It is not uncommon for a collegiate athlete to leave school early and attempt to become a professional. In recent years, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has made rules in order to keep college athletes in school for as long as possible. Basketball players are no longer allowed to declare for the NBA draft directly out of high school. They must attend college for one year after graduating high school. This allows athletes to better develop not only in their sport, but in their field of study, too. Athletes should stay in school as long as possible in order to develop athletically, and academically.

When college athletes stay in school, instead of going pro, they are taking many chances. They run the risk of getting injured in the next season; they run the risk of not playing as well as they did in the previous season. They run the risk of getting benched. But, if a college athlete leaves school early to go pro, they are also running the risk of not developing to their maximum potential before moving on to the next stage in their career. All of these risks factor into the final decisions of athletes on whether or not they should stay in school.

If a collegiate athlete leaves college early to go pro, they are abandoning their education. Only 1.6 percent of college football players become successful professional players. And those who do become professionals can’t play their sport forever. The average NFL football player will only play 10 and a half seasons, earning an average salary of 1.9 million dollars a year.  If an NFL player retires after only 10 seasons, they will not be able to fund their lavish lifestyles. And if they left school early to go pro, they will not have the education they need to find a well paying job.

On Jan. 15, 2015, Ohio State University Buckeye quarterback Cardale Jones chose to return to school after winning the National Championship. He was expected to declare for the draft because he had just played the best season of his career, and he is not guaranteed the starting quarterback position next season. “My education is going to take me 10 times farther than my athletic ability,” said Jones, after he made the decision. Jones knows that he cannot play football forever, and he is preparing to be a financial planner.

In the long run, college athletes leaving school early hinders their opportunities for a life after sports. Although staying in school can be risky, the benefits outweigh the costs. Staying in school allows athletes to further their education, allowing them to get a job after they retire. Also, staying in school allows athletes to develop in their sport, which will give them the experience to be successful at the next level. Cardale Jones made the right decision to stay in school, and return for the 2015 season. He will develop more as an athlete, a student, and a person.