The 6-foot-2 Crossin has bulked up from 192 pounds to 210, yet considers his mental development just as significant. The coaching staff is headed by Chris Weinke, the 2000 Heisman Trophy winner.

Around Thanksgiving last year, when Brad Crossin received an email about his son Brody from IMG Academy defensive coordinator Joe Sturdivant, the private school in Bradenton, Fla., had just finished ...