My first question is what have the players done to get noticed by college coaches. How many letters, texts or camp invites have they received? If not a lot they need more exposure. But, I totally agree with CoachJ post. Remember there are roughly 20 seniors for every freshman position in football. Don’t get locked on D1 only. I would make a list of schools you like at every level from D1-NAIA. Break your list into two sections per level (list 3-5 schools you think you can honestly play at and 3-5 schools you would like to play at). Then start emailing those coaches!!

 

Remember NAIA is equal to many D2 schools in relation to talent. The kids getting offers right now have great measurable, are fast and in most cases have great game film. Majority were also starters as sophomores and juniors. Don't worry about getting stars on rivals or scout..most college coaches will tell you they don't really spend much time on those sites. There are many things that lead to an offer. First, they have to have a need at your position. Second, you have to have the measurables to get your foot in the door, have great game tape and lastly (But just as important) have good grades. Don’t be afraid to ask the coach calling you some questions.

 

1. What position are you recruiting me to play?

2. How many players are you recruiting at my position?

3. Where do I rank on your recruiting board?

4. Have you evaluated my film?

5. What is the next step in the recruiting process?

 

Lay out your camp schedule. Hit camps you have received invites to..try to stay away from camps where the coaches don’t know you. Generally its hard to get noticed at camps with 300 other players. If you do go to a camp send the recruiting coach an email letting him know you are attending. Remember most coaches at camps are focused on the players they have invited and are potential recruits.

 

The bottom line you have to be aggressive. Have third party verification (NUC,Nike Sparq or FBU) of your measurables. Have someone (Coach preferably) review your highlight tape to make sure it shows your fundamentals (foot work, speed, blocking, tackling and athleticism).

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".

 

This does not shocked me, but I would guess a lot comes down to the type of coach you are dealing with. My son was recruited by another team in the same conference but different sport. 1/2 academic scholarship and 1/2 athletic scholarship. Me and my wife where pleased when the collage bill came in the mail and all we paid was just for the text books. Everything else was covered.

Just came back from the OSU camp. The camp staff segregated campers into an elite group that they felt merited evaluation, and everybody else, who basically just got a workout. My kid went 11-0 in one on ones and got no recognition or exposure. I'm getting ready to go Postal!

Just came back from the OSU camp. The camp staff segregated campers into an elite group that they felt merited evaluation, and everybody else, who basically just got a workout. My kid went 11-0 in one on ones and got no recognition or exposure. I'm getting ready to go Postal!

 

There is an answer and you probably aren't going to like it.

Go for it! Remember though, this kid has been ranked by both Rivals and Nike, been 1st team NKAC twice, District first team twice and on Tristatesports top 10 watch list for all of the tristate.

There is an answer and you probably aren't going to like it.

 

The real answer is even simpler than what you are thinking. Its called "baby face" and, probably physique too. Yet, he holds the school records for both power clean and bench.

What's his Height, Weight, 40? Vertical? Broad? Like Old Bird said there's probably a reason...Alot of kids have the tools to play D1, but some kids have a wrench on hand, when a hammer is needed.

What's his Height, Weight, 40? Vertical? Broad? Like Old Bird said there's probably a reason...Alot of kids have the tools to play D1, but some kids have a wrench on hand, when a hammer is needed.

 

6' 5" (and still growing) 310 5.6 IDK 10.5 ft. More importantly for his position, a 4.8 shuttle. The measurables argument was valid a year ago, not any more.

What's his Height, Weight, 40? Vertical? Broad? Like Old Bird said there's probably a reason...Alot of kids have the tools to play D1, but some kids have a wrench on hand, when a hammer is needed.

 

The measurable that is killing him : 16 years old!

I'd say the 5.6 40 and the 4.8 shuttle. Neither are great numbers, even at 310. They probably feel that he doesn't project to be athletic enough to play big. And no one cares where anyone ranks in NKY. They just don't.

Age shouldn't be a hinderance, if anything, coaches would be salivating at a 16/17 year old because they love UPSIDE. Is this mentioned with any of the coaches you talked to? If he has a broad jump of 10.5ft at 6'5 310, he would of topped the NFL combine for OL/DL. I kind of find that hard to believe for a high schooler though.

Age shouldn't be a hinderance, if anything, coaches would be salivating at a 16/17 year old because they love UPSIDE. Is this mentioned with any of the coaches you talked to? If he has a broad jump of 10.5ft at 6'5 310, he would of topped the NFL combine for OL/DL. I kind of find that hard to believe for a high schooler though.

 

Thats triple jump.

I'd say the 5.6 40 and the 4.8 shuttle. Neither are great numbers, even at 310. They probably feel that he doesn't project to be athletic enough to play big. And no one cares where anyone ranks in NKY. They just don't.

 

You sure about that? A shuttle under 5 is considered a benchmark for OL. The Nike ranking is Ohio.

Rule of thumb is that your 40 time projects .3 to .4 above your shuttle. With such a wide range they may think the 40 time is more indicative of his ability than the shuttle. Those elite big guys that are running 40's in the low 5's and high 4's are going to have better shuttles. It's an inexact science, but that's the way it is.

 

I hope he doesn't get discouraged, but I'd shoot mid-major and prove everyone wrong. Good OL guys come from all levels. It usually just takes one scholarship offer to get the ball rolling.

I say the simple fact is, they knew who was going in the evaluation group before you showed up. I've seen that happen several times, they took the players they knew and threw everyone else in the "workout" group.