Yesterday, Edgy Tim wrote about one of the area's top prospects. According to Mr. O'Halloran, "about 25 D-1 schools have either offered or will offer" this player. Wow! That's great. Here's an excerpt from the post (my emphasis):
It's hard to fathom in this age of non-stop recruiting coverage that any prospect with 13 offers could go under the radar. But that's the case with [High School] junior offensive tackle [Player's Name]. [Player] was just 185 pounds a year and a half ago, but he has hit a growth spurt. Add his work in the weight room and a strong nutrition plan, and the 6-6, 274-pound [Player] has transformed into a top-level recruit.
"A year and a half ago I was 185 pounds, and I was more like a stick figure," [Player] said. "It really started for me a few months ago with the recruiting interest. The coaches at my school started to talk to some of the colleges about how I added weight and strength and that I was a much different-looking player these days.
"I just really started to add weight and size once the season ended. I just started to really hit the weights hard, and I also got on a great nutrition program. The coaches said they felt I could play at the D-I level in college if I bought into the weights and getting bigger, and they were right. Once spring recruiting started the college coaches would come in and watch my workout, and all of a sudden more and more schools started to offer me a scholarship."
Wait a minute! Did I read that right? This kid gained almost ninety pounds in a year and a half? Granted, he's 6'6" and can carry that much weight on his frame, but isn't that a lot to gain in such a short period of time?
I was curious and asked my godson, who tried out for the Arizona Cardinals a couple of years ago as an offensive lineman. (He's huge.) His response:
"Zero percent chance that's not substance enhanced. I grew an inch and 45 pounds between my junior and senior year and that was extremely aggressive."
I asked him, "If a casual observer like me notices that, what about all the coaches, parents and scouts, etc. Are they just looking the other way? Am I naive?"
To which he responded, "Blissful ignorance on their part? Kind of shocking really."
Now, I'm not making any accusations. (I didn't include a link to the piece or the kid's name on purpose. I'll let you look it up.) This player is probably a nice kid. And I'm sure his parents and coaches have only the best intentions for him. But, still, am I the only reader who found this piece just a little ... troubling?
P. S. My godson also told me that he would never let his kids play football. He's that concerned about head trauma.
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