WATCH: Tonight, we remembered @CoastalFootball great Lorenzo Taliaferro. RIP to one of the best to come through the #CCU program.

A PARENT’S JOURNEY THROUGH YOUTH SPORTS: Age 5: “He’s got a cannon.” Age 6: “He’s the fastest kid out there. Coach said so.” Age 7: “Rec ball isn’t challenging him anymore.” Age 8: “We tried out for select. Obviously made it.” Age 9: “$2,800 for the season. Plus uniforms. Plus tournaments. Plus hotels.” Age 10: “Cooperstown is basically a family vacation, right?” Age 11: “He needs a hitting guy. And a pitching guy. And probably a mental performance coach.” Age 12: “I’m not a crazy sports parent. The OTHER parents are crazy.” Age 13: “We changed schools. For academics. (And also baseball.)” Age 14: “Showcases are a requirement at this age.” Age 15: “Ya his ranking just ticked up. We’re cooking.” Age 16: “He just needs to get seen by the right school.” Age 17: “The D1 schools want him to walk on. He’ll earn a spot by sophomore year.” Age 18: “Okay, D2 is actually really competitive.” Age 19: “He’s redshirting. Strategic.” Age 20: “He’s focusing on school now.” Age 21: “You know what? He’s so much happier.” Roughly 7% of high schoolers play in college. About 1.5% of those get drafted. Less than half of draftees ever play one day in the big leagues. The odds of our kids going pro are somewhere between “struck by lightning” and “find a $100 in old shorts.” I love youth sports (all my kids play a bunch of them) just keep a good perspective my friends. ✌️

Adam Randall moves good for a 6’3 230 pound back 😳 #RavensFlock

SHOCKING: A growing number of middle school athletes — mostly boys — are intentionally repeating 8th grade to delay their start in high school, giving themselves another full year to get bigger, stronger, and faster, which in turn dramatically boosts their chances at elite high school spots, college scholarships, and massive NIL deals potentially worth millions. William La Jeunesse: “Of 8M high school students in sports only 7% will play in college.” 
“On the other hand, the [likely] number one pick in this year’s NBA draft, [AJ Dybantsa], did 8th grade twice.” CRAZY IDEA: How about we let more kids be kids!