Then a great many “good” atheletes would flush out of school.
I went to Iowa State. They used to have rather strict educational requirements to play ball. Then, about the time I went to school, someone decided to find some good players.
One of the guys I met in college was Troy Davis. Fine man. Stupid. He dated a gal I knew. Troy was just about illiterate, and had been pushed through school since about grade 2 because he was a fine athlete.
The coaches used him, and thousands like him. Troy had no business at a university. Heck, he probably wouldn’t have graduated high school if he wasn’t such a good football player. But he did have a few years in the NFL.
Most kids in his situation don’t make it that far.