Hey guys, I'm in a huge predicament that's been stressing me out for the past week and a half now.

Recently I've been talking to college football recruiters who have been coming to my school to watch our pre season practices. ASU, UCLA and AU (Arizona University) have talked to me, complimented on my last seasons play etc. the usual kiss ass stuff.

I even talked to my coach, and he said the chances of me getting a scholarship are incredibly high, as long as I keep my grades up and stay out of trouble. But here's my situation.

I'm tired of playing football sadly. I've played football since I was 6 years old, and I'm 17 now. I haven't missed a season. I've also run track, played baseball, soccer, basketball, and I'm now wrestling and doing MMA. I much prefer wrestling and MMA over football as of now, because its a change of pace. I'm not quite sure what to do though.

Should I continue playing a sport that I'm tired of playing just so I can succeed?

Maybe I just need a break from it? I think over a year I spend about 200 days at practice or some type of football oriented thing, for the past 4 years now.

Should I give it up?

I really need help, and I know it sounds stupid. Giving up a free joy ride into what could be fame because you're tired of it, but you don't understand the situations I'm in. I'm playing 2 other sports which I love (Don't get me wrong, I love the hell out of football) school, girlfriend, I have too look for a job. I'm incredibly stressed out and my coach riding my ass about staying out of trouble and other things isn't helping at all!

WHAT DO I DO?!

Fyi I'm a junior in highschool.

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Would you miss it? If so you would probably just regret quitting in the long run.

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Well personally I'd take the scholarship, free college is great.

I don't quite know how scholarships work as I'm not American, but can you stop football once you have the scholarship?

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If you get a sport scholarship i'm pretty sure its conditional (only valid if you are playing the sport).

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Ah right.. Well in that case, I'd only take the scholarship if it was a good college.
But then I'd have to think about my future and I'd look back and think "hmmm I could have taken the scholarship" if things didn't go the way I wanted.

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Full ride - take it
Tuition -forget it.

Unless you seriously consider yourself as being capable of playing as a professional, then don't bother with the scholarships. As you said you need to keep your grades up. The stipulations for college level sports are extreme to say the least. If you want your career to come from your diploma think twice about taking the scholarship. If you want your career to come from your talent then by all means step right up.

short: If you don't plan on pro, don't take the scholarship unless you otherwise can't afford college.

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College, can be quite an expense. As a senior going off to a state university, student loans can rack up a lot to a lot. If you're going to a public university fees can range from 15,000-25,000 a year.

If I were in your position, I would continue to play football to receive a scholarship, possibly even a full ride. Your chances of receiving a scholarship for wrestling/MMA is a lot less compared to a football scholarship. You could always practice/train MMA as a hobby while playing football. It'll help keep you in great condition and take your mind off football.

College isn't that expensive for me mainly because I can go to any state funded school for free including books, and any in state universities for free excluding books, and room and board. But I do get a discount. Mainly because of my dads military background and being part native american. Also grades aren't a problem for me.

My main problem is, I love the sport but I need a break from it. If I get a scholarship, I get no break from it. If I don't take the scholarship, I'm not sure what I want to do.

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By the sound of it you should not play football anymore.
1. You are tired of it.
2. It stresses you out.
3. You would have no problem paying for college if you don't get a scholarship.

So the only way I see it is. Would you miss it if you quit? Also, is there an out of state college you want to go to that is offering? Those would be the only reasons to even be considering playing still. I played football in high school and loved it so much. I miss it a ton, but I did not have scholarships so I couldn't play. Even after saying that, if I did have scholarships I would not have played most likely. I was like you and was getting burnt out, so I don't think I would have wanted to play anymore and I am perfectly fine with that.