Dec 25, 2025
Jamestown native Julian McGaughy finished with a 96 player grade and allowed just one sack in 2025. Photo courtesy of Brockport Athletics
About a year ago at this time, Julian McGaughy was admittedly disappointed.
Although he had what he thought was a fine junior season as a starting offensive tackle at SUNY Brockport, the 2022 Jamestown High School graduate was left off the Empire 8 all-conference football team.
“I tried not to let it get to me in a bad way,” McGaughy said.
Yet, it still gnawed at him.
But instead of pouting about it, the 6-foot-2, 309-pounder went to work.
Julian McGaughy
Whether it was at school or at the Lakewood YMCA, McGaughy trained hard in effort to put the 2024 disappointment behind him.
To say it has paid off would be an understatement.
In fact, on Tuesday, D3football.com released its 2025 All-America Team.
Guess who was on the Second-Team Offense?
McGaughy.
Joined on the Second Team by star running back and teammate Isaiah Simmons, McGaughy anchored the Golden Eagles’ offensive line, which also included center Caleb Bane, another Jamestown High alum.
“That’s my guy,” McGaughy said Wednesday morning. “We went through all four years together and he’s been a friend for I don’t know how long. I can’t put into words how much I appreciate him.”
Brockport certainly appreciated the work of the guys up front — McGaughy, in particular.
In his final collegiate season, the senior finished with a 96 player grade and allowed just one sack. A key blocker in the Golden Eagles’ offense that was first in the Empire 8 in rushing and top 20 nationally, and first in the conference in sacks allowed (five total), McGaughy, Bane and company paved the way for Brockport to average more than 36 points and more than 425 yards per game, and rush for 5.6 yards per carry.
“We were close knit,” McGaughy said of the offensive line room. “We just really loved each other.”
Count Jamestown High head coach Tom Langworthy as a member of the McGaughy Fan Club, too.
“I am so proud of Julian and everything that he has accomplished,” Langworthy said. “It’s nearly impossible to accomplish what he has done without having excellent character and high standards. Julian is an All-American person, (who) was an anchor on an excellent offensive line that blocked for Jaylen Butera. (It) was one of the best offensive lines we’ve seen at Jamestown High School.
“To watch him continue to flourish at Brockport has brought our community and coaching staff great pride.”
When McGaughy, who will graduate in the spring with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and a minor in coaching, received word of his All-American recognition, his first phone call was to his grandfather, David Backus. That was followed by calls to his mom, Julie Backus, and his grandmother, LuAnn Backus.
Not surprisingly, Julie has celebrated her son’s national recognition with photos on her Facebook wall. When combined with McGaughy also securing ECAC All-Region, D3football.com All-Region and Empire 8 All-Conference, Julie has had plenty of news to share on social media in the last several weeks.
“What I think is extra special about Julian is that his entire career he has worked hard so his teammates can flourish,” Langworthy said. “As an offensive lineman, you rarely get the credit that you deserve. That’s part of the job, so seeing him get a tremendous honor like All-American is really meaningful.”
Asked if he plans to pursue football professionally, McGaughy said he might, “if the opportunity arises.”
“I’m going to put together a tape and see what happens with it,” he said. … “I think no matter what level you play at, there are always things you can get better at. What’s helped me is my technique, being mentally prepared for games and staying level-headed, for sure.”
That even-keeled approach has certainly paid dividends.
All-American sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
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