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Now that college and professional football have settled into their seasons, viewers across the country are getting a good look at how high school players are handling the transition to college and how college players are making the jump to the pros. What fans are seeing in the game is the emergence of young players making big impacts.
After watching the first three weeks of college football and the first two weeks of the NFL, several underclassmen and rookies have already shown flashes of brilliance: guys like Tate Forcier from the University of Michigan, Matt Barkley from the University of Southern California, and Mark Sanchez for the New York Jets. What was once the exception is rapidly becoming the rule.
Last year, Terrelle Pryor claimed the Ohio State starter job as a freshman over senior Todd Boeckman. Tim Tebow won his first national title as a freshman, albeit in a complimentary backup role. Chad Henne was forced to anchor the Michigan offense in 2004 because of injuries. All he did was go 9-2 on his way to setting the Wolverines passing touchdown record.
Young guys can make an impact. They can play and they can win. While fans may be used to grizzled veterans leading their team to victory in the NFL or seniors who waited their turn finally shining for their college teams, it’s becoming more and more apparent that young players can shake up a team immediately upon arrival.
It’s no surprise, really. Kids are getting involved in sports earlier. Any hint of athletic prowess in a child is noticed, developed, honed and unleashed upon the world one deep pass or long run at a time. As the game evolves, so too do the people who wish to play it. Guys like Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, who last year paid immediate dividends for their respective teams, are becoming more common. As the game evolves to become more competitive and complex, the players must adapt and perform to a higher level than their predecessors.
No doubt, the pressure is intense, but the payoff is absolutely worth it. In fact, it’s a little too worth it, as pro teams now regularly bombard prized draft picks with outrageous signing bonuses and guaranteed money. Colleges are routinely accused of providing illegal benefits to star players during the recruiting process as well as all throughout their tenure at the school. It behooves young players to stay ahead of the learning curve. The faster they learn the game, the faster they can get to that money.
This baptism under fire of young players has its drawbacks, as seen in the case of Matt Barkley, who was sidelined last week with a shoulder injury. And after a standout season as a rookie, the sophomore slump is all but assured. While their grasp of the playbook and command of the offense will be exponentially better, how much better can they really get? How long can they maintain it? Guys who are too successful off the bat are setting the bar at a level they may not be able to reach again.
Seeing rookies pay off immediately is a good feeling. It assures the fans that maybe the guy was worth all that money. There’s something to be said for waiting your turn: Plenty of guys did it and are better for it than they ever would have been otherwise, but hey, if you can get into the game, manage the offense, avoid most of the bonehead plays that rookies fall victim to at some point or another, then by all means, suit up, get out there and find a way to get the W. The rest is just details.
