You're preaching to the choir my friend.....the prescription you prescribe was the filter in my kids' decision to attend/play college soccer (
a big 3, world renown academic institution in the NE).....So believe me when I say - I get it.
Unfortunately for you (or your son) he chose to play a sport that doesn't afford the same opportunities in the US as does as American football.
You see Mirage, sports has is not only benefitting my kid, but has completely changed the trajectory of my long (or more accurately -
large) family line and afforded a college education (
a meal ticket) to attend/play sports (PAC-12, MWC, WAC, BIG-10 conferences) when without sports would not have been....so again, believe me when I say - I get it.
I guess my point is you're dummifying a very complex discussion with many variables that assist in making a college decision. For females, there is an added emotional element that we parents of dd's have to consider/navigate (think...sitting on bench/emotions/hormones etc) that u don't have to.
Best of luck to u/your son on the journey. If things don't work out with soccer, have him switch now to lacrosse, field hockey or crew (
the academic institutions love those players)