College football early enrollees set another record

Jack Carey, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

Shortly after Darrell Hazell became football coach at Purdue in early December, he made his first recruiting visit. It was to quarterback Danny Etling, who was wrapping up the fall semester of his senior year at South Vigo High in Terre Haute, Ind.

Etling was set on becoming a Boilermaker. The question was how quickly would he be coming to campus.

Etling had some preliminary discussions with former Purdue coach Danny Hope about graduating from high school early and enrolling at Purdue in time for spring practice. But Hope was fired after the 2012 season, and Etling's decision about enrolling early was still up in the air when Hazell came calling.

"It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision to do it," Etling recalls. "I met with coach Hazell, and only had a couple of weeks to make my decision. He said they really wanted me to come, and it would be better for the team and for me if I came in early. He thought I could compete for the job."

Academically, Etling was set. He had already fulfilled his graduation requirements and done well on his college boards. Etling just had to decide if he wanted to leave high school and home early and jump into the rigors of college classes and football about six months ahead of schedule.

He took the plunge, and when spring practice ended April 13, Etling was right in the mix for the team's quarterback job.

"He's put himself in position to play for us next fall," Hazell says. "If he hadn't come in early .... who knows? It's a new system with all new surroundings, but he's way ahead of where he would have been. He can compete, he can study film and he can educate himself as he moves forward."

Etling is one of three Boilermakers and one of 162 players among schools associated with Bowl Championship Series automatic-bid conferences (and independent Notre Dame) to leave high school early this year. That's the highest total since USA TODAY Sports began tracking the trend in 2002. The previous high was 141 in 2010.

Sixty-one of the 73 schools associated with the auto-bid leagues brought in at least one early enrollee, although there are more such schools than ever now because of conference realignment.

Making the move is not for everyone, Etling and Hazell agree.

"It was a hard deicsion," says Etling, who discussed the idea with his parents and high school coaches before opting to leave early and plans to return for his graduation ceremony. "I liked playing high school football, and I liked high school, but that was over for me. You have to have the right mindset. You can't come in and want to party all the time because you have to make a commitment. You have to want to come in early for the right reasons, but it can make a world of difference.

"I think about what my friends are doing back in school every now and then. I miss it a little bit, but you can't go back. When practice started, I was so busy I didn't thing about that at all."

Hazell says he rarely brought in early enrollees when he was coaching at Kent State, but was confident Etling could handle his new role.

"He's very mature and well-spoken," Hazell says. "He's flourished here, on and off the field. He's had a very good spring."

Hazell says Etling and Purdue's other two early enrollees, defensive end John Strauser and running back David Yancey "are cut from the same cloth," making them good candidates for early enrollment.

"You've got to be a mature kid. Some are ready for this, some are not," Hazell says. "Those extra four or five months can help you get acclimated to life in college, but there are some kids in the (incoming) class who wouldn't be ready to do it."

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College football programs affiliated with conferences that receive automatic bids to Bowl Championship Series games (along with independent Notre Dame) this year reported that 162 players had left high school early and enrolled in college in time for spring football. That's the highest number since USA TODAY Sports began tracking the trend in 2002. The previous high was 141 in 2010.

The early enrollees:

AMERICAN ATHLETIC (formerly Big East) (14)

Central Florida (3): QB Pete DiNovo, East Lake HS, Tarpon Springs, Fla.; QB Justin Holman, Stephenson HS, Stone Mountain, Ga.; DB D.J. Killings, First Coast HS, Jacksonville

Cincinnati (1): QB Javon Harrison, Wayne HS, Huber Heights, Ohio

Houston (2): QB D'Juan Hines, Dekaney HS, Houston; LB Caleb Tucker, Ouachita Parish HS, Monroe, La.

Louisville (1): DT Finesse Middleton, Gadsden (Ala.) City HS

Memphis (1): QB Brayden Scott, Sequoyah-Tahlequah HS, Tahlequah, Okla.

