Recruiting 101Trying 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. 113,758 85 120• FCS/1AA 11,900 63 119• Div. II15,764 36 154• Div. III 22,813 0 239• NAIA 9,200 24 92• JC 7,100 85 71

What Are They Looking For?

Division ISize/Speed/GradesExample: Alabama Roster Averages

OL DL LB RB6-4 302 6-4 298 6-2 240 6-0 218 DB QB WR TE5-11 190 6-2 200 6-1 188 6-4 245

Division IThey will recruit their needsWhat do they have returning?Who got hurt in the Spring?SEC – Big Ten

Local talent first then go out of state

Ball State Notre DameIndiana 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 ProcessRecruiting Letters 10,000-20,000Film 1,000-2,000Phone Calls 500Verbal Offers 65-200Signed 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 downNo Music!!!!Best 5 plays first!Circle yourself – unless you are a QBNo instant replaysNo slo-moNo more than 4 minutesAdd 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 timeAccurate?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 USYou can make your own film – HudlI can send anywhere you wantDo 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 kidsBottom line: big schools want to watch you move – then offer or move onWatch you interact as well – all filmedSpend 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/GRADESBig Schools – offer in January – April prior to senior seasonBig Schools will be done by summerBSU/ISU etc. – little slower but may offerD2/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 – GRADESNot offered by Big Ten – probably not going to happenD2 offers in fall with college visits in JanuaryD3 – college visits in January/February – financial aid packages based on FAFSA formsMarch – D2 and D3 decision timeWalk-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 ProactiveRecruit 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

Thank You

• Questions??