So I have this coach from a MAC school come to campus and evaluate my kid. Says he loves him and he would fit really well in their system. Says that he would really love to see my kid at their camp on their campus where only their staff would be evaluating. They have 6 scholarships to offer.

 

So I go online and I find out they already have 4 commitments on those 6 positions, and of those two remaining, they have 16 offers out. Great! Travel and camp expense so my kid can be # 17 on the prospect depth chart! I have a hard time justifying going to this camp despite the invitation.

 

Anybody have a different perspective? Thanks!

Par for the course. ...

It is an expense and it is frustrating. But, it's the way the game is played. You never know what will come from that visit, but you know what will come if you do not go on the visit. They may pretty much know those other 16 are not going to play for them, or they may think they are going to play for them. You just don't know.

 

My son went on many visits and attended many camps and combines. No one knew for sure where he would end up, until he started getting offers. Then it became clearer.

 

One horror story: One school told my son he was offered a 1/2 football scholarship. Admissions awarded him a 1/2 academic scholarship. If my math is correct 1/2 + 1/2 = 1 full scholarship. So, he gets his offer to sign and it has 1/2 academic scholarship and nothing else. No football money what so ever. Needless to say, he is not playing there and I am telling everyone to not trust what Campbellsville University tells them. They even went so far as to say that only one other player is attending/playing football at the college as cheap as he is. After two visits, one private and one game day visit, he is told he will go there almost free and he gets an offer that has him being responsible for $16,000.

 

I say that to tell you, "nothing is final until you sign the agreement".

It is an expense and it is frustrating. But, it's the way the game is played. You never know what will come from that visit, but you know what will come if you do not go on the visit. They may pretty much know those other 16 are not going to play for them, or they may think they are going to play for them. You just don't know.

 

My son went on many visits and attended many camps and combines. No one knew for sure where he would end up, until he started getting offers. Then it became clearer.

 

One horror story: One school told my son he was offered a 1/2 football scholarship. Admissions awarded him a 1/2 academic scholarship. If my math is correct 1/2 + 1/2 = 1 full scholarship. So, he gets his offer to sign and it has 1/2 academic scholarship and nothing else. No football money what so ever. Needless to say, he is not playing there and I am telling everyone to not trust what Campbellsville College tells them. They even went so far as to say that only one other player is attending/playing football at the college as cheap as he is. After two visits, one private and one game day visit, he is told he will go there almost free and he gets an offer that has him being responsible for $16,000.

 

I say that to tell you, "nothing is final until you sign the agreement".

 

But you can only attend 12 - 14 of these a season. The majority of camps are compressed into the middle two weeks of June and you have to be very careful not to over-schedule or you end up with flat camp performances. Furthermore, you need maximum exposure, especially to lower levels of football. Performing at a camp where only one program is watching you is of limited value.

 

I suspect this program will be represented at the Northwestern camp. I will get their attention and ask them to evaluate my son. If they can say with a straight face that he is top 3 candidate for the position, we will attend.

It is an expense and it is frustrating. But, it's the way the game is played. You never know what will come from that visit, but you know what will come if you do not go on the visit. They may pretty much know those other 16 are not going to play for them, or they may think they are going to play for them. You just don't know.

 

My son went on many visits and attended many camps and combines. No one knew for sure where he would end up, until he started getting offers. Then it became clearer.

 

One horror story: One school told my son he was offered a 1/2 football scholarship. Admissions awarded him a 1/2 academic scholarship. If my math is correct 1/2 + 1/2 = 1 full scholarship. So, he gets his offer to sign and it has 1/2 academic scholarship and nothing else. No football money what so ever. Needless to say, he is not playing there and I am telling everyone to not trust what Campbellsville University tells them. They even went so far as to say that only one other player is attending/playing football at the college as cheap as he is. After two visits, one private and one game day visit, he is told he will go there almost free and he gets an offer that has him being responsible for $16,000.

 

I say that to tell you, "nothing is final until you sign the agreement".

 

Similar experience with Georgetown.......

So I have this coach from a MAC school come to campus and evaluate my kid. Says he loves him and he would fit really well in their system. Says that he would really love to see my kid at their camp on their campus where only their staff would be evaluating. They have 6 scholarships to offer.

