One and done for college football players?

From time to time I hear this topic being brought up in the national media or local media. I shake my head every single time its brought up. Should the NCAA allow players to leave after a year to jump to the NFL? Hell no.


This is not the NBA by any stretch of the imagination. Football is a sport of strength, skill, speed, and unbridled aggression. Players are not typically ready for this kind of competition. College football players get hampered by the 20 hour a week practice rule, only 15 days of spring ball, and that doesn't allow the experience factor to begin for the players. "I think the talent, size, and speed is as good as it's ever been, but I think the actual technique and the understanding of the game is not nearly the level it was." says Phil Savage, who is the director of the Senior Bowl. Players can be successful with natural ability, but in the end if they don't have the experience in terms of handling tight games, situations then the players value to the team goes down dramatically. Also, football requires having good technique. Technique needs to followed with blocking schemes, tackling, and footwork for the running backs, quarterbacks, and linemen. Without good technique, players can't perform very well at all at the highest level.


All a person needs to do with college football is watch and people can figure out why leaving after a year would not be a wise decision for a young football player. These players can not be allowed to leave because I believe you would see a rise in all types of injuries, especially concussions. A player that leaves after a year is essentially a high school player in terms of experience, strength, and technique. Can you imagine Troy Polamalu driving a one and done player into the turf? I would not want to see that. Could be career ending for that one player. Watching college football can be frustrating because nobody can really tackle anymore. Being a coach of high school players today I see the lack of technique these kids have or have been taught at the lower levels. All the kids want to do is go for the big hit or shoulder hit the offensive player down. They want to end up on ESPN, technique be damned. Without wanting to practice correct technique with anything will not help the kids reach the full potential.


Other people like to say that once a kid reaches 18 that we can not hold them back from wanting to full fill their dreams. Yes, we can. Sometimes people have to be protected from themselves. Sometimes people have to wait to do certain things, we do it with driving a car, the ability buy alcohol, etc. People are not ready to drive at 12 years old or able to handle alcohol at 14. Football players are not physically or mentally ready to take on professional athletes who are more mature physically and mentally.


This one and done option should not be allowed to happen for college football players. Period. End of story.