Frank Epitropoulos was the #71 best WR in the country in 2012. He came out of Ohio and was ranked a 3-star recruit and a 78 by ESPN. He has the opportunity many kids dream of which is to go and play big D1 football in front of thousands of rowdy fans cheering for you and loving you for 4 or 5 years. But then he makes his fatal mistake. He commits to Ohio State.
Why was this a mistake? Well obviously it depends on what you think is important, BUT in my mind what is important is actually getting onto the field and getting your opportunity to show your stuff. This is important because there are countless stories of 1, 2, and 3-star recruits out of HS coming into college and the NFL and showing they are actually very productive....but the KEY is you have to be able to get your chance to actually show your stuff on the field. Frank didn't realize that by choosing OSU he is going against 5 star recruits who are ahead of you in class, then more that are in your class, and then even more that will be in the next class. So while he could have chosen a different school to attend where he would have been one of the top recruits at the position...he chose a school where he was probably one of the lowest to middle of the pack recruits at the WR position.
And it showed. The poor kid who you know put YEARS of dedicated training and sacrificed time hanging out with friends and parties and hobbies, etc. for football went to Ohio State and redshirted and then was one the team 2 more years. So in those 3 years at Ohio State what does he have to show for it? He had 1 reception for 6 yards!
And he now has decided to quit the sport and focus on academics so he can go to med school. Which I believe he will have to pay for now that he is no longer on the team. Sad story as he could have went somewhere and have racked up a good career, had fans know his name for the rest of his life, saved him and his family tons of money by playing football AND also going to medical school, and he would have given himself the chance to MAYBE make the NFL because he at least had the opportunity to prove his stuff against D1 competition.
Hopefully kids hear these types of stories and don't get sucked in by names and brands and instead go places that truly give them the best chance for their future.
Why was this a mistake? Well obviously it depends on what you think is important, BUT in my mind what is important is actually getting onto the field and getting your opportunity to show your stuff. This is important because there are countless stories of 1, 2, and 3-star recruits out of HS coming into college and the NFL and showing they are actually very productive....but the KEY is you have to be able to get your chance to actually show your stuff on the field. Frank didn't realize that by choosing OSU he is going against 5 star recruits who are ahead of you in class, then more that are in your class, and then even more that will be in the next class. So while he could have chosen a different school to attend where he would have been one of the top recruits at the position...he chose a school where he was probably one of the lowest to middle of the pack recruits at the WR position.
And it showed. The poor kid who you know put YEARS of dedicated training and sacrificed time hanging out with friends and parties and hobbies, etc. for football went to Ohio State and redshirted and then was one the team 2 more years. So in those 3 years at Ohio State what does he have to show for it? He had 1 reception for 6 yards!
And he now has decided to quit the sport and focus on academics so he can go to med school. Which I believe he will have to pay for now that he is no longer on the team. Sad story as he could have went somewhere and have racked up a good career, had fans know his name for the rest of his life, saved him and his family tons of money by playing football AND also going to medical school, and he would have given himself the chance to MAYBE make the NFL because he at least had the opportunity to prove his stuff against D1 competition.
Hopefully kids hear these types of stories and don't get sucked in by names and brands and instead go places that truly give them the best chance for their future.
