Football Recruiting starting earlier and earlier for potential athletes

Over the last year or so, one of the most interesting debates that I have talked about is when college basketball coaches are offering seventh and eighth graders full scholarships.  These athletes in most cases are four full years away from signing their Letters of Intent.  This is actually something some college basketball coaches are trying to stop.

Because basketball is a much different sport then football, I for one would not expect it to hit the gridiron.  The reason is simply because the maturity of athletes in football is at a different level than basketball.  How many top high school football players have skipped college and went right to the NFL Draft (yes, I know it is not legal)?  But apparently football coaches are now not afraid to go out on a limb an offer a prospect who has yet to play a game of high school football.

The New York Times recently did an article (click here for it) talked about the Football University Youth All-American Bowl.  This Bowl was already held but it brought what many would consider the top football players in the Class of 2013 together and had them play on the football field.  Let me repeat that, the Class of 2013.

But what stood out to me during the article is the mention of Reeve Koehler.  This 13-year old has always been too big to play organized football.  Despite his age, he stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 280 pounds.  That is some amazing size of an athlete that young.  That stature also helped him receive a full scholarship offer from the University of Hawaii.

No offense to Hawaii but if this kid projects out like many expect, he would be down to Florida, USC, Texas, and Oklahoma for his final college choices.  The reason is simple.  If a college coach at the Division I-A (BCS) football level thinks that an athlete is good enough as an eighth grader, then schools throughout the country will start taking a serious look at him.

In all honesty, I have only heard of one other football player being offered before high school during my entire time in sports the last ten plus years.  In this situation, I can’t even name the athlete.  From what I remember, he was offered extremely early by Wake Forest because he had a brother that was with the Demon Deacons.  I assumed that because of the nature of football, it wouldn’t happen before high school.  As a freshman, maybe.  As a sophomore, that happens all the time.  But in eighth grade?

There are a few reasons why I am questioning this.  When you are 13-years old, your body has not fully matured and you have not become the person that you will be.  Just because you have spent your life being bigger than those around you doesn’t mean you are going to work harder than others.  Many athletes who are considered the top players are seventh graders usually get passed when others in their grade level catch up with their maturity.  It just happens.

While I feel it is important to point out this story to see that football recruiting is even happening before high school, I hope this is not something that becomes common place.  I still strongly believe that before trying to get recruited, the key is to have varsity experience.  That includes varsity film, varsity stats, and things along those lines.  Even with things happening sooner and sooner, those are what I feel are the best ways for athletes to get evaluated by college coaches.

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