FERRIDAY — Not even the top-of-the-line facilities and national notoriety of a high-profile academy can replace the feeling of home for Dare Rosenthal.

Rosenthal transferred from Ferriday High School to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., on Jan. 18, but has since returned to his hometown school as he prepares for his junior season.

“I decided to come back (to Ferriday), because I wanted play with my team and be a part of something special,” Rosenthal said.

Monday served as Rosenthal’s first day back at Ferriday, and the towering 6-foot-7, 300 pounder said his decision to return to Ferriday came down to his relationship with his teammates and not wanting to leave the Trojans for the athletic academy, which churns out collegiate athletes every year.

“I felt like I was giving up on my teammates, and I didn’t want to do that,” Rosenthal said. “I wanted to come back and make my own team better. I want to help lead them to a state championship.”

Rosenthal, a University of Alabama commit, initially left for IMG Academy on Jan. 18.

Ferriday football coach Dwight Woods said he understood his standout lineman’s decision, noting the opportunities IMG Academy provides for nationally touted high school athletes looking to focus their time on training for college sports. Woods said he wants his players to make the decisions that are best for their careers.

“I’m never going to do anything to stop any kid from taking an advantage of an opportunity that’s best for them,” Woods said. “It’s up to the parent and the kid to decide what’s in their best interest.”

IMG Academy’s website states the purpose of its institution is to “enable and inspire athletes to rise up to their full potential.” The academy boasts a 10,000 square-foot weight room, a 40,000 square-foot field house and is home of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.

“IMG was good, everything is big,” Rosenthal said. “It’s like a college campus.”

On the academic side, IMG Academy has a 35,000 square-foot center that features a bookstore, gift shop and variety of dining options.

IMG facilitates offseason workouts for a number of NFL veterans including Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller and St. Louis Rams offensive lineman Rodger Saffold.

More than 130 college coaches from more than 95 college programs visited the IMG’s campus in the spring of 2015. The 2015 IMG football roster featured recruiting service 247Sports’ No. 3, No. 40, No. 63 and No. 86 players in the country. IMG had a 9-0 record in 2015 and finished as MaxPrep’s No. 9 team in the country.

“For the kids, it’s a great opportunity and you can’t fault the kids,” Woods said. “If the kids and the parents see it as an opportunity, then they have to make the best for themselves … I just want what’s best for the kids.”

Rosenthal said on his first day back at Ferriday, he never felt homesick in Florida. Rosenthal said he felt his place was back in his hometown with his teammates where he’s played his first two seasons of high school football.

Ferriday finished its 2015 campaign with a 5-6 record.