Football season has officially started, and while it may come to an end in early November or late December, it will not be the only thing ending this year. The Class of 2018 will be ascending into whole new level (college), and with them some of Hillgrove’s most experienced players. But what is in store for our players? How do they feel about playing at a collegiate level? Is there a future for them outside of football?
With top schools like Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, and the University of Texas and an impending future right around the corner, I talked with some senior football players about their thoughts on going to the collegiate level. The general feel was all about preparation for the NFL.
“I feel like it’s a whole new environment, I feel like it’ll be a lot better of just getting to see what the NFL is like,” says AJ Consonery, one of the school’s outside linebackers. AJ will be attending Grambling State University next year.
“It’s a stepping stone to my ultimate goal: the NFL,” Chig Okonkwo, a tight end on our school’s team. Chig has been accepted by Maryland University, and wants to play in the NFL.
And the players are not the only ones thinking about their impending futures. Coach Humphries hopes “the players finish out the season in a respectable way, and they get everything they want from their high school careers.” Coach Humphries advises players about picking schools by wants, and scholarships, so parents don’t have to worry about “financial burdens.”
Overall the tone was generally positive, the players were excited about taking their game to the next level while there are players who have the NFL as the epitome of their football dreams, and some will be okay about not taking their game to the NFL.
“I feel like when you do something like that for money, you are making football a job. It loses its drive,” says AJ Consonery.
With top schools like Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, and the University of Texas and an impending future right around the corner, I talked with some senior football players about their thoughts on going to the collegiate level. The general feel was all about preparation for the NFL.
“I feel like it’s a whole new environment, I feel like it’ll be a lot better of just getting to see what the NFL is like,” says AJ Consonery, one of the school’s outside linebackers. AJ will be attending Grambling State University next year.
“It’s a stepping stone to my ultimate goal: the NFL,” Chig Okonkwo, a tight end on our school’s team. Chig has been accepted by Maryland University, and wants to play in the NFL.
And the players are not the only ones thinking about their impending futures. Coach Humphries hopes “the players finish out the season in a respectable way, and they get everything they want from their high school careers.” Coach Humphries advises players about picking schools by wants, and scholarships, so parents don’t have to worry about “financial burdens.”
Overall the tone was generally positive, the players were excited about taking their game to the next level while there are players who have the NFL as the epitome of their football dreams, and some will be okay about not taking their game to the NFL.
“I feel like when you do something like that for money, you are making football a job. It loses its drive,” says AJ Consonery.