Several Philadelphia area football recruits have been choosing to enroll in college early. It is a growing trend that may not be the right choice for all athletes, writes Aaron Carter for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Kevin Heywood from Pope John Paul II School in Royersford, a top football recruit, committed to Wisconsin early to play offensive lineman.
Peter Jones graduated early from Malvern Prep before enrolling early at Notre Dame.
Experts say there can be both benefits and drawbacks to an early start in college football.
“Any advantage you can have over your peers, that’s what everybody is trying to do right now,” Mike Watkins, a former coach of Heywood, said in an interview.
Some coaches and parents are worried that the athletes will miss out on important high school experiences and get overwhelmed by being thrust into the business of college sports too soon.
These kids are also expected to take on extra coursework to ensure they can graduate high school early.
“I just think it’s about the ‘microwave society,” said Neumann Goretti coach Albie Crosby said. “It just speeds the process. My biggest issue is, to let these kids be kids. Why are we rushing them?”
Read more about this growing trend among Philadelphia-area football recruits in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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