Will Preps Run to the Pros

Over the last fifteen years, the image of college football has strengthened as its players stayed throughout their career in school racking up wins and creating more fans. At the same time, college basketball lost players early and often to the pro ranks, including those exiting the scene straight from the prep ranks.

In this two-part series, we will take a look at the recruits who will enter school this fall, recruits with high school eligibility left, coaches, and NFL scouts who all have a big hand in the entire process.

On February 5, the day after national signing day, that world may have turned upside down, as U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin opened possibility for players to leave college early. Thanks to this decision in the Maurice Clarett case, the door is now opening to high school student-athletes as well. However, what are the chances that could happen? One player says that there is no chance for him and the jump should not happen at all.

“No, not at all,” Early Doucet, the nations top wide receiver, candidly admits. “I’ve been looking to playing college football. The maturity level is a lot greater in the pros than they are in college. I think I need some time to let my body mature and my mind mature.”

The St. Martinville (La.) native is one of the top ten prospects in the nation, and draws rave reviews from college coaches throughout the nation. He has played against and with some of the top talent in the nation, but he still feels the same way.”

“I’m not one to knock any player, but I just feel that it’s going to take a few years in college to mature like I said before,” he adds. “I don’t think any high school player is ready to make that jump.”

Meanwhile other high school players are not so certain of the choice to attend college.

“I don’t know,” says Adrian Peterson, the nation’s top running back out of Palestine (TX) MVP of the All-America game in January, and the player most expect could make the jump. “It is something I need to think about for a while before coming up with an answer.”

Peterson has more than ample opportunity during the current unique situation. While the NFL sets up its appeals case and seeks a stay on Monday’s ruling, it must also proceed with guidelines to adhere to the decision.

If a player wanted to do so, he could file an application to enter the draft by February 15 and receive an invitation to the February 18 scouting combine in Indianapolis. After that date, the final deadline of March 1 is the last date.

While there are no expected players to make the jump, the focus will soon turn to the current junior class, as the option is very apparent and right in front of them.

“I know that has been going on,” says the father of Derrick Williams, a 6-foot-0, 180-pound junior from Eleanor Roosevelt (MD), who is perhaps the top prospect in the nation next season. “I think that what happened is great for Clarett. It is going to happen sooner or later because they are doing it everywhere.

“They had (Freddy Adu) that went pro when he was 14, and everybody thought that it could not be done. It’s going to happen, and for every one that is successful there will be several that are not.”

Mr. Williams says that his son will not look at the NFL as an option, though they want to be open-minded about all the future possibilities.

“Derrick is not ready, but maybe after two or three years he will be ready. Maybe if he had the physical ability and that we could prepare him to realize he would be a project in the pros we would let him. That is just a difficult transition to make.”