Bryce Brown, Nation's Top Running Back Recruit, Could Turn Pro in Canada

So you want to know how over-the-top college football recruiting has become, how utterly insane it is these days? Allow me to present the case of Bryce Brown.

Arguably the top prep prospect in the entire country, Brown verbally committed to Miami a year ago, but told The U. that he would still visit his other college options. He did so, putting together a list that included Oregon, Kansas State, Tennessee, USC and Auburn.

Then on signing day, with all those teams holding their breath, Brown signed with ... no one. And here's the kicker: He may not wind up at any of those places, according to his "manager" Brian Butler -- instead opting for a professional contract in the Canadian Football League.

Butler said he planned to have someone explore the possibility of Brown playing in the C.F.L. next season. "If they were talking about any amount of real money, I'd guarantee it," Butler said of Brown potentially playing in the C.F.L. He mentioned a C.F.L. team paying Brown $5 million a year for three years.

He added: "We're not playing around. I can promise you that. I'm not scared at all to do anything, and Bryce isn't either. Hey, he'll hurt your feelings. He's not worried about your feelings. He's worried about what's right and what's wrong."

This is about the time where teams, if they weren't so obsessed with bringing in the best players no matter the risk, would say "Thanks, but no thanks" and walk away.

Seriously, does a school need this? A fresh out of high school kid with (basically) an agent, who threatens to take his client elsewhere if he's not completely satisfied? The bugger of the whole thing -- and the reason that coaches won't turn away -- is that Brown supremely talented. The video below is Brown dominating at the prestigious U.S. Army All-American Game:

So the college football world waits and watches to see where Brown will finally decide to go.

If it's a U.S. college, that team instantly gets a boost in the final recruiting rankings, and probably has a new starting running back.

If it's to the CFL then, well, good riddance.