Mike Gundy Says Today's Players Are Less Prepared to Play College Football

Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy has long discussed why parity reigns supreme in college football, and he provided a new line of reasoning Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Gundy said he believes smartphones have made players less prepared for what they face on the gridiron than those who competed a decade or two ago, according to the Sporting News' Jordan Heck: 

Gundy added that while his comments may sound "a little extreme," he has had discussions with college baseball and basketball coaches who agree. 

"We're coaching young men that are talented athletically but don't have some of the natural football, basketball or baseball skills because they don't watch it and pay enough attention to it, and they don't play it in the front yard," Gundy said, according to ESPN.com.

Three years ago, Gundy pointed to tactical overhauls by coaches across the country as the biggest reason for parity. 

Speaking at Big 12 media days in July 2013, Gundy told reporters, "Spread offenses have been the single thing that has created parity in college football," according to the Dallas Morning News' Chuck Carlton. 

Gundy's theory is certainly interesting, but it would be unfair to group all players together and say they're not prepared to tackle the challenges that college football presents upon arrival. 

This season has seen several standout freshmen capture the national spotlight, including Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois, Texas quarterback Shane Buechele and Ohio State running back Mike Weber.  

The fourth-ranked Clemson Tigers have also relied heavily upon freshmen to shoulder significant loads as they seek a return to the College Football Playoff. 

Most notably, Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence and Tre Lamar have all made positive contributions for a Tigers defense that ranks 10th nationally in points allowed at 15.3 per game.