Rutgers (3): RB Dontea Ayres, Wicomico HS, Salisbury, Md.; CB Nadir Barnwell, Piscataway (N.J.) HS; QB Chris Laviano, Holy Trinity HS, Hicksville, N.Y.

South Florida (1): K Emilio Nadelman, Miami Central HS

Southern Methodist (1): S Nate Halverson, Grant HS, Portland, Ore.

Temple (1): DB Jihaad Pretlow, Blair Academy, Blairstown, N.J.

ATLANTIC COAST (30)

Clemson (3): DB Jadar Johnson, Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS, Orangeburg, S.C.; TE Jordan Leggett, Navarre (Fla.) HS; DL Ebenezer Ogundeko, Thomas Jefferson HS, New York

Duke (4): QB Parker Boehme, Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville; WR/DB Evrett Edwards, Woodbridge (Va.) HS; DB Quay Mann, Northern Nash HS, Rocky Mount, N.C.; LB Dominic McDonald, Lake Brantley HS, Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Florida State (2): LB Freddie Stevenson, Bartow (Fla.) HS; DE DeMarcus Walker, Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville

Georgia Tech (1): RB Donovan Wilson, Dublin (Ohio) Jerome HS

Maryland (1): DB William Likely, Glades Central HS, Belle Glade, Fla.

Miami (Fla.) (3): TE Standish Dobard, Edna Karr HS, New Orleans; DE Alex Figueroa, Brooke Point HS, Stafford, Va.; OL Hunter Knighton, Hun School, Princeton, N.J.

North Carolina (4): WR Jordan Fieulleteau, Wakefield HS, Raleigh, N.C.; RB Khris Francis, Hillside HS, Durham, N.C.; OL R.J. Prince, Albemarle (N.C.) HS; QB Mitch Trubisky, Mentor (Ohio) HS

North Carolina State (2): OL Cole Blankenship, Davie County HS, Mocksville, N.C.; WR Bra'Lon Cherry, New Bern (N.C.) HS

Pittsburgh (3): QB Tra'Von Chapman, Theodore Roosevelt HS, Kent, Ohio; TE Scott Orndoff, Seton-LaSalle HS, Pittsburgh; DL Shakir Soto, GAR Memorial HS, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Virginia (1): RB/LB LaChaston Smith, South Iredell HS, Statesville, N.C.

Virginia Tech (3): DB Brandon Facyson, Northgate HS, Newnan, Ga.; OL Parker Osterloh, Warhill HS, Williamsburg, Va.; QB Carlis Parker, Statesville (N.C.) HS

Wake Forest (3): LB Ford Howell, University School, Memphis; LB Marquell Lee, Westlake HS, Waldorf, Md.; DL James Looney, Lake Worth (Fla.) HS

BIG TEN (31)

Illinois (5): DB Dillan Cazley, Charleston (Ill.) HS; OL Jesse Chadwell, Clarkston (Mich.) HS; OL Christian Dilauro, Green HS, Uniontown, Ohio; DB Darius Mosely, O'Fallon (Ill.) Township HS; OL Austin Schmidt, Olentangy HS, Lewis Center, Ohio

Indiana (1): LB T.J. Simmons, Lakeland (Fla.) HS.

Iowa (1): LB John Kenny, Carmel (Ind.) HS

Michigan (6): OL Kyle Bosch, St. Francis HS, Wheaton, Ill.; TE Jake Butt, Pickerington (Ohio) North HS; DE Taco Charlton, Pickerington (Ohio) Central HS; DB Ross Douglas, Avon (Ohio) HS; DB Dymonte Thomas, Marlington HS, Alliance, Ohio; OL Logan Tuley-Tillman, Manual HS, Peoria, Ill.

Minnesota (2): DL Hendrick "Hank" Ekpe, Lewisville (Texas) HS; QB Chris Streveler, Marian Central Catholic HS, Woodstock, Ill.

