A 9-year-old youth football player gets a college scholarship offer? Yep, you bet
By Langston Wertz Jr. Charlotte Observer June 23, 2017
In case you missed it, there’s been a trend of some college programs offering scholarships to kids at much younger ages than normal. Usually this happens in the later stages of high school.
Not anymore.
New Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin recently offered rising eighth grader Kaden Martin, son of former Tennessee QB Tee Martin, now offensive coordinator at Southern California. Martin’s son graduates in 2022.
Kiffin also offered a California quarterback who just finished sixth grade, per Fox Sports reporter Bruce Feldman.
Kiffin got a commitment from 15-year-old Florida quarterback Brandon McDuffey, who graduates in 2020 and hasn’t thrown a varsity pass yet. He just finished ninth grade. McDuffey told USA Today that “I just felt (Florida Atlantic) was the best place for me to commit to as of right now. I visited the school, and I like the facilities and the campus a lot. Coach Kiffin, coming from Alabama and winning championships as the offensive coordinator, I feel like he’s a great coach.”
Now, the race to offer has gotten even earlier.
A 9-year-old in Los Angeles, Havon Finney Jr., recently received an offer from the University of Nevada. The news was reported by his trainer, Mike Evans, a former Louisville football player.
Another one of Evans’ clients, 10-year-old Bunchie Young got an offer from Illinois earlier this month.
Speaking to 247 Sports, Young said this is today’s recruiting.
“This type of thing is the new day and age,” he said to the website. “When coaches are able to see it (on social media), it’s a lot of smoother for them to offer this kid. A lot of kids might do it and not get offers, but these kids are special.”
Sure enough, a simple YouTube search brings up all manner of highlights for Finney and Young, including the one below that has nearly 800,000 views.
Evans told 247 that Nevada offered Finney after an assistant saw some of his videos. Ditto for Young and Illinois.
I wish they'd wait to offer until at least 9th grade. Not sure how a rule like that would pass and/or be followed. But it's getting absurd now.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
What's crazy is that they don't even know what kind of body, or size these kids will have. That, and the fact that some of these schools are state institutions which means they are committing taxpayer dollars to a youngster who may or may not ever actually play football for them make this pretty ill-advised, imo. There's also the effect on the boys to consider; its almost like they never get to be kids.
It is non-binding. It is just plain stupid. Then again if this kid sees that people believe he has a future, maybe it will be an incentive to keep his grades up... looking for that silver lining.
Different note, Coach K came out and restated his opinion that he thinks HS kids should be eligible to go directly to the NBA from HS... he also said that if a kid does commit to go to college, it should be a 2 year commitment. I think I could get behind that.
good for this kid. hopefully he develops to the point where he keeps the scholarship.
haters gonna hate.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
This happens all the time with European & English soccer. However, they have plenty of clubs plus under 16/17/18/19 etc. teams that they can groom the kid and then feed into the club that signed them.
I have a few points to make about this controversial subject:
1. Lane Kifflin is not the only one doing it.
2. I agree w/ThatGuy that it could discourage these youngsters from pursuing other sports.
3. I have seen a ton of kids look all-world at 9-10-and 11 only to stagnate and get passed by other kids as they got older.
4. Most importantly--------I do not think these youngsters are emotionally equipped to deal w/all of this attention and praise. I'm sure they think it's cool. I'm sure many of their parents think it's cool. However, they just aren't ready to receive all that praise and deal w/such high expectations.
Bottom Line: Back off and let them be kids. It's a great time in their lives. They don't need all of that attention and pressure. Again, let them be kids!
I have a few points to make about this controversial subject:
1. Lane Kifflin is not the only one doing it.
2. I agree w/ThatGuy that it could discourage these youngsters from pursuing other sports.
3. I have seen a ton of kids look all-world at 9-10-and 11 only to stagnate and get passed by other kids as they got older.
4. Most importantly--------I do not think these youngsters are emotionally equipped to deal w/all of this attention and praise. I'm sure they think it's cool. I'm sure many of their parents think it's cool. However, they just aren't ready to receive all that praise and deal w/such high expectations.
Bottom Line: Back off and let them be kids. It's a great time in their lives. They don't need all of that attention and pressure. Again, let them be kids!
could not agree more. Let the kid enjoy the game, let him enjoy his childhood... hell the kid might want to be a concert violinist... let him grow up first.
As another said...this is non-binding. The school is on the hook for NOTHING. I have a daughter that is going through the recruiting process for women's softball, lots and lots of rules and dates as to when and who can even talk to each other. I can tell you one thing the verbal commits you hear about from sophmores are as valuable as TP.
As another said...this is non-binding. The school is on the hook for NOTHING. I have a daughter that is going through the recruiting process for women's softball, lots and lots of rules and dates as to when and who can even talk to each other. I can tell you one thing the verbal commits you hear about from sophmores are as valuable as TP.
Correct me if I am incorrect, it has been a couple years since I have worked with a compliance officer, but once a verbal commitment is made, doesn't that give that school the right to more contact?
You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map. #GMSTRONG
