The story you’re about to read will create a ton of conversation.
Brian Woods, the former President of the United States Football League, has announced he is starting a spring football league for high school football players. It will be called the Prep Super League.
The league’s goal is to seek out 4-and-5-star athletes to play on teams in Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, New Jersey, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Tampa.
According to an Associated Press story, “Woods said his league will use NCAA playing rules and will operate independent of high school state athletic associations, giving players the chance to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL) without any restrictions.”
According to High School Football America’s latest count, 30 states allow NIL for student-athletes.
“Players will be eligible to participate in the league only if they’re enrolled in an accredited middle or high school curriculum and live in one of the league’s 12 markets. Woods said he planned to target prospects entering their sophomore or junior years of high school this fall.”
Associated Press Story
The AP story goes on to state that Woods said, “The league could supplement the recruiting camps and 7-on-7 programs that provide recruiting showcases for prospects during the months when they aren’t playing high school football.”
“If you look at 7-on-7, you look at these camps, at the end of the day, none of them are 11-on-11 football,” said Woods, who resigned from the USFL last year. “None of them are going to give a quarterback, for instance, in a 7-on-7 situation, a live pass rush. So if you’re looking to evaluate players in an actual football context, that’s what this league is about.”
Associated Press Story“Players will be eligible to participate in the league only if they’re enrolled in an accredited middle or high school curriculum and live in one of the league’s 12 markets. Woods said he planned to target prospects entering their sophomore or junior years of high school this fall.”
Woods said potential recruits could pay what he referred to as a “player development fee” to participate in the league. He compared it to the money that families of prospects in other sports pay for travel programs such as AAU basketball and said it could help fund the league. Woods also is hoping to get revenue from sponsorships and ticket prices.“
“Woods noted that the arrival of the transfer portal has produced a tougher environment for high school prospects seeking to gain the attention of colleges that might be more willing to take a chance on players with college experience.”
The league is expected to play a six-week season next spring between April 19 through May 24.