 

So I go online and I find out they already have 4 commitments on those 6 positions, and of those two remaining, they have 16 offers out. Great! Travel and camp expense so my kid can be # 17 on the prospect depth chart! I have a hard time justifying going to this camp despite the invitation.

 

Anybody have a different perspective? Thanks!

 

As DoubleDuece stated, par for the course. My son experieced the same exact thing, Was told he was #2 on their list for his postion and wanted him to come to camp so the rest of the staff could evaluate him. So we make the 6 hour drive to the D1 school in South Carolina where he CLEARLY stood out as the top prospect in the camp and it was probably the best I had ever seen him perform at any level including his State Championship game. They held him back after camp and I even thought they were going to offer but the told him thanks for coming and that they were still going to recruit him but they had other kids that were not at the camp but that they wanted to offer. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, if my son was that high on their list then why didn't they offer him at the school when they came to visit.

 

My advice is be very selective regarding camps. 75% of all offers come out of after the completion of the players Jr. year in normal cases. If a coach is coming to your school and telling you how high your son is rated but wants him to come to camp ask them why aren't they prepared to make an offer right there on the spot? It's a process filled with many lessons. Been through it will all my boys but alot of camps are pure summer money makers.

Good advice from a college coach (not football) - do not pick a school just for the sport. The reason was that on some days they would be working so hard that you hate the sport and coaches and you need something else to look forward to your day. But other reasons come into play as well. So does you son want to go to the school for reasons other than football? If so, then do not write them off. Your son may not be #17 - after all its not first in, first out. It is when will others commit, are you ready to commit, etc. etc. And even if they do fill the current spots there may be other openings that come available so as long as they are communicating and showing interest anything is possible. But, even they make the offer but then do fill the spots or they change their mind after an offer you will not usually get a notice - the communications may just stop. So as noted above nothing is done till its really done. And when things change on their end they do not go out their way to tell you.

Had a school tell my son he was their "top priority" but did not have an athletic scholarship to offer him??? I'm guessing the offers that had been accepted were really their top priorities.

It's a chess match until you get an offer, then you have to decide if you want it or not. Look at it from the coaches point of view. He offers your son a scholly and your son does not take it, if coach waits for him and he does not commit, he loses your son and Johnny from the other school.

And remember it is not just limited to Football. Pretty much goes for all sports. Heck it is one area where Title IX can say things are equal. Women's Sport coaches are just as likely to "sugar-coat" things as Men's Sport coaches.

Some good rules to remember when dealing with DI-A and DI-AA college coaches...

 

1. They are almost all lying...non-stop...constantly. They lie to coaches, kids, and each other.

 

2. Feel free to embellish when speaking with them...most of them unusually susceptible to being hoodwinked...

 

3. DON'T run a 40 for them...EVER...unless you KNOW you can clock-in well. A bad 40 will follow a player to the corners of the recruiting earth. When it comes to them wanting to know how fast you are, always, always, say, "just look at the film".

 

4. It just takes one...When it comes to offers, the first is the hardest. Get a solid first offer, and the dam is broken and the rest will come easily. Most college coaches are essentially like jealous school girls, once they see one person is dating you, they all seem to want to jump on the bandwagon.

 

5. Camps are really just ways for them to pay their GA's and low level assistants extra money...when it comes to camps, they know exactly who they want to see in person, and very few of the campers there are those kids. I should say this; camps are the most critical piece for borderline-offer guys.

 

I know this is a VERY cynical post, but the college recruiting game is a nasty mother and you've got to treat it like such. For the 98% of kids who are not the 3-5 star guys, it's a real struggle.

...and, the congregation said "Amen!"

So I have this coach from a MAC school come to campus and evaluate my kid. Says he loves him and he would fit really well in their system. Says that he would really love to see my kid at their camp on their campus where only their staff would be evaluating. They have 6 scholarships to offer.

 

So I go online and I find out they already have 4 commitments on those 6 positions, and of those two remaining, they have 16 offers out. Great! Travel and camp expense so my kid can be # 17 on the prospect depth chart! I have a hard time justifying going to this camp despite the invitation.

