Syracuse football commit Isaiah Johnson’s school is under the heat lamp after a Sports Illustrated article this week questioned the validity of Eastern Christian. In June The Fizz reported the¬†athletic Maryland DT became¬†SU’s 7th commitment and his coach told us Johnson was¬†a “diamond in the rough.” But it wasn’t your normal situation for the 6’5″, 272 lb. road grater. As we wrote:
“Johnson, along with 30+ teammates and head coach Dwayne Thomas, are moving from Red Lion Christian Academy (Delaware) to Eastern Christian Academy (Maryland) due to changes at Red Lion. Isaiah‚Äôs old school is downgrading from a national level football program to a Delaware independent league. So ECA is accumulating talented players who have already made commitments to some of college football‚Äôs finest institutions.”
But the creation of the Eastern Christian Honey Badgers (yes, that’s their name) has SI investigating. It’s essentially a “high school” with a completely online curriculum, but fields a real football team – which has some of the best players in the country. And that has people very skeptical, including some college football coaches. Here’s the more striking lines from the report:
- Eastern Christian was established six months ago, and with less than three weeks until the start of the academic school year, 54 students are enrolled in grades six through 12. Forty-six are boys, and 46 are on the football team.
- According to Eastern Christian’s Player Profile Sheet, 14 team members have already received football scholarship offers from major colleges, with three committed to USC, two to West Virginia and others to Auburn, UConn and Syracuse. Sophomore David Sills V, the 6′ 3″ quarterback with the blond hair and marksman’s accuracy, committed to USC when he was 13. Kenny Bigelow a 6′ 3″, 295-pound senior who’s considered the nation’s second-best defensive tackle by Rivals.com, is also ticketed for the Trojans.¬†
- Despite the many coaches swarming Eastern Christian, several expressed concern about recruiting there. “To have a totally based curriculum of online classes, it’s something we don’t do,” says an FBS head coach, whose program has not offered scholarships to Eastern Christian players. “It’s tricky. They can say something fulfills an English requirement, and they’re really watching movies online. We just stay away from it altogether.”
- Two prominent high school coaches in Maryland were asked if they would have scheduled the Honey Badgers. One said his administration would balk, calling the Honey Badgers “an AAU football team.” The other said he would and called them “awesome players and class people.”¬†
- ECA’s director David Sills says “If we’re telling the truth, that we just want to help these kids, we’re virtuous. If we’re lying, we’re the most evil people in America. So it comes down to this: Do you believe us?”
- After a faculty reorganization at Red Lion, three former teachers joined the Eastern Christian staff. “I told the guys, ‘An online school – what are you trying to do?’” says Carrie Timmons, one of the teachers. “It sounds crazy, but I think it’s going to work.”
This is less an Isaiah Johnson problem and more an Eastern Christian one. Should Syracuse be worried about being involved with a start-up, largely online school such as this? The guess is Doug Marrone is always looking for talent, and if schools like USC, Auburn, West Virginia and UConn are okay with it, then so is he. Now, let’s be honest. There are cleaner programs to align yourselves with then the admissions departments of the Trojans, Mountaineers and Tigers. But they must all feel fairly comfortable with what’s happening down there.¬†
Ultimately, Johnson – like some of his teammates – might struggle with admissions, but that’s a risk SU has taken on plenty of athletes from traditional high schools. Heck, Johnson might be a terrific student and there’s nothing to worry about. But if ECA is indeed the first “AAU football team,” it’s certainly not against the rules to recruit those players. Just makes you wonder if this is a trend for high school football or simply a blip on the radar.
Posted: D.A.
Do you think Eastern Christian is credible?
73 responses to “Syracuse Commit Isaiah Johnson’s School Under Scrutiny After SI Report”
After his recruitment, I seemed to gloss over the fact that the school is a weird online start-up.
It is interesting D.A., almost has a college basketball recruiting feel to the whole thing.
