Miami is now offering scholarships to eighth-graders

Published Apr. 30, 2015 3:30 p.m. ET

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Teddy Mitrosilis

This post has nothing to do with Penn State, but this quote from defensive coordinator Bob Shoop applies: "We'll go wherever we need to find the players that fit our criteria. Some of these guys in the '16 class we're talking to right now, we've had relationships with for almost three years. It's unreal how early the relationships begin now."

The piece was about how Penn State is attacking recruiting by all means necessary, which includes the satellite camps that have irritated all Southern states by now.

Exhibit A for Shoop's point: Miami.

Al Golden has apparently offered three eighth-graders football scholarships to become future Hurricanes, which immediately brings to mind two thoughts:

1) This trend of offering kids scholarships earlier and earlier is so stupid. Physically, these kids could be entirely different people given the four years of maturation ahead of them before they ever arrive on a college campus.

2) Golden probably won't be coaching these players at Miami in four years, which means the future coach has official offers out to young teens who have no idea what Miami will actually be like by the time they are in college.

Wait, there's a third thought:

3) This trend is so stupid.

But alas, this is the competitive nature of college football recruiting where programs are trying to fortify relationships in the social media age.

Owen Pappoe tweeted his Miami offer, along with apparent offers from Boston College and Tennessee (side note: the #blessed kills me. You're in eighth grade -- go play tag).

Kenny McIntosh is also #blessed to receive an offer from Miami and says there are "many more to come." Love the moxie.

The third eighth-grader offered is supposedly James Cook, the younger brother of stud Florida State running back Dalvin Cook.

Teddy Mitrosilis works in content production at FOX Sports Digital. Follow him on Twitter @TMitrosilis and email him at tmitrosilis@gmail.com.

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