"Outlier" is the perfect word

And you are correct.

I really don't understand the opposing argument. It seems to go something like this: "HEY JTLA AND JEMIMA, SEE THIS ONE GUY WHO IS DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY THAN 90% OF THE TALENT POOL? STILL BELIEVE?"

Anyone who thinks that joining the academy should be the primary pitch in our recruiting efforts - and that such a pitch would bring us the best football talent - is a tard in the highest degree. These are football players. They want to play football as a profession. Much in the way that an engineer will go to the best engineering program available, a football player will go to the best football program available.

Would an serious academic candidate go to a school because of the football program? Possibly, and much in the same way that a serious football player may go to a school for a great academic program. But don't fool yourself, they are - in fact - outliers.