These kids are catching the attention of football recruiters even before high school

the lightning quickness of Odell Beckham jr. Brady boys and precision of Tom Brady and the drive and determination of Marshawn Lynch football makes them special [Applause] now colleges are hoping to discover the next football legend on a field like this one the way he move is on another level a whole nother level scouting kids who were 10 years old even though he's a football phenomenon God is Western what they do 11 year old bunchy young doesn't just stand out because of his brightly colored hair or the biblical verses on his arms what makes him a youth football sensation is this I mean he's a fast kid like I can't even describe how fast the years like nobody can touch you really like when you run it people be all behind you and nobody can really touch you bunchy hasn't even finished the fifth grade one day bun Chee's dad picked up the phone and the University of Illinois was on the line he was like man your son is amazing I just want to just build a relationship with you guys ready say hey go scouting future football stars he's starting earlier than ever pump your arms keep your abs tight and put two feet in and then drive out to Feeny to Feeny try two feet say it cook eager to fuel the football dreams of these super young athletes is this man quick quick drive it all the way through said Mike Evans runs laced facts football academy in Norwalk California Go Go Go backpedal break drive in here open it up where for the last two years he's provided intensive drills and training to bunchy and some 200 other young aspiring what's some as young as five there's drill right here we need to make you a door I'll make you average go quick ah oh damn damn No Oh your team Gideon who you think it in a game if you get your lip you gonna let you let it do get a sack on you answer the question you know you might sometimes see a kid cry because it's so hard you gotta be stronger bro three two good job clap it up a standout college player himself back in the day at Nevada and Louisville Evans uses his contacts to get his kids noticed by major college football programs across the country everybody in the coaching world that I have ties to they know that I'm not gonna talk about a kid if he's not a good kid you know that's my credibility get there here we go go get it there we go kids like bun Chee's friend ten-year-old Haven Finney jr. here we go go school we've known each other since we were three years old or it's one of us Haven says he got an offer from the University of Nevada how did Nevada wind up finding out about you by social media and Mike quick quick push over so you've had eight college coaches come by yes and that was the second week that we opened people say Mike call me when you got the height they're high school I'm like you don't get him now in who knows where they go go in high school so you know a lot of coaches - I need him to send me the video name Lane Kiffin is head coach at Florida Atlantic University and has recruited young kids himself just got younger and younger and that's just where we're at now it goes back to making an impact so the kid understands okay we researched we found you before anybody else did Evans is currently trying to drum up interest in 15 of his most elite players not everyone likes the sound of that this is absurd this is absurd on so many levels so you are an 11 or 12 year old who has already got an offer from a college and even though we know that's not binding we know that they can change their mind how hard is it's that when all the adults in your life are already kind of have you directed in this manner is there ever a moment where bunchy says to you you know I just stay home today I don't want to go to you know to practice oh yeah oh yeah and I said well you know what to be the best man you got to practice when you don't even want to practice so it's a grind son it's a grind and that what makes champions hey people of course we're saying these kids are so young I rather a kid is thinking about college now then thinking about joining the game you know not just about football you know it's about opening these kids mind that there is more to life then the communities that we come from what does that mean for a university to offer a 10 year old yes letting the kid know that he is special and they were first to do it you know we don't call the kid first and offer the kid you know we called a family first say is he able to handle this is he mature enough you know that this won't go to his head neither Illinois nor Nevada will confirm the offers saying they don't talk about unsigned recruits both boys parents understand it's not binding for either side it's more symbolic it's not like the kid is going to play college football at nine years old you know that's impossible I just thought it was unbelievable the football training the headlines and the talent they've all turned bunchy in Haven into preteen celebrities people ever say can I take a selfie with I got that lease like you have 23,000 followers on Instagram yes he's fought him before he felt like a year before me bunchy I'm gonna say you sound a little jealous late in 2017 bunchy was named Sports Illustrated kids sports kid of the year flown to New York City where he walked the red carpet just keep working really hard but most importantly have fun just enjoy it don't just remember you're a kid be a kid and have fun the ultimate dream for some of these kids may be the NFL Evan says for him and the parents it's a college scholarship kids prepared not only as athletes but as a young minute even in the discipline that we know that NFL stands for not for long but a college degree a college education lasts forever no evidence has expanded his training facility to include an accredited school Kaleb Herndon will be a student this fall need to be strong indoors a plumber in chalk away he just turned seven and Evan says he'll likely have a scholarship offer by summer much better the first grader is already the size of a fifth grader but should kids this young be playing tackle football some states are trying to ban very young children from the sport a recent Boston University study showed that playing tackle football under the age of 12 can significantly increase the risks of brain damage I want to make sure that his brain is protected so that was my big well is still my biggest fear is head to head contact you just got to pray in practice and just keep going I mean that's what he loves to do so we're gonna do it why aren't your kids playing flag football our kids love contact I mean I feel like the kids have to learn how to play safe I feel like that's why you do it at such a young age so you're not using your head what's it like when the guy tackles you it doesn't hurt it like it's almost like someone's wrapping you up I rarely get soccer but mm-hmm just like I usually score a touchdown but at this all-star game last month against the squad from Arizona to shutout loss and Mike Evans gives the kids a talking to the last game that we ever go loose you understand it then win or lose these kids still have big dreams that go way beyond football I'll get my college degree and help the homeless well if I can't play sports you know when it come on there you want to become a mayor I know about Hollywood would be the mayor of Hollywood for Nightline I'm Chris Connelly in Los Angeles [Music] hi everyone George Stephanopoulos here thanks for checking out the ABC News YouTube channel if you'd like to get more videos show highlights and watch live event coverage click on the right over here to subscribe to our Channel and don't forget to download the ABC News app for breaking news alerts thanks for watching

Channel: ABC News

Views: 6,702,780

Keywords: football, football phenom, young football stars, Bunchie Young, 11 year old, college football, recruiting, amazing kids, athletes, sports, Nightline, interview, ABC News, high school football, talented kids

Id: 4jD9oGhG9nM

Length: 9min 26sec (566 seconds)

Published: Thu Feb 01 2018