one he couldn’t pass up. 

“For me, Princeton felt like home. More than anything, I was looking for the right fit during the recruiting process, and Princeton immediately gave me that feeling,” said Duda, who said he currently plans on majoring in Economics. “The academics, the football program, the history, the campus and the people all felt like the right fit for me. I still get excited when I think about getting on campus this fall and becoming a part of something truly special.” 

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