Nebraska (2): OL David Knevel, Pauline Johnson Collegiate HS, Brantford, Ontario; LB Courtney Love, Cardinal Mooney HS, Youngstown, Ohio

Ohio State (6): CB Eli Apple, Eastern HS, Voorhees, N.J.; QB J.T. Barrett, Rider HS, Wichita Falls, Texas; CB Cameron Burrows, Trotwood-Madison HS, Trotwood, Ohio; FB William Houston, Dublin (Ohio) Scioto HS; DE Tyquan Lewis, Tarboro (N.C.) HS; DE Tracy Sprinkle, Elyria (Ohio) HS

Penn State (3): RB Richy Anderson, Thomas Johnson HS, Frederick, Md.; TE Adam Breneman, Cedar Cliff HS, Camp Hill, Pa.; DB Jordan Smith, Woodson HS, Washington, D.C.

Purdue (3): QB Danny Etling, Terre Haute (Ind.) South Vigo HS; DE John Strauser, St. Thomas More HS, Champaign, Ill.; RB David Yancey, Lake Central HS, St. John, Ind.

Wisconsin (2): DB Keelon Brookins, Tartan HS, Oakdale, Minn.; DB Sojourn Shelton, Plantation (Fla.) HS

BIG 12 (21)

Baylor (1): QB Chris Johnson, Bryan (Texas) HS

Iowa State (2): OL Shawn Curtis, Olympia HS, Orlando; LB Alton Meeks, Dr. Phillips HS, Orlando

Kansas (1): DB Colin Spencer, Woodrow Wilson HS, Dallas

Kansas State (1): K Matthew McCrane, Brownwood (Texas) HS

Oklahoma (3): WR Dannon Cavil, Madison HS, San Antonio; S Ahmad Thomas, Miami Central HS; DE D.J. Ward, Southmoore HS, Moore, Okla.

Oklahoma State (1): DE Naim Mustafaa, Alpharetta (Ga. ) HS

Texas (3): LB Deoundrei Davis, Cypress Woods HS, Cypress, Texas; OL/DE Jake Raulerson, Celina (Texas) HS; QB Tyrone Swoopes, Whitewright (Texas) HS

TCU (3): QB Zach Allen, Temple (Texas) HS; TE Bryson Burtnett, Springtown (Texas) HS; OL Eason Fromayan, Milton (Ga.) HS

Texas Tech (1): QB Davis Webb, Prosper (Texas) HS

West Virginia (5): LB Hodari Christian, McKeesport (Pa.) HS; S Malik Greaves, Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville; QB Chavas Rawlins, Monessen (Pa.) HS; WR Daikiel Shorts, Eastern Christian Academy, Elkton, Md.; RB Wendell Smallwood, Eastern Christian Academy, Elkton, Md.

PACIFIC-12 (18)

Arizona State (1): LB Chans Cox, Blue Ridge HS, Lakeside, Ariz

California (2): K Matt Anderson, San Ramon Valley HS, Danville, Calif.; QB Jared Goff, Marin Catholic HS, Kentfield, Calif.

Colorado (1): LB Markeis Reed, Vintage HS, Napa, Calif.

Oregon State (1): OL Sean Harlow, San Clemente (Calif.) HS

Southern California (6): DL Kenny Bigelow, Eastern Christian Academy, Elkton, Md.; QB Max Browne, Skyline HS, Sammamish, Wash.; DB Su'a Cravens, Vista Murrieta HS, Murrieta, Calif.; RB Justin Davis, Lincoln HS, Stockton, Calif.; DB Chris Hawkins, Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) HS; DB Leon McQuay III, Armwood HS, Seffner, Fla.