 

Anybody have a different perspective? Thanks!

 

If your son is interested in that SCHOOL, AND, you realistically believe that your son can play at that schools level, GO. Some schools really want to see that commitment, of coming to their camp, before offering. If your son is interested in other schools and you believe he fits at those other schools better, go to those. Be honest with yourself. I don't buy into the "Don't run the 40" or "Don't run the shuttle" because eventually they have to. Athletic scholarships are not final until you sign the letter of intent. Then, they are year to year. You have it or you don't. Be honest with your sons playing ability and select a school first, program 2nd. Just my opinion. AND yes, I have gone through it...recently. Made our mistake along the way, but the experience was a learning one to say the least. Valuable for him and me. In the long run, we learned early and it all paid off.

Just rememeber that a college coach puts his job on the performance and word of 18-21 year old kids. If you don't think that they are always preparing plan B, well then.....that's on you.

 

As far as running 40's, If you refuse to run then you are helping yourself? If you get to campus and you are not fast enough then you won't play. Pretty simple. If they want you, they offer you. It really does not mean aything till then. Its not about scholarships for me as much as it is "can I play in that system at that level."

The most important advice I have heard a college coach give a kid is, "Football is not any fun if your not playing." This was given very bluntly to kid who wanted attend a school who thought he would be better off in the long run somewhere else.

 

FROM A POST ABOVE

5. Camps are really just ways for them to pay their GA's and low level assistants extra money...when it comes to camps, they know exactly who they want to see in person, and very few of the campers there are those kids. I should say this; camps are the most critical piece for borderline-offer guys.

 

Going to camps is a good idea, especially one that gives you a personal invite to have other coaches on staff evaluate you. That means that the general interest is there.

Some good rules to remember when dealing with DI-A and DI-AA college coaches...

 

1. They are almost all lying...non-stop...constantly. They lie to coaches, kids, and each other.

 

2. Feel free to embellish when speaking with them...most of them unusually susceptible to being hoodwinked...

 

3. DON'T run a 40 for them...EVER...unless you KNOW you can clock-in well. A bad 40 will follow a player to the corners of the recruiting earth. When it comes to them wanting to know how fast you are, always, always, say, "just look at the film".

 

4. It just takes one...When it comes to offers, the first is the hardest. Get a solid first offer, and the dam is broken and the rest will come easily. Most college coaches are essentially like jealous school girls, once they see one person is dating you, they all seem to want to jump on the bandwagon.

 

5. Camps are really just ways for them to pay their GA's and low level assistants extra money...when it comes to camps, they know exactly who they want to see in person, and very few of the campers there are those kids. I should say this; camps are the most critical piece for borderline-offer guys.

 

I know this is a VERY cynical post, but the college recruiting game is a nasty mother and you've got to treat it like such. For the 98% of kids who are not the 3-5 star guys, it's a real struggle.

 

I agree with your post, but I also disagree with some of it. Camps are a great way for the coaches to see the kid in person, how he moves etc. I played with and have coached kids who get offers because they did well at camps. In the end, you either can play or not, and the EYE in the SKY don't LIE.

As someone who was lucky enough to go through the recruiting process, and someone who has seen it from a HS coaches standpoint. Pick a SCHOOL, not a coach because good chance he won't be there when you are done.

I think the most important evaulation is the player himself (and parents) on what level of college football they can play at. If some ones runs a slow 40 time,or is a 5'11 lineman they are not going DI (FBS) or D1AA (FCS). I think too many times someone is the big fish in high school and think the transitition to college will not be that bad. From the experence I had personnally, and with my son, it was HUGE. I have seen many very good high school players try to play at a level they have no chance of every getting on the field, and quickly burn out and most do not make it to the Sophmore year as a player. I could not agree more that football is not fun when you are 4th or 5th on the depth charge and never get on the field on game day. College coaches like to keep their options open so will show interest in the player, a letter cost 50 cents, and an email nothing (if they think the player can play at that level), but they are saying that to more than just one player. The other thing that I would suggest is do a little homework and see how many players did the school your son is interest in bring in last year at the position he may play in college. The player could go to another school and get a chance to play, but may get caught in a numbers game if the school brought in several players at that position the year before.