Ohio State and FSU offer an 8th grader -- class of 2019

Submitted by DISCUSS Man on

Found this while looking through some recruit pages on 247.

His name is Peter Hayes-Patrick and he's an 8th grader. Class of 2019. This is getting INSANE. What is wrong with these people?

http://247sports.com/Player/Peter-Hayes-Patrick-76208

LSU has a commitment from a QB called Zadock Dinkelman who is a class of 2018. Currently a high school freshman.

AZBlue

February 5th, 2015 at 12:27 AM ^

of actually honoring them - aka that QB from Canteen's school that had been an USC offer/commit since he was a frosh.  There was no way they were taking him even if Kiffin stayed.  If he had panned out they would have had the inside track to land him.

I doubt M will operate that way unless there is a major shift overall in this direction and they are forced to keep up with the pack.  I think we do occasionally offer a can't-miss kid (pretty sure we have made one 2017 offer already) but it won't be the norm for the foreseeable future.

 

Side note - does anyone remember the name of that QB and where he ended up?

Blau

February 5th, 2015 at 12:36 AM ^

If you had asked me to name the two schools to offer a 8th grade student who has yet to play a down of high school football, there's a very good chance I would have said OSU and FSU.

 

Now that's sad!

kevin holt

February 5th, 2015 at 9:11 AM ^

Scrutiny and pressure on hockey players to make it is insane. Especially in Canada. just because the media isn't as intense on it (in the US) doesn't mean it's less pressure. It might honestly be more. If you're a really good football player, you can play on your high school team and do maybe a camp or two and you'll be recruited easy. If you're a really good hockey player and you just play on your high school team, you're never gonna make it. First, the level of competition matters more in hockey, at least probably. No kid in New Mexico is gonna be a 4 star if he skates circles around everyone. Second, it's a lot less likely you'll be noticed unless you put yourself out there.

turtleboy

February 5th, 2015 at 9:43 AM ^

Hockey and soccer talent develops at a much earlier age than football. It's not uncommon to have 16 year old soccer players who can complete at the adult level. Football? You have to wait until the kids are at least done growing to see what kind of adult frame they'll be playing with. Sophomore year is the earliest they should be considered from a scouting standpoint.

umumum

February 5th, 2015 at 10:05 AM ^

The criticism of recruiting 15 year olds has nothing to do with whether they are physically mature or are legitimate prospects.  It is because they are barely teenagers and are 4 years or more away from college.  They should be left alone--irrespective of the sport.  The football isn't hockey canard is simple a distinction without a difference.

I appreciate the chatsports chastizing, but I simple grabbed the first Google link--and we are talking about a fact (he is a 2018  recruit) and not an opinion.

turtleboy

February 5th, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^

Hockey isn't football is a very valid argument. Kids usually don't play in travel football teams continuously from the age of 5. Football skills develop much much later in life, so it is difficult to accurately judge football talent at an early age. Hockey talent develops early, and is easier to track. Hockey players also have an eye for a career in hockey at an earlier age, whether it be playing or coaching. High school kids aren't choosing between the NFL or College like hockey, baseball, and soccer players are, and previously basketball players were. Football recruiting is sudden, other sports recruiting happens earlier.

Mr. Owl

February 5th, 2015 at 1:03 AM ^

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-recruiting/blog/os-eighth…

From his older brother:

“He’s blessed at a young age. He’s in eighth grade so I don’t even talk to him about recruiting. He’s not even in high school yet, so he doesn’t even have to worry about that for another year or two,” said Jacques Patrick, who is ranked as the No. 2 running back in the country according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings.

 

Oh yeah... Jacques Patrick.  Remember him?

 

MichiganMan14

February 5th, 2015 at 1:09 AM ^

I'm sure the younger Patrick will be an FSU lean but I agree the 8th grade offers are getting a tad early. Sports is changing and we as coaching are constantly evaluating middle schoolers for the high school level and now the middle schoolers are being looked at by colleges. It's such a business at this point. Really mind-blowing where this is going.

BIGBLUEWORLD

February 5th, 2015 at 1:15 AM ^

Is it too much to expect the NCAA to exercise some good judgement and set some parameters here?

Redundant question.

LSAClassOf2000

February 5th, 2015 at 6:49 AM ^

Here's the NCAA definition of prospective student-athlete, which might help in this discussion:

13.02.12 Prospective Student-Athlete.

A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual’s relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally.

1 percent

February 5th, 2015 at 7:19 AM ^

Looking at the link the offers were from 8/21/14 ... so the summer after his 7th grade season and they offerend (timeline updated) on the same day. what?!?!?!

turtleboy

February 5th, 2015 at 9:31 AM ^

So we haven't learned our lesson from USC yet, have we? Seriously, he'll be a completely different player by the time he signs a LOI. I know there's an advantage to getting in on recruits early, but before they've even played freshmen ball? That's just stupid.

csmhowitzer

February 5th, 2015 at 8:10 AM ^

The more insane part to look at is not the grade but that the kid is 12 or 13. Born in 2001 or 2002 most likely. 

I can understand a gifted child showing genious level mental abilities to attract colleges at such a young age, but clearly this kids physical abilities aren't that great but they probably see potentional? I don't know where they see it, but I'm also sure this kid showed interest in them and so they agreed to send an offer out. I'm sure it has somethign to do with his ties with someone or something (some said his brother?).

I find it silly that a college is looking at kids at that age, but from the other end I bet the kid and his parents are more than thrilled.

ccdevi

February 5th, 2015 at 9:10 AM ^

Why is this a bad thing? It's great for the kid. The smart thing to do would be to commit somewhere now and "lock" up a spot. Then assuming the school doesn't go back on its word (a big if) he's got a free education even if ends up not otherwise being any good. If they do drop him later he'll be in no worse position than if had never committed. And if things go well and he gets other offers in the years to come he can always reconsider his choice. OR he (ie his parents) can just ignore the whole thing. What's the problem?

M Go Cue

February 5th, 2015 at 9:45 AM ^

From the student and parent's perspective, this is pretty cool. He is getting a fantastic opportunity to start focusing on going to college and having a great head start at a successful life.

As far as ending the practice, if the rules were tweaked to allow kids to sign their letter of intent when they get their offer, a lot of the things we hate about recruiting would probably go away.

momo

February 5th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^

Plenty of other countries/sports have figured this out with pre-professional contracts, apprenticeships etc.

 

The main problem in the US is that there's no incentive for colleges or the NCAA to actually offer terms that are advantageous to the kids and their families.