The men we watch play every Sunday are a rare breed (even when they are playing terribly). They have survived a gauntlet of competition that got tougher each step of the way, from grade school through college. The numbers on the board speaks for itself.
However, a couple particular lines stand out: In 2014, of the 20,042 players who played NCAA football, only 1.6 percent made an NFL roster. There were 300 rookies who made a team, and it is projected that only half of them (150) will make it to their fourth season.
And while we all know about the superstars of the league, the base of the NFL is made up of working class players (by NFL standards), who are replaceable by the next draft, and next round of free agency. Their careers are short, and their earnings aren’t nearly what most people think. So, if you have a kid that is a college prospect, and dreams of playing in the NFL, encourage him and support him.
But most importantly, make sure he makes his degree a priority, even above his NFL aspirations.