UCLA (2): DL Kylie Fitts, East Valley HS, Redlands, Calif.; WR Eldridge Massington, West Mesquite HS, Mesquite, Texas

Utah (2): QB Brandon Cox, Pasadena (Calif.) HS; LB Uaea Masina, Brighton HS, Cottonwood Heights, Utah

Washington (3): K Cameron Van Winkle, Mount Si HS, Snoqualmie, Wash.; S Trevor Walker, Mansfield Timberview HS, Arlington, Texas; QB Troy Williams, Narbonne HS, Harbor City, Calif.

SOUTHEASTERN (43)

Alabama (5): QB Cooper Bateman, Cottonwood HS, Murray, Utah; WR Raheem Falkins, George Washington Carver HS, New Orleans; RB Derrick Henry, Yulee (Fla.) HS; TE O.J. Howard, Autauga Academy, Prattville, Ala.; QB Parker McLeod, Walton HS, Marietta, Ga.

Florida (6): LB Alex Anzalone, Wyomissing (Pa.) Area HS; DL Joey Ivie, Pasco HS, Dade City, Fla.; LB Daniel McMillian, First Coast HS, Jacksonville; WR Demarcus Robinson, Peach County HS, Fort Valley, Ga.; LB Matt Rolin, Briar Woods HS, Ashburn, Va.; RB Kelvin Taylor, Glades Day HS, Belle Glade, Fla.

Georgia (10): OL Aulden Bynum, Valwood School, Valdosta, Ga.; OL Josh Cardiello, Buford (Ga.) HS; LB Reggie Carter, South Gwinnett HS, Snellville, Ga.; CB J.J. Green, Camden County HS, Kingsland, Ga.; DB Tray Matthews, Newnan (Ga.) HS; DB Quincy Mauger, Kell HS, Marietta, Ga.; QB Brice Ramsey, Camden County HS, Kingsland, Ga.; LB Ryne Rankin, East River HS, Orlando; WR Tramel Terry, Goose Creek (S.C.) HS; DB Reggie Wilkerson, North Marion HS, Citra, Fla.

Kentucky (1): QB Reese Phillips, Signal Mountain (Tenn.) HS

LSU (5): WR John Diarse, Neville HS, Monroe, La.; QB Anthony Jennings, Marietta (Ga.) HS; DT Christian LaCouture, Lincoln (Neb.) Southwest HS; OT Ethan Pocic, Lemont (Ill.) HS; QB Hayden Rettig, Cathedral HS, Los Angeles

Mississippi (2): RB Mark Dodson, Whitehaven HS, Memphis; TE Christian Morgan, Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas

Missouri (2): QB Trent Hosick, Staley HS, Kansas City, Mo.; QB Eddie Printz, Lassiter HS, Marietta, Ga.

South Carolina (2): QB Connor Mitch, Wakefield HS, Raleigh, N.C.; OL D.J. Park, Dillon (S.C.) HS

Tennessee (4): WR Paul Harris, Frederick Douglass HS, Upper Marlboro, Md.; QB/WR/S Lemond Johnson, Cooper City (Fla.) HS; LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Northeast HS, Clarksville, Tenn.; LB Corey Vereen, West Orange HS, Winter Garden, Fla.

Texas A&M (4): LB Reggie Chevis, Sharpstown HS, Houston; DE Jordan Points, Rockwall-Heath HS, Rockwall, Texas; CB Alex Sezer Jr., Little Cypress-Mauriceville HS, Orange, Texas; LB Brett Wade, Kennedale (Texas) HS

Vanderbilt (2): OT Sean Dowling, Fallbrook (Calif.) Union HS; OB Johnny McCrary, Cedar Grove HS, Decatur, Ga.

INDEPENDENTS (5)

Notre Dame (5): OL Steve Elmer, Midland (Mich.) HS; TE Mike Heuerman, Barron Collier HS, Naples, Fla.; WR James Onwualu, Cretin-Derham Hall HS, St. Paul; WR Corey Robinson, San Antonio Christian HS; QB Malik Zaire, Archbishop Alter HS, Kettering, Ohio