The University Of Illinois Just Offered A Scholarship To Fourth Grade Phenom Bunchie Young, And For Good Reason

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Class of 2025 stand up!!

The new trend in college sports is to sign young kids to these faux, nonbonding contracts to grab headlines and establish relationships. FAU coach Lane Kiffin just offered scholarships to sixth and seventh graders, followed by University of Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich offering a fifth grade, 11-year-old quarterback a full-ride.  Both kind of gimmicky.

But, 10-year-old Bunchie Young is a horse of a different color. Love Smith and the University of Illinois just offered the fourth grader from L.A. a full scholarship and for the first time signing little tykes, this feels like an investment.

According to Max Preps, the Class of 2025 speed demon ran a 12.4-second 100-meter dash and plays running back, wide receiver and defensive back. He recorded 30 touchdowns and snagged four interceptions last season for the Hub City TarHeels.

Check out this reel of young Bunchie blowing people away on the track, training like a pro, and making his opponents look like, well, 10 year olds.

[h/t Max Preps]

Matt Keohan Avatar
Matt’s love of writing was born during a sixth grade assembly when it was announced that his essay titled “Why Drugs Are Bad” had taken first prize in D.A.R.E.’s grade-wide contest. The anti-drug people gave him a $50 savings bond for his brave contribution to crime-fighting, and upon the bond’s maturity 10 years later, he used it to buy his very first bag of marijuana.