Kids fall through the cracks for whatever reason, whether it be grades, school size, exposure, playing in a system that doesn't showcase their talents, late bloomers, etc.

 

LaDanian Tomlinson was 2nd Team High School All-State in Texas and didn't get alot of interest outside of Texas Christian University. We all see how it's working out for him now though.

There is a lot of good info above. IMO it really starts with your son's head coach. Got to have the support of your coach. Got to go visit camps starting at the end of your sophmore year. Hopefully your coach is scheduling good teams to play. Can't and will not help your case. Even in a loss to a good team is better than a win over a cupcake. Scouts will come to games to see players but often times see another one there. Hopefully your coach has given truthful advice in the past about kids. If your team has sent kids to a certian school and everything worked out about them then this school will return to see another player a coach recomends. Scouts talk and coaches do as well so keep the play on the field. If you are a difficult parent then soon everyone will know. Last a certianly not least get film footage together. Good games and aginst good competition. Camp footage and stats. My son had all the above. He missed out on a few acolades but he's in college on scholarship and a few of those kids have quit. There is a few scouting agent programs and I would consider one of them if you feel like you haven't had any response. Be ready, a talent scout will be honest with you about how hard and how talented your kid really is.

My son was a 4 year starter for a D 1 school. He would not have been noticed without a lot of work on my part sending out films and stats to schools and then following up with phone calls to those who expressed interest. The coaches help some but don't count on them alone. He played for a played for a 2 A school and did not get much exposure.

 

Welcome to the site Justthefacts. Visit the new members forum and keep posting away. :dancingpa

HENRY521, Look at my previous post, e-mail if you have questions.

 

I have never answered any quotes on the forum, I am a novice of how to reply, but I do appreciate this good information on this subject. I would like to email fballman007 to get more information. I have a son who I would like to get exposure, and I don't know where to start untll reading this subject. How do I get in touch with fballman007. I appreciate any help.

I don't believe this to be true after speaking to more than a few coaches.

On the D-1 level I do find it to be more of a fact.

You cannot leave the marketing to the College Coaches. It takes work to get noticed with an investment of time and money. You need to be realistic in your search and try to fit the talent of the kid to the school. You must keep communication lines open. Although the coaches are bound by certain guidelines as to when they can talk to a player, the player can contact coaches at ANY time. You need to be proactive.

Here's the thing, if you are an exceptional talent you will be found. There are large amounts of money available to the BCS level schools.

 

Now there is over 350 other schools w/ athletic scholarships available at the I-AA/II level. These schools don't have the budgets to find talent like the BCS level schools, not even close.

 

The biggest void for players in the Commonwealth is Division II scholarships offered. Lacking a traditional D-II program in the Commonwealth really hurts the awareness of what D-II is about (granted KY Weslalyn [non-scholarship] and Kentucky State [scholarships available, but it's positioning as a traditional black school may limit the attention it receives to the public at large, which is a shame]). Bordering states are littered w/ D-II Programs (WV, OH, IN).

 

Being an ex-D-II player and now doing business w/ the full spectrum of collegiate athletic programs (from large D-I schools to the smallest of D-III schools), these schools do welcome the help and need it. Every dollar these schools have is at a premium and the reason they aren't contacting players in KY is that they don't have strong networks for recruiting here, and establishing those networks in expensive to establish on their budgets.

 

As for D-III programs and NAIA, the same applies. KY has more of these schools that actively recruit here due to geography and established networks. That being said, they still lack monies needed to find players and all the help they can get isn't wasted at all.

I disagree. I know of a Kid in 06 that was 2nd team all-state. Got ZERO offers in D1 or 2. A very few in III.

 

Happens all the time. Size and speed are whar counts in D1. How many 1st teamers fom 07 are not playing at D1 schools?

A players talent on the field, is not enough to get the attention of a wide range of schools, he should consider. If you live in an area, which have Colleges/Universities (Lexington or Louisville), then the "opportunity" to be evaluated, is certainly greater than areas which require 2-3hrs drives for some staffs.

 

Coaches can be in attendance, watching player "A" and see player "B", then decide to follow him or invite, to attend a combine/showcase. They will want to see you in person, in a more detailed observation setting, before making any decision.

 

Initially, videos and letters to the right member of the coaching staff, certainly get looked at and observed. The timing of these is critical and during the season, College Coaching staffs are extremely busy with their own daily evaluation and film breakdown.

 

I promote a lot of players, to various colleges but also encourage parents/players, to do their own research for colleges they might be interested in. Don't limit yourself, to all one level of play. Many factors will go into the final decision, like total cost, location, playing time, academics and style of play. Choose the school, which best fits the majority of your needs.

If the kid can play ,they will find him.Very few have not been discovered.

It's like anything else in life if you want it you have to go out and get it. You HAVE to go to combines. You HAVE to send film out. Plain and simple.

This has to be the best thread I've ever started, lol.

 

Great info being passed around!

 

Keep the opinions coming guys!

124 votes and its split right down the middle.

124 votes and its split right down the middle.

 

I think a lot of people aren't voting on the right criteria though 98.

 

As I read it, your question was a simple yes or no question. Must a player move (transfer) to a larger area to be noticed by college coaches ?

Something about the urban markets....

 

There is a great opportunity to get overlooked in the urban markets due to media coverage. For example there is one newspaper in Louisville, they cover the Louisville area which probably includes around 30 or so teams. The media can't focus on any teams as much as local paper can in a two or three team town. I look at Manual who has for years been under the shadow of the big three and see players like Travis Prentice who set the NCAA TD record at Miami Ohio not get better look or Keenan Burton who doesn't even get a scholarship offer from his hometown school. From other teams like Western where George Bussey had to walk on at UofL.

 

From Phil Steele's guide it shows that 6 of the top 23 NFL draft picks were not highly touted recruits out of high school. I think that many great players slip through the cracks mostly because scouting is not as as like to believe. Someone once made a really great point in that the NFL hire the best scouts money can buy and review players with a fine tooth comb, yet it so often happens that undrafted free agents amount to more players than rounds 2 through 7 combined. Scouting is not often what we give it credit for and they miss a lot of players.