My S17 is an excellent running back already being informally recruited by D1 coaches. Obviously, he has no chance for admission or success at academically elite schools (sorry, Princeton coach). I’m concerned that he may not even attain mimimal level NCAA requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT. Are there other options for him? Walk-on at a school with a high acceptance rate and good need-based financial aid? Junior college? Any other suggestions? I’ve suggested “Plan B” (non-college, non-football) options, which of course he doesn’t want to consider. Unfortunately, to continue football after high school, he has to go to college.
There are plenty of options for his situation. There are minimum GPA and test score combinations that he must make to be NCAA eligible. Please talk to counselors and coaches at his school to see where he stands and what his chances are for making these minimum standards.
Past that there is D2, D3, NAIA and Junior College options. NAIA is not part of the NCAA and doesn’t have the same minimum requirements. Standards vary from school to school but many will take far lower test scores and GPAs while giving football scholarships. Also Junior College gives him a route to get his grades in order and if he shows the appropriate progress for 1 or 2 years he would then be able to enroll in a D1 school that offers him the opportunity.
The bad news is he is starting late to get his academics in order to continue playing football. The good news is he still has options to play football and get an education at the same time. Don’t give up.
He needs to get his academics up now. A lot of schools will prioritize talent over academics because of what it will bring back to the program. Have you looked at SEC schools? If he wants to make it to the NFL, he should look to go there because aside from Vandy, Tulane, and Florida, they aren’t exactly academic powerhouses. He won’t need to be a top student to get in and there are scholarships.
If he is serious SEC/Big Ten level, then a lot of those schools may stash a four or five star guy at a friendly JUCO for a year or two to get his test scores where they need to be for eligibility. (Cam Newton anyone?). There are a number of jucos that do a good job at getting guys eligible, although most of that work is in getting test scores up to the minimum. I am pretty sure that most kids who are academically eligible to continue to play in high school will likely make the minimum grade cut offs for NCAA scholarship assistance.
If he is not likely to be recruited at a truly elite level, then a JUCO can still help although his D1 options may be limited coming out after a couple years. NAIA schools can be an option if he just wants to keep playing. Many NAIA schools will accept students who are not academically eligible under the NCAA. If he really will have trouble qualifying under the NCAA minimums, and he is not likely to play at a real elite level, then I have to wonder why he would head to college at all? I played in high school with several guys who just were not students, but ended up playing ball at D3 or NAIA schools because they wanted to play college ball. A lot of them came out the other end in debt (no full Schollies in NAIA) and having either failed out or not anywhere near a usable degree.
He needs to get that gpa and score combo up to have a reasonable chance at a D1 scholarship. Is there a reason he won’t do that? Does he need tutoring, test accommodations, learning disability testing? He really needs to understand that there is a cost to getting an athletic scholarship, and that’s making the grades.
This is on him. You need to have a discussion with him, his coaches and his guidance counselor.
^ Yes, he does understand what he needs to do, but is getting very frustrated by his lack of success in the clsssroom. I’m not sure that he’s capable at this point of doing significantly better academic work; probably due to some combination of lower IQ, at least compared to most of the kids in our suburban, academically-oriented school district, poor reading skills, and difficulty focusing (or even staying awake) in a sedentary classroom situation. I should probably ask to have him tested for specific learning disabilities and ADHD. The school district didn’t want to test when he was younger due to him being in ESL. He’d most likely do great in a hands-on, vo-tech program. However, then he’d have to give up on post-high school football, since he wouldn’t have the requisite academic credits. He’d also make a great coach or phys ed teacher, as he has outstanding social and leadership skills. A JUCO may be a good idea if the tutoring his coach arranged and his own efforts don’t bring about the desired grades/scores.
Please consider having him tested for ADHD and possibly dyslexia. A learning disability would explain his inability to pay attention as well as his exhaustion. Does he seem more intelligent than his academic performance indicates? You mention he has outstanding social and leadership skills…some dyslexics fit this type of profile. I wish your son the best. This situation must be very difficult for him.
You need to demand testing immediately. In writing. Schools have 45 days to arrange it, but those are 45 school days so you’d be into the summer. Go to the GC. Plead, beg, cry if you have to. If he gets accommodations in high school, those can carry over. Does he need to go to summer school? If so, I think those days count in the 45. He could get accommodations for ACT/SAT tests too, but his need must be documented. Don’t wait till his senior year.
Try prepping a year at prep school or JC/CC. Yes you need to take SAT prep. Don’t aim for D1; try D2 or NAIA-places that need players. In most cases, fb players rarely get playing time until junior or senior year.
Have you considered a postgrad year at a prep school? This might help boost his scores and help prepare for college rigor? Look at the big prep schools with football: Andover Exeter choate Lawrenceville etc