Titans WR Calvin Ridley only played football half his senior year in high school; here’s why

Calvin Ridley is set to enter his second season as the lead wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans. Despite an inconsistent first season, he did manage to prove his mettle and became the ninth player in NFL history to have a 1,000-yard season with three different NFL teams.Calvin Ridley’s journey to NFL stardom wasn’t without some early roadblocks. One of his most unexpected came during his senior year of high school, when a technicality left him sidelined for much of the football season.Calvin Ridley was born on December 20, 1994 and was older than most of his classmates in school. By the time his senior season at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, Florida, rolled around, he was already 20 years old.Unfortunately, Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) rules strictly prohibit anyone over the age of 19 years and 8 months from participating in high school athletics. And Ridley was declared ineligible for most of his final year of high school football.It was no doubt a crushing blow to the young athlete. In high school football, missing an entire senior season meant Ridley had limited scope for college recruiters to evaluate, and far fewer chances to prove himself in front of scouts. But it goes without saying that Ridley’s talent was impossible to ignore.Even with limited playing time, he had already made a strong impression, especially with his speed and sharp route running. Ridley eventually committed to the University of Alabama, where he quickly became a star and helped them win a national championship and earning All-SEC honors.