Recruiting 101 Trying to Make Sense of the Process Recruiting 101
What is Available? 795 Colleges and Universities play football in US 1.2 million High School football players in around 14,000 High School programs
School Breakdown Divisions Players $/Team Schools Div. 1 13,758 85 120 FCS/1AA 11,900 63 119 Div. II 15,764 36 154 Div. III 22,813 0 239 NAIA 9,200 24 92 JC 7,100 85 71
What Are They Looking For? Division I Size/Speed/Grades Example: Alabama Roster Averages OL DL LB RB 6 4 302 6 4 298 6 2 240 6 0 218 DB QB WR TE 5 11 190 6 2 200 6 1 188 6 4 245
Football Bowl Series They will recruit their needs What do they have returning? Who got hurt in the Spring? SEC Big Ten Local talent first then go out of state Ball State Notre Dame Indiana Purdue
Football Championship Series Size/Speed/Grades some will have speed to compete but maybe not as big Size but maybe not as fast Split their scholarships package players Local Teams: Indiana State Butler and Valparaiso Division 1 Non Scholarship
Division II Size and Speed are still important Grades become more important many are private schools Package Players Grants/Academic/Athletic University of Indianapolis St. Joseph College
Division III Non Scholarship Grades are very important Merit based money Most are private schools Academic money plus Grants, loans, need based money Wabash, Hanover, Depauw, etc.
NAIA Not governed by the NCAA Athletic Money, grants, need based money and loans Limited number of scholarships usually broken up Marian University St. Francis University in Ft. Wayne IN
Junior College NCAA regulated Full Scholarships available Division I athletes not eligible Two year schools and then recruited again to Division I schools may commit after one year No football playing Junior Colleges in Indiana Joliet and a few in Michigan
Recruiting Funnel Division I School Recruiting Process Recruiting Letters 10,000 20,000 Film 1,000 2,000 Phone Calls 500 Verbal Offers 65 200 Signed Players 25
Where Can I Play? Go online and check out the roster Do I match their height/weight of the players at my position? Google the highlight films of the players on the roster Do I play at the same speed? Be REALISTIC
How do I help myself? Be Proactive Create a one page resume send to school with link to highlight film Height/Weight Speed Grades Why you want to play college football Short and sweet do not have time to read too much Do not lie!!!!!! George O Leary
Highlight Films Do not put a speed down No Music!!!! Best 5 plays first! Circle yourself unless you are a QB No instant replays No slo mo No more than 4 minutes Add your best game so they can watch you play a whole game
Highlight Films Good and Bad Film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0qoyhehe_4 Bad Film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjwli_na0u Good Film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypjgxarjxy
Combines Money Maker Question: What do YOU get for your money? 40 Time/Height Weight/Bench/Agility time Accurate? Do Colleges pay attention to them? Invite you back pay more money to go?
Recruiting Services Make you a highlight film Send it all over US You can make your own film Hudl I can send anywhere you want Do you really want to go to Northeastern Arizona State University? WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY?
College One Day Camps Tryouts auditions Go to big camps with the most exposure Plus lots of coaches Negative lots of kids Bottom line: big schools want to watch you move then offer or move on Watch you interact as well all filmed Spend a lot money and time choose wisely
What Should I do? Time Frame Freshmen GRADES!!!! Play ball/lift Sophomore if you play varsity create highlight film Create resume/cover letter send it out Shot gun effect some big/some middle/some small Realize location (SEC and Indiana example) GRADES!!!!
Time Frame Junior Play well send film out/grades Big Schools offer in January April prior to senior season Big Schools will be done by summer BSU/ISU etc. little slower but may offer D2/D3/NAIA just beginning see what has trickled down
Academics Eligibility Center www.eligibilitycenter.org New Rules www.ncaa.org Find sliding scale for grades/test scores New for incoming freshmen class ACT/SAT spring of junior year Not all grade count: Theology/PE/Art/Music, business and Band
Time Frame Senior GRADES Not offered by Big Ten probably not going to happen D2 offers in fall with college visits in January D3 college visits in January/February financial aid packages based on FAFSA forms March D2 and D3 decision time Walk ons Preferred v. regular
Coach s Role Create list of juniors Height/Weight/Academics contact information Coach will recommend based on universities requirements Distribute to as many coaches that come to building or send an email Somewhere between 40 50 schools
Coach s Role #1 Coach cannot get your player a scholarship Recommend based on requirements of the university HT/WT/Speed/Grades etc. D1 usually takes care of itself they will decide if you can play or not Trueblood example D2/D3 coach s job to help sell these kids
Coach s Role The College coach s mortgage payment is based on whether he can see talent They will do their homework Borderline tweeners Three things I will vouch for: 1 Academics 2 Work Ethic 3 Character
Parent Questions What does the scholarship pay for? How long is the scholarship for? What kind of academic support do you give the players? Where is my son on your recruiting board? What is the time commitment for football versus academics?
Bottom Line Be Proactive Recruit the school you want to go to *Schools cannot call you back but you may call them as many times as you wish visit too! Find a school where you will be comfortable if football goes away
Questions?? Thank You