Yeah, I edited my original post. What I was trying to say was that grayshirting was originally a deferral of enrollment. The player did not actually enroll. That's what happened with Josh Kerr. Later on, some schools encouraged kids to enroll at the normal time. But the fact remains, the LoI is not something that can be selectively applied, a kid can't sign an LoI and amend it to only apply for half a year. So Parks can choose to do what he wants, but I'm fairly certain that he can't sign an actual binding LoI at Alabama until (a) a scholarship opens, or (b) he is ready to enroll and join the team in January (i.e., he could sign an LoI in December 2017).
Also, my comments about tuition are accurate. Parks is a Florida resident, he would have to pay out-of-state tuition at Alabama. And most kids (and their families) can't afford to do so.
Oh I agree, it's a definitely a risk in that the school isn't bound to you at all and can change their mind. But it's far less likely with a highly rated 4 star player than a borderline recruit. Of course, a spot could open up before fall camp or he can change his mind at any time as well and enroll anywhere else. Wouldn't be the first time Alabama found room with an unexpected transfer before fall camp.
Let's be honest. Besides the fact he'll get some financial aid and can just pay per credit at a community college, he won't be paying for college anyway. He'll manage to land a nice "job" from "friends", that'll magically be enough money to pay for his school, books, car, personal trainer, gym membrship and maybe even an apartment if he decides to enroll in an Alabama community college.
You're right about it being "less likely" with a Rivals 250 kid. But at the same time, it's ALABAMA. It's SABAN. What's to stop them from getting a couple of 5-star guys next year?
I just think it is beyond insane for a Rivals 250 kid to bypass a year of training, nutrition, etc. He can't use football facilities, train, eat, workout, learn plays, and practice with the team. A lot of these kids really need the structure and resources of a college to begin improving from their HS level.
It's an incredibly risky proposition. How many NFL stars were the product of grayshirting? It's a 6-9 month detour away from football at a crucial time in a player's development, and if the kid had any perspective at all, he wouldn't do it just to hang with "the savages" at Alabama.
You know what's actually more common than a kid grayshirting and then becoming a dominant college and NFL star? A kid like Khalil Mack going to a "somewhat lesser school" and then getting 4 years to play, thus developing in a more patient and productive way than taking a year off, and then waiting a few years to become a starter.
Parks needs to get some perspective, maybe some humiliation, and then a dose of envy. Maybe then he can see that finding a program that will embrace and develop him from Day 1 is more worthwhile than waiting around for Daddy Saban to find him the last seat on the bus.
