Alabama offers scholarship to 8th-grader

Alabama is so infatuated with eighth-grade linebacker Jesus Machado that it offered him a scholarship Monday, his high school coach told ESPN's Derek Tyson.

While handing scholarship offers out to really, really, really young players has occurred somewhat more often in recent years, the practice is still considered very rare.

It's not so rare for Machado, however. The six-foot, 195-pounder has already secured offers from Iowa State, Michigan State, NC State, and West Virginia, in addition to Alabama.

Clearly, the Crimson Tide were late to the party.