Being talented at football doesn't change the fact a lot of them are straight thugs. Without sports, many of them would be inmates by the age of 22.
It may not be the point you were trying to make, but there is something very significant here.
College sports has been dumped on by many for exploiting the players while coaches and schools have enriched themselves at the players' expense. But the point you made is so very relevant here. College sports gave an invaluable lifeline to tens of thousands of high school athletes who would otherwise been destined for a dead end in life, many, undoubtedly facing the very prospect you mentioned. If not an inmate, most would have been doomed to a life of meager existence. But though the avenue of sports, colleges gave these individuals an opportunity. Many of them, maybe most, would not have had a snowball's chance at college. Nevertheless, they were brought in, taken care of of 4 years, provided an education (whatever they chose to do with it) and at least given the shot of a better future if they wanted it. Thankfully, many thousands did take full advantage of that opportunity. No doubt, there were many thousands who were headed for a dead end life, who instead ended up in college and became a productive citizen, even if not a professional athlete.
Did universities make money off these athletes? Sure. Maybe the 1.6% who go pro from college football have a case to make about the school's enriching themselves. For the 98.4% who never sniff the NFL, they were given something that many of them would never have found in other avenue of life: an opportunity for a better future.
