College Football Recruiting: Increased Early Enrollment Great for the Game

There is a lot to like and a lot to dislike about the cutthroat world of college football recruiting.

On one hand, schools are vying for the opportunity to better a young person's life by offering them a chance to play the sport they love and, in most cases, get a free education because they're good at it.

On the other hand, promises are made and rules can be broken. Kids without proper guidance can be duped and programs will capitalize on any and every opportunity to win.

The line between right and wrong has been blurred for so many years now in the recruiting world that it isn't truly surprising when wrongdoing is made public. It is unfortunate, but it has become part of the process.

Another thing that has become part of the process is early enrollment, an ever-increasing trend that, for once, actually makes sense.

Rather than coasting through the final semester of senior year and waiting until summer camp opens, kids are graduating high school in December and enrolling in their respective colleges for the spring semester.

Now, there is something to be said for being a kid and enjoying the the final semester of high school, but early enrollment offers so many opportunities.

Aside from the obvious potential to play early, early enrollees get an opportunity to adapt to college without having the rigors of a full college football season in their face. In other words, rather than jumping face first into the deep end of a pool without knowing how to swim, early enrollees can walk in from the shallow end and start swimming at their own pace.

These student-athletes get an extra few months working with coaches in the weight room and learning the playbook, but they also get used to the responsibility of eating healthy, going to class on time, cleaning up after themselves and balancing football with education.

It is a privilege that, if used correctly, can change the focus on a player's entire future.

If good enough to go the NFL before senior year, an early enrollee will have a much better chance of graduating before he does so. If his desire is pursue further education while playing football, that becomes a legitimate option. And if he simply wants to join the team sooner, early enrollment is the way to do it.

The negatives of college recruiting may very well outweigh the positives, but the one good aspect is early enrollment. The opportunity for student-athletes to start their collegiate career early is without a doubt a smart idea.

There is a reason it has become a popular trend, and for once a new trend in college recruiting actually benefits the players.

As this school year winds to a close and summer awaits, recruiting will pick up across the nation. When it does, expect to hear plenty of kids considering the option of early enrollment.

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