majority of college athletes, even in football, have zero professional aspirations. I would agree that it doesn't always feel that way in big-time CFB because of the way the small handful of top-tier programs have rosters that are loaded with guys who do have realistic chances of going pro - but that's not the average experience for players across the country. There are tons of guys at VT and elsewhere who know they are getting a real degree and are more than happy to continue to play a sport they love in exchange for a free education.

If your concern is weeding out the guys whose sole concern is getting to the next level, then just watch more FCS, DII, and DIII games. They play decent football and have virtually none of the guys who are just pretending to be students.