Jake Bentley, a junior QB and son of South Carolina coach is foregoing his senior year of high school to enroll early at SC with the intent of competing for a starting job. I think this is monumentally stupid.
First, if you're trying to have your kid play college sports, I've always been a fan of starting them a little late so that they are older by graduation time. That extra year in high school, albeit also a year of lost earning potential, can be a big factor in mental and physical development which helps once you get to the next level.
Second, there's no substitute for live game reps and experience. There's also no substitute for being THE leader on a team by virtue of being the most senior person on a squad that everyone has to turn to because you are the guy. While you can be a leader as a junior QB, I still think there is something to be said about being a leader of a squad as a senior along with your classmates and developing that core committee of players who sets the tone for everyone else.
Third, competing for state championships and consecutive state championships gives you more crunch time experience, and let's face it, may be the best athletic times of your life.
Finally, you only live through high school once, and my high school friends are some of my best friends today. The memories made in that senior year, on and off the field, were awesome. It would trouble me as a coach, no matter how much I want a kid, if that kid was so deadset on competing for a starting job that he left his team behind. I won't call it selfish but I will say that it would give me pause that he wasn't passionate about the team he was on.
All in all, best of luck to the kid. He could be ready, but I won't believe it until I see it. What's more, if this were happening at UT I would be extremely concerned about the state of my program. This kid, no matter what his guidance counselors say, is s second-semester junior in HS. Why in the hell would I want a child as my starting QB in the SEC? I'm not even sure I would have wanted Peyton to play for UT that early in his career. Even if he's 18 now, there's still no way I want an 18-year old going up against 21-23 year old first round draft picks, especially when he could be a 19-year old with another year of experience and the same number of years of eligibility.
Foregoing a whole season of development, probably to redshirt, means this kid will be two years removed from live game reps and the game on his shoulders. IMO, massive mistake on Bentley's part and I hope UT never allows a kid to do this unless they're 20 or something.
First, if you're trying to have your kid play college sports, I've always been a fan of starting them a little late so that they are older by graduation time. That extra year in high school, albeit also a year of lost earning potential, can be a big factor in mental and physical development which helps once you get to the next level.
Second, there's no substitute for live game reps and experience. There's also no substitute for being THE leader on a team by virtue of being the most senior person on a squad that everyone has to turn to because you are the guy. While you can be a leader as a junior QB, I still think there is something to be said about being a leader of a squad as a senior along with your classmates and developing that core committee of players who sets the tone for everyone else.
Third, competing for state championships and consecutive state championships gives you more crunch time experience, and let's face it, may be the best athletic times of your life.
Finally, you only live through high school once, and my high school friends are some of my best friends today. The memories made in that senior year, on and off the field, were awesome. It would trouble me as a coach, no matter how much I want a kid, if that kid was so deadset on competing for a starting job that he left his team behind. I won't call it selfish but I will say that it would give me pause that he wasn't passionate about the team he was on.
All in all, best of luck to the kid. He could be ready, but I won't believe it until I see it. What's more, if this were happening at UT I would be extremely concerned about the state of my program. This kid, no matter what his guidance counselors say, is s second-semester junior in HS. Why in the hell would I want a child as my starting QB in the SEC? I'm not even sure I would have wanted Peyton to play for UT that early in his career. Even if he's 18 now, there's still no way I want an 18-year old going up against 21-23 year old first round draft picks, especially when he could be a 19-year old with another year of experience and the same number of years of eligibility.
Foregoing a whole season of development, probably to redshirt, means this kid will be two years removed from live game reps and the game on his shoulders. IMO, massive mistake on Bentley's part and I hope UT never allows a kid to do this unless they're 20 or something.
