Khalan Laborn is one of the nation’s top running back recruits, so it’s no surprise that the 4-star Bishop Sullivan Catholic prospect would be invited to Nike’s The Opening. Given the national exposure, it’s perhaps understandable that Laborn decided The Opening was a prime platform at which he could announce his commitment.
All of this makes sense, right up to the point of reveal: Laborn picked Florida State by rolling up to the field in a Lamborghini, getting out and running across field with a huge Seminoles flag.
To put it mildly, this is a very confident commitment. A stock Lamborghini — even for a simple four-hour rental from the Portland airport — will cost you roughly $9,000, and that’s before whatever surcharge would follow for slapping Florida State temporary stickers all over the hood and doors. So this wasn’t a cheap shoot for Bleacher Report, which (of course) produced a video about the commitment as part of it’s “Commitment Week.”
Then there’s the flag, and the entire scene that necessarily emerged as onlookers gawked at a Lamborghini and the cheerleader like flag run. It was, well, a scene.
In the end, that’s what many of today’s recruits want. It’s a lot of attention, and they like attention and how it reinforces pride, confidence and so many other factors that make them the exemplary athletes they are. It’s also a scene, and one that we probably won’t see again anytime soon.