Cosmo picks city man for '2009 Bachelor Blowout'

Drew McCarl just considers himself an average-looking guy. The folks at Cosmopolitan would beg to differ.

McCarl, 24, of Annapolis, was "singled out" in the November edition of the magazine. He's part of "Cosmo's 2009 Bachelor Blowout," which identifies "a sizzling-hot selection" of guys from across the country. McCarl took the title for Maryland.

"When choosing our Cosmo bachelors, we look for guys that are sweet, smart, and super sexy - basically perfect boyfriend material," the magazine's editor-in-chief, Kate White, said in a statement. "And after meeting this year's group of hunks, I would be surprised if they stay bachelors for long!"

For the record, McCarl is still single, though he's been getting lots of e-mails from women who've noticed his picture in the magazine. He's also been getting lots of e-mails and texts from friends.

"It's a little bit embarrassing, but it's flattering (too)," he said of his appearance in the magazine. "I've enjoyed the whole thing. It's definitely a lot of fun."

A Cosmo spokesman couldn't say how many other Marylanders McCarl competed against, but overall there were thousands of submissions. The magazine has been compiling its state-by-state list of hot bachelors for nine years, and McCarl isn't the first Annapolis resident to have been included. In 2003, 21-year-old Blake Van Leer was the Maryland bachelor.

McCarl was nominated by his sister, Ashley, 23, last spring. At the time, she was completing her senior year of college and saw an advertisement for the bachelor contest in the magazine. She entered her brother on a whim, never expecting him to win, and didn't even tell him about it until weeks later.

"Anyone's who met my brother knows he's a magnet to all people, especially women," she explained.

The 6 foot 5 inch McCarl works for OpalStaff in Columbia as a technical recruiter, helping companies find employees like software developers and engineers.

"It's great," he said. "You get to make people very happy. I like helping people out and helping people find great employees."

McCarl is a graduate of Severn School and Mount St. Mary's College. He played rugby in college and three years ago the left side of his face was crushed during a game. He had to have three titantium plates and 30 screws inserted in his face to repair the damage, according to his mother, Lisa.

Apparently, it healed well, since Cosmo didn't even know about it, she said.

Her son wasn't even sure he'd accept the Cosmo honor at first, until she and his father talked him into it.

"We just think it's important to embrace life and be open to a diverse range of experiences," his mother said. "It was such a unique opportunity."

His father, Clayton, is a dentist with offices in Millersville and Greenbelt.

Among the tidbits revealed about Drew in Cosmo is that he considers Whole Foods to be a good place to meet attractive women. Though it's not mentioned in the magazine, McCarl also likes the Ravens, classic rock and throwing parties.

"I don't expect this to last very long," he said of his brush with bachelor fame. "(But) a lot of my friends won't let me forget it."

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