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Most of the prospects that will head to Division-I schools on scholarship this year, will do so with nearly ten years of organized football experience. And an even greater number of them will have had at least played four years of football for their respected high school.

But what if you only had one year to make an impression on college coaches to obtain a scholarship? Do you think you could do it?

Well that's the case for 2015 Louisville (Ky.) Shawnee tight end Jonas Griffith.

"This was my first year at Shawnee." Griffith told Kentucky Preps. "I was home schooled all my life until senior year."

Even with being home schooled, there are plenty of opportunities to participate in sports. Which is something Griffith did, but never football.

"I always loved football my parents just would never let me go to a real school until this year." he said. "And I chose Shawnee because we had just moved to the neighborhood and it was close and small."

So entering Shawnee as a senior, in his first year of going to an actual school, Griffith decided to give the sport he had longed to play a try. But what he was signing up for, was far from an ideal situation.

The Golden Eagle football program hadn't been to the playoffs since 2009, when it lost to Western Hills. And in 2010 it was forced to forfeit the last two game of the season, including a playoff game with North Oldham.

Since its last playoff appearance the program's record is 7-28. But none of that mattered to Griffith, he was just enjoying the new experience.

Playing "back yard football" with no formal football instruction can teach bad habits, some of which cannot be reversed. But for Griffith, the transition "wasn't hard, honestly."

When did he first notice football might be his thing?

"After the first day of hitting," he answered. "I hit a guy and knocked his helmet off."

And so the season started for the Golden Eagles with, a team that had become a rival as of late, Kentucky Country Day.

In his first career football game, Griffith finished with a receiving touchdown as well as an interception. Most importantly Shawnee got the win, 14-7.

And as the season went on the Golden Eagles continued to win, marching out to a 4-0 start.

In that time, Griffith had six receiving touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Then college coaches started taking notice.

"After we started the season 4-0," he said. "I started getting letters from Kentucky, Louisville, Cincinnati and other schools."

A kid who had never been to a real school or played on an organized football team months before, was garnering the type of recruiting attention kids who pour their whole life in to the sport yearn for.

He didn't send his tape out, he didn't spend his summer going from university to university trying to make some coaching staff notice him. They found him.

"I worked really really hard," Griffith said. "and my parents always told me that hard work pays off. It felt amazing."

While things were looking up for Griffith, the tables turned for his team. After starting the year 4-0, Shawnee finished the year on a six-game losing streak. The Golden Eagles would miss the playoffs yet again.

It wasn't until two months after the season he found out his football playing career would be extended, when Indiana St., Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee Martin offered.

One of the three would stand out more than the others.

"It felt like home," Griffith said about Inidana St. "and I got along great with all the recruits, players and coaches."

The Sycamores made a lasting impression on him top to bottom.

"I love the coaching staff." he continued. "They're all so down to earth, as well as the current players. I got along with the recruits as well."

And on Jan. 24, while on his Official Visit, Griffith committed to Indiana State.

So less than six months from enrolling in his first school and signing up for his first football team, he committed to a Division I-AA football program with a full scholarship.

A feat worth recognition. And who knows where he could have went with four years, or even one year more.

What has this journey taught Griffith?

"To never give up." he answered.

Simple words for a young man that could have so easily missed his shot at playing college football, for a number of reasons.