UCLA Makes Offer To 8th Grade Quarterback Lindell Stone
UCLA is getting a jump on recruiting —a big jump — by giving an offer to an eighth grade quarterback Lindell Stone.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound quarterback isn’t even in high school yet, and actually just finished up the academic year at Dawson Middle School in Southlake, Texas, but now has an offer to attend UCLA in four years.
Stone gave a cordial reply, but made it known he was focusing on high school first before considering his college career.
“I’m very grateful right now,” Stone said Wednesday. “We’re really not focused on recruiting right now. We’re more focused on getting on the field at high school and helping a team win a championship, but this is big. It’s finally showing how hard I’ve worked.”
Lindell Stone isn’t the only eighth grader to get an offer. Nathan Tilford from Upland, California, was offered a scholarship by USC this week, and Dylan Moses from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has a number of schools after him.
UCLA was likely impressed by Stone’s performance at the Elite 11 regional competition in San Francisco a few weeks ago. The 14-year-old with the strong pocket presence and developing arm earned quite a bit of buzz after his performance there, winning over many of the coaches present.
Lindell Stone hasn’t spoken to UCLA coaches yet, though his father has been in contact with some members of the staff.
The eighth grader still seemed a bit shocked to have gotten an offer from UCLA.
“It’s a very academically prestigious school, which is what I’m looking for in a college,” he said. “It’s also got a great football program. To have one of my top schools offer me so early, it’s an honor. It’s great to see all my hard work paying off in them giving me an opportunity.”
To those who follow college recruiting closely, it’s not too big of a surprise that UCLA extended and offer to eighth grade quarterback Lindell Stone. He’s been ranked among the top prospects nationwide for the class of 2017 and has been getting national press since he was 13.
