8th grade linebacker receives verbal offer from Alabama

[Doomsday101]

In recent "we are all aging and time's inevitable maw is upon us" news, a middle schooler in South Florida has received a football scholarship from the University of Alabama.
Youth1.com's Alan Popadine (h/t Bleacher Report's Joe Pantorno) reports that Jesus Machado, an 8th grade student from Hialeah, Florida, has received a verbal offer from the Crimson Tide.
That fact alone is incredible and ridiculous and borderline insane. But it gets ccrazier: this is just the latest in the growing pile of verbal offers Machado has received thus far.

At 6'0", 190 pounds, Machado's already been approached with verbal offers from Michigan State, Iowa State, N.C. State and West Virginia. He's not even a true freshman, but plays linebacker and defensive end at the varsity level for Champagnat Catholic High School. In 2015, Scout1.com listed him as a top ten player in the class of 2020.

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2016/...-verbal-offer-from-alabama.html?intcmp=hplnws

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I do think this should be out of bounds. Kids need to be kids and Coaching Staffs can wait to recruit IMO. I just don't like this kind of stuff.

 

[bounce]

I'm sure Alabama, and all these other schools, will definitely honor that commitment. /s

It's absolutely nothing more than putting them on his radar as he ages. If he doesn't develop into a 5-star guy, they'll pull that offer so quick. These are ridiculous. Schools shouldn't be allowed to contact kids before junior year.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I'm sure Alabama, and all these other schools, will definitely honor that commitment. /s

It's absolutely nothing more than putting them on his radar as he ages. If he doesn't develop into a 5-star guy, they'll pull that offer so quick. These are ridiculous. Schools shouldn't be allowed to contact kids before junior year.

An they wonder why these kids grow up and think that the rules don't apply or that they are to important for thing like Laws etc. They get this kind of attention, people treat them like they can do no wrong and then reality bites. I agree 100% bounce.

 

[Doc50]

Needs to go to Notre Dame, and be a literal Touchdown Jesus.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Alabama should be stabbed in the face.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Seems a bit extreme to me.

 

[jimmy40]

 

[JoeKing]

I do think this should be out of bounds. Kids need to be kids and Coaching Staffs can wait to recruit IMO. I just don't like this kind of stuff.

It's not a legally binding deal. The kid is already obsessed with the sport so this changes nothing in his childhood. He's still free to do whatever he wants. There is nothing wrong with stroking the kids ego by acknowledging his exceptionalism.

 

[YosemiteSam]

That's just plain awesome!

 

[YosemiteSam]

If I were this kid, I would say yes and then hold my hand out for some cash.

Keep accepting the cash until the day I'm ready to sign and then yank it back and sign with their biggest competitor.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

It's not a legally binding deal. The kid is already obsessed with the sport so this changes nothing in his childhood. He's still free to do whatever he wants. There is nothing wrong with stroking the kids ego by acknowledging his exceptionalism.

I realize this is not legally binding. You can't sign a LOI if you are 13 years old. A verbal is not worth the paper you don't print it on. However, I don't agree that it doesn't change anything. If that's your opinion, that's fine but that's not mine. It changes a lot in how a kid grow up IMO. His "Exceptionalism" can be stroked by his parents and his coaches. It doesn't have to happen from Saban or all the following Bama football has. That's not healthy IMO.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

hahaha awesome hahaha

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Why is everyone crapping on Darth Saban? He is not the only coach to make the verbal offer.

 

[BigStar]

The College Farm System is falling apart

 

[JoeKing]

I realize this is not legally binding. You can't sign a LOI if you are 13 years old. A verbal is not worth the paper you don't print it on. However, I don't agree that it doesn't change anything. If that's your opinion, that's fine but that's not mine. It changes a lot in how a kid grow up IMO. His "Exceptionalism" can be stroked by his parents and his coaches. It doesn't have to happen from Saban or all the following Bama football has. That's not healthy IMO.

What's not healthy about it?

 

[mattjames2010]

How about just letting the kid focus on high school? Wild idea, I know. Kid will have a lot of changes from now until his senior year, and those changes may not benefit him physically.

 

[jimmy40]

Why is everyone crapping on Darth Saban? He is not the only coach to make the verbal offer.

because I'm jealous as hell of his/Alabama's success? Oh, and it's fun.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

because I'm jealous as hell of his/Alabama's success? Oh, and it's fun.

he will use force lightning on you