Published May 10, 2011 - 1:06pm
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How much is a “can’t miss” prospect worth? Plenty has been written about whether paying college student-athletes should be legal – and we’ve all made up our minds about where we stand on that topic. But at times, there are prospects who might cost their schools more than the value of one scholarship.
It’s called a package deal. Usually, it happens because one kid is a “can’t miss” type, being heavily recruited by schools around the country, and he has a close friend or teammate who isn’t as coveted. And to procure a scholarship for his buddy, the elite prospect decides he won’t sign with any school unless they offer his friend a scholarship, too. It’s completely legal, but is it smart for the schools to do it?
Michael Carvell of the AJC wrote an article about a couple of kids from Jenkins County, GA who are this year’s best example of a package deal. Jonathan Taylor is one of the best DT prospects in the country. And his teammate, James DeLoach, isn’t so bad himself, but he’s not the caliber of Taylor. They’ve made it clear that they will play together at the next level – no school will get one without the other.
Admittedly, the Taylor / DeLoach combination isn’t a bad one. Both guys are legit FBS talents. But there have been some really lopsided package deals in the past. The one that stands out in my mind is the Nash Nance / Da’Rick Rodgers combo the Vols stole from Georgia a few years back. Rodgers has a real chance at being an All-SEC receiver, but Nance will most likely be a career backup. But no school was going to get Rodgers without his buddy.
What do you think about the lopsided package deals? Is one player ever worth two scholarships? And a better question: what are some of the most one-sided package deals you remember?
