Besides, some of these gifted HS players could be just as gifted in the classroom and earn an academic scholarship to the school. Plus, if enough schools do it around the same time, then the perception of non-scholarship football may change among the fans and media. At the very least, it could get the NFL to rethink its current 3 years removed from HS rule.

I am not saying this route doesn't come with some risk. However, I am not sure it is a given that the schools have to stay the course and accept these "student-athletes" are now "employees." Even though all 50 states must obey the same labor laws at the federal level, the labor laws at the state level may be very different among the 50 states. So that will become a factor if the schools decide to treat student-athletes as employees. Also, if the student-athletes are now employees, then it could mean eliminating the educational requirements (depending on how the state law is written). As a result, schools will lose fans and booster money over that decision.