Three years ago, the words, “You take care of his football, and I’ll take care of his education,” echoed in the gym of Eleanor Roosevelt High School. They were part of a conversation between football coach Thomas Green and Anthony Prince, father of highly recruited 6-foot-7, 280-pound tackle Isaiah Prince.

It became a verbal contract between the two men and a guiding presence for the high school senior, who has garnered more than 20 Division I offers, including one from the Terrapins football team.

“I asked [the coaches] if they think he could be a football player,” Anthony Prince said. “They said, ‘His size? Yeah he can be. But it’s up to you and his education.’”

Since then, both parties have held up their ends of the bargain. Green molded Isaiah Prince into one of the most-heralded high school linemen in the country. Anthony Prince made sure academics were always a priority.

“We tried to put a plan together,” Green said, “because we knew he was going to be a major Division I kid.”

That perception of Isaiah Prince’s potential always stemmed from his overwhelming stature. Born 9 pounds, 14 ounces, he never stopped growing.

Prince started playing football at 7 years old. Though he stepped away from the game after his first full season, he regained interest before his freshman year at Eleanor Roosevelt and conveyed that renewed enthusiasm to his father.

Green called Prince up to varsity halfway through his freshman year so the young player would have a chance to establish himself. The move paid off, as Prince played a prominent role during his sophomore season and began drawing looks from college programs.

Prince stepped onto the field for the first game of his junior year with a number of scholarship offers. He had waited and worked all summer to prove his worth.

But Prince never had the chance. He hit the turf with a broken ankle, ending his season.

“He was depressed,” his father said. “I think he had about 16 or 17 offers at the time, so he was concerned about losing his scholarships.”

And Prince had a reason for his doubts. With a GPA floating in the low- to mid-2 range, he’d failed to uphold sufficiently his commitments in the classroom.

His time on the sideline, though, prompted a realization.

“He had a chance to sit back and say, ‘You know what, football’s not gonna always be here. I have an opportunity to get a free education, and I need to take advantage of that,’” Green said.

Prince not only rediscovered the value of the opportunity before him but recognized how fast the game that had given so much could be snatched away.

Green called it a “blessing in disguise.” Prince began to direct 100 percent of his attention to his schoolwork.

“Look, you’re not playing,” Anthony Prince said to his son. “So there’s no reason not to get 3.0s every quarter.”

Prince’s GPA rose from just above 2.0 to 3.0. He began studying for the SATs and took the test as many times as he needed to get the required scores.

“Him being injured his junior year may have worked in his favor,” Anthony Prince said.

Isaiah also worked tirelessly in the weight room during the offseason to build his upper-body strength. And so far this year, he has led his high school team to an undefeated record through 10 games, showcasing his unique blend of power, athleticism and versatility.

“We know we can always run behind him,” Green said. “He’s probably more college-ready than any kid I’ve ever coached.”

Green has used Prince on both the right and left side of his offensive line. As for where Prince will play when he gets to college, Green said it depends on the scheme.

“If he’s at a run-heavy team, he’ll play right,” Green said. “But if it’s a spread team like Maryland that throws a lot? He could be a pro left tackle.”

Sticking to the agreement they made three years ago, Anthony Prince has stayed out of his son’s recruitment. He hasn’t gone on a single college visit.

“That’s him and Coach Green,” he said. “I left that up to him. They trusted me with his education, and I trusted them with his football.”

Even Isaiah Prince hasn’t allowed himself to get caught up in the decision-making process. His concentration right now is on his high school team, which enters a home playoff game against Suitland on Saturday.

“[I’m] not even focusing on the recruitment process,” Prince said. “I’m just focusing on my season and trying to win states.”

The college recruitment process can serve as a distraction for coaches, teammates and the player being observed and criticized.

But Green said this is the first time in a while he’s handled such a humble player with such a high ceiling.

“We’ve had guys recruited highly before,” he said. “But they know they’re the man. They walk around beating their chest a little bit, whereas Isaiah? He’s just one of the guys.

“Whether he plays early or not, I think he will be successful. I think he’ll graduate from college. I think he’ll be a good man and a good father.”