I think it’s A brilliant idea, that’s to say if it’s a legitimate online program. It gives kids the freedom but will also teach them discipline In knowing that they have to do the class work on their own time to meet deadlines.
Does the student physically attend a classroom where they provide on-line instruction or is the on-line instruction provided in a home school atmosphere? Most colleges provide on-line courses so what’s the big deal?
Fizz,nothing wrong with the topic fella’s but FizzFam has been in consultation’s!!Not to worry just a temporary devolopment…will return soon!!
@Shane;Saturday afternoon I had asked a Junior College student if he passed his grades last year and if he did would that make him ready for graduation in May? His reply was that he passed all of his classes except for an on-line biology course and would be taking it over again and needed it for graduation.
So Shane I’m with you,if it‚Äôs a legitimate online program I have no problem with it at all.
Online classes are a joke.
It is a bit iffy that it is only a football school
Online courses are accelerated, which seems easier, but a workload is a workload. They’re set up to achieve credits from a home setting, when being in class physically, isn’t possible. Every institution,, in every state has online courses for students.
* if the NCAA clears him, he’s good! Thats not a stressor, as far as getting involved with prospects from any institution, HCDM job is to recruit, not give clearinghouse waivers? Worst case scenario…available scholarship!
Hey guy’s do you remember an earlier post letting you all know about the rule change as far as kickoffs go well you ought to read the following posted on Syracuse.com web page today.
Must read article.
AAU high school.. very scary prospect for the future. I can’t imagine any decent parent sending their kid to this school. With all of the FB summer camps, there are plenty of ways to gain football exposure without jeopardizing your HS education. Hopefully some adults out there step in and give these kids some proper guidance.
How rare is that,47 o/of 47 students all football players?
When I first read the story in SI I started going, uh oh… SU has one of these guys. Im gonna keep an open mind b/c Isaiah might be a great kid – but the more I read the more convinced I became that this school is REALLY shady.
@CDL,are u aware of recent developement?I guess adult’s can appear childish too u at times?all in good fun!
D.A;I would like to think that maybe after the coaching staff had completed their investigation into Isaiah Johnson they couldn’t find anything bad about the player or the school.
It looks like Eastern Christian is following the lead of UNC when offering classes to the incoming athletes. I feel a kid any kid is innocent until proven guilty of any wrong doing. But if the NCAA can’t find any wrong doing at UNC then how can they say the players or Eastern Christian is violating ANY RECRUITING RULES?
As a former Jr. High and High School teacher (in Syracuse), I am pleased to see variety and competition in how academics are delivered. While the online school movement is in it’s earlier stages, I suggest that they will continue to improve as a viable alternative to traditional classroom settings (often challenged as well). My own children have experienced both traditional and online curriculums and the reality is (as always) it comes down to the commitment of the students and the support of their parents. So lets be fair and not overly judge ECA because it is different than what the norm is. It is in innovation that all boats rise.
Holy damn John I swear that was my feeling about this from the start of reading this article. Thanks for conveying it WAY better than I could have. Could there potentially be something shady??? Of course. Could it also be that this is just the first “school ” of this type that we have heard about, absolutely. School districts all over the country do funny things with stud athletes home addresses and living arrangements so that said stud athlete attends their school. It is program building and it happens all over the country. Kinda funny that Tim Green got in trouble for it in Skaneateles, just isn’t as common up in CNY I guess. I am sure SU will do its due diligence and if they say he is still good in their books then I will trust their judgement.
Great post John and another great response from Norma Stitz.
The old saying is true,if it’s different and we don’t like it,then it has to be NO GOOD.
I just don’t understand the point that the Fizz Article is making. If the program seems shady people automatically group everyone in it to be trouble makers and not worthy of receiving a D1 scholarship.
The kids involved could be honest hardworking individuals looking for a way to better themselves after football.
Let’s all set back and see what transpires,before jumping to any conclusions.
Thanks guys for elevating and shedding an intellectual light on this topic!!thought provoking!
Another HCDM/dougie recruiting gaff!!!!
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