On February 23 in Tuscaloosa,
Nick Saban, the head football coach for Alabama, extended a scholarship offer
to current 8th grader Dylan Moses. The 6-1 215 lb. 14- year old
impressed Alabama’s coaching staff at their annual Junior Day. Although this is
not the first time BCS schools have offered an athlete prior to their junior
year, it is the first time for an 8th grader. Many would assume that
this would be illegal under the NCAA regulations however it is not deemed an
official contact (which can’t start until the junior year of high school)
because the offer was extended at a sports camp.
There is no doubt that Alabama’s
coaching staff is one of the best evaluators of talent. Yes, this 8th
grader has the potential to be at the top of the 2017 signing class, but what
is this verbal offer accomplishing? Alabama has given themselves the best
opportunity to recruit this athlete once Moses’ junior year arrives. Other colleges
across the nation have little hope to woo and recruit Moses now that this
verbal offer has been made. In today’s social media and news soaked culture,
this young man has made headlines as the most talked about 8th grade
football player in America. One can only imagine what emotions this 14-year old
must feel ---excitement, fulfillment, super star, and a sense of arrival..
Alabama has nothing to lose in providing
a verbal offer to Dylan Moses. But, on the other hand, Moses has everything to
lose. What is going to happen when other kids his age catch up to his athleticism
and strength? What would happen if he gets hurt or fails classes and becomes
ineligible? Moses already has an offer from the best college football program
in the nation; what would happen if he feels a sense of entitlement and loses
his drive to become the best football player and young man that he is capable
of becoming? This is a lot to put on the shoulders of a 14-year old--- no one
wants to be known as the one that lost it all.
I believe the NCAA should
regulate verbal offers prior to the junior year for the overall benefit of the
young athlete. What do you think?
Football is just catching up with basketball. Most high profile Division 1 basketball programs have begun recruiting 8th and 9th grade players regularly. This is because of the exposure of AAU. The reason most football players aren't recruited this early is beacuse their bodies have not matured to the point were their potential can be seen.
ReplyDeleteAs impressive as it may be, I definitely think there should be some regulations on recruiting too young of athletes. From 8th grade to your junior year, athletes go through many transformations not only physically but mentally as well. I think athletes should have something to work towards. Giving them an offer too early can hurt them mentally, either they get a big head and quit trying as hard or they are afraid of getting hurt and not giving it all they have. It is too much pressure on such a young person, plus a teenager's minds changes with their mood. I don't think its fair getting them to commit to something when they could have 2-3 more years of thinking about what they really want.
ReplyDeleteI believe that 8th grade is too young to look at an athlete. However good they may seem, does not reflect where they will be four years from them. There are many athletes who were good in middle school, but by their senior year, their peers have bypassed them in athletic ability. Also, in that time, they could loose interest in the sport, have difficulties in school, or get caught up in the wrong crowd. Ultimately I think it is not smart for the college to look at someone this young.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there should be some kind of regulations on how young an athlete can be recruited. When I was in the eighth grade, a college spoke with my mom about me coming to play there and to keep me in sports and they would find me when it was time for college. It’s ok to tell a parent this, but to actually have an athlete verbally commit as an eighth grader is just preposterous. This could make the athlete cocky or big headed and believe he is better than others so he feels that he doesn’t have to work as hard, or that he has no competition. In the mean time other eighth graders are doing what they need to do to become better as a player. Who’s to say in the years to come that Alabama won’t be one of those schools in the news about coach/player sexual relationships, or one of those teams that’s been suspended because of something that happened in the past. Junior year is the perfect time for high school kids to begin verbally committing to colleges. Anytime before that, they don’t know what they are getting themselves into or what they could potentially miss out on.
ReplyDelete