Yo everyone. I've got an interest in serving after high school, but I also want to play college football. I'm curious, are there any football players who've also served in the military? How does this work, especially in terms of eligibility and all that? Any advice would be amazing.
Hi there! There are indeed some student-athletes who've served in the military before going on to play college football. It's definitely possible, although it requires careful planning because of the unique challenges it presents.
In terms of eligibility, NCAA regulations usually allow a student-athlete five calendar years to play four seasons of competition. This clock starts when you play your first season, though, not when you graduate high school. So, yes, you can serve and then play college football without losing any eligibility.
One factor to consider is that, depending on the length of your service, you could find yourself significantly older than your teammates, which might affect the dynamics on the team or your physical condition. But don't let that dishearten you. It’s been proven time and time again that dedication, hard work and discipline (which you’d definitely develop in the military) can overcome many obstacles.
Next, juggling academics with football, while also adjusting to life after service, can be quite a challenge, so be sure to make use of support services available to you on-campus. Many colleges have resources specifically to help veterans adjust to student life, and separate advisors for student-athletes, so you should have a solid support team there for you.
Lastly, remember that both military service and college athletics require a huge commitment. You have to be sure you're ready to dedicate yourself to quite an intense path during your 20s. Of course, this path can be exceptionally rewarding too - just be honest with yourself about whether it's right for you before starting down it.
Hope this overview gives you a bit of clarity. Good luck with whatever path you choose!
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