utdailybeacon
New generation recruiting has marked the end of an era for college sports, and Tennessee football is no exception.
Five-star running back David Gabriel Georges announced his commitment to Tennessee on a Wednesday evening CBS Sports HQ special ceremony livestream.
The top player in the state and top 10 in his class, Georges is the type of blue-chip recruit that can change a program After my initial moment of excitement, I started thinking of the big picture.
My friends and coworkers have been talking about this kids recruitment all week.
Its like they were tracking his every move.
Finally, a few hours after his commitment, I asked myself a question.
Is it weird to be excited over a 17-year-old committing to your school? And, have I passed the age to get excited over college recruits? Like any kid who grew up a college sports fan, I loved recruiting.
I grew up a Michigan fan, so I followed every Michigan football and basketball recruiting page I could: Twitter, Instagram, 247Sports and Rivals.
I kept up with everything except the message boards.
I still remember being heartbroken when Josh Christopher committed to Arizona State.
I remember reading about JJ McCarthy and Donovan Edwards, and how they were going to be the guys that led Michigan to victory over Ohio State.
Now, at 21 years old and as an incoming college senior, it feels weird to get excited over a 17-year-old coming to my school.
The whole recruiting process used to work similarly to how the everyday student picked their school.
We visited different campuses around the country, talking to tour guides and looking at dorm halls, while players talked to coaches and toured the athletic facilities.
The athlete would choose a school because they liked the feel of the campus and the affection of a passionate fanbase, just like a normal student would.
As kids growing up, we could see ourselves in these recruits.
We would play Road to Glory mode to be like them.
Now, at 21 years old, that whole idea is gone.
As a current Tennessee student, I have more in common with Peyton Manning than I do with the current athletes.
It is one thing to be excited when a player finally steps on the field.
It is completely different to spend days and weeks reading about a high school student that I have never met.
Especially when a commitment has become so temporary that it does not even guarantee a player will ever actually play a game for the school.
There is no promise that another school does not call them and offer a better contract.
Then all this excitement for nothing.
When I was younger, college sports felt pure.
Now it feels impossible not to see the money behind everything.
What used to feel like years of tradition now feels like negotiation.
What made college sports different from pro sports is completely gone now, especially when it comes to football and basketball.
These athletes are being paid as professionals.
Georges is set to receive $6 million over three years; that is more than the majority of NFL running backs.
Further, Georges is set to be the highest paid running back recruit of all time, according to On3s Pete Nakos.
The whole term student-athlete is a fallacy at this current point.
I am starting to feel like Frank Sobotka in The Wire: We used to make stuff in this country.
College football once felt like that.
Programs sold tradition, recruited players who wanted to be there and developed them over several seasons.
Now, players and programs negotiate for the next available check.
If Georgia is offering $2 million, Tennessee better offer $2.25 million.
No matter how many times players say Tennessee made me feel at home , if Georgia offers $3 million tomorrow, that recruit will be suiting up in red and black.
If the student-athlete was not already dead before, they sure are now.