#CollegeFootballRecruits

[fitness-trending-content]

300LB HOUSTON DT HEADED TO BOULDER SOON! COLORADO FOOTBALL & COACH PRIME HOST CHIDOZIE NWANKWO!! 🏈🤩🔥 https://newsinfitness.com/300lb-houston-dt-headed-to-boulder-soon-colorado-football-coach-prime-host-chidozie-nwankwo/

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It time to get those College Stadium parking spaces ready. CurbFlip has you covered! #CurbFlip #collegefootball #collegefootballplayoff #footballcollege #collegeofthecanyonsfootball #collegefantasyfootball #collegeprepfootball #collegeofidahofootball #collegefootballsaturday #collegefootballplayoffs #collegefootballrecruiting #collegefootballamerica #collegefootballisback #collegefootballhighlights #collegefootballgameday #collegefootballpicks #collegefootballhalloffame #collegefootballnews #collegefootballseason #collegefootballsaturdays #collegefootballmemes #collegefootballchampionship #collegefootballfan #collegefootballcountdown #nfl #ncaa #nflfootball #collegesports #collegefootballplayoff #ohiostatefootball (at Mercedes-Benz Stadium) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiDLBZ-LO07/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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What a Difference A Year Makes 

2019 – What a year!  We were very busy.  We attended coaching conferences and clinics throughout the country.  We presented at college fairs and college recruiting seminars. We hosted college recruiting town halls in several cities.  Oh yeah, we also went to a lot of football games😊.

And maybe you’ve heard of this app that we created called ROUTE College Football Recruit in the app store - ROUTE ?!!! I hear it’s pretty slick: recruits and coaches in all 50 states have downloaded the tool and are using it to help them find their best fit for college football.  But I digress…  

For our final newsletter of the year, we thought it would be great to share the collective wisdom we’ve acquired through the thousands of conversations we’ve had with recruits, parents, high school and college coaches this year:  

Student/Athletes

Character matters: Coaches have stressed this again and again.

I want athletes with strong character.

I want a kid that will do the right thing even when no one is looking.

Is this recruit mature enough?

Is this person coachable? Accountable?

Academics are very important. In today’s competitive landscape, the better your grades, the more options you will have.  Don’t shoot for the minimum academic standards of your target program – exceed them.  Don’t wait till your junior or senior year to start focusing on your grades!  

Work ethic – how hard are you willing to work to achieve your goals and to help your team win? Are you willing to adapt to the regimented schedule and lifestyle of a college student-athlete: the 6 a.m. workout sessions/practices? Will you be on time to team meetings? Will you work hard in the classroom to help boost your team’s GPA?

Parents

Help your kids prepare for the “next level”.  This means teaching and helping your son to become responsible and accountable.

Acquaint yourself with the recruiting process.  Don’t wait till senior year to have a one-on-one with your high school coach.

Help and encourage your son to find his best “fit” school/program.  Ask questions.

Coaches (High School/Recruiters)

Parents/recruits are very impressed with coaches that communicate authenticity and sincerity.

Listen and pay attention to what is most important to a recruit and his family, i.e. strength of the program, academic reputation of the school.

Let the recruit and his family know where they stand as soon as possible/practical.

2020 is going to be another banner year for us:

You’ll see us at the 2020 AFCA Convention in Nashville https://www.afca.com/afca-convention/

We’ll be at the 2019 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Pasadena http://collegiate.nflpa.com/

We’re hosting a College Football Recruiting Town Hall in Pasadena on 1/18/20

You’ll probably bump into us at a local coaching clinic/seminar this winter/spring as well.  We’re going to continue talking to recruits, parents and coaches to let them know better data is here to help them make informed decisions and find the best fit for college football.  

Have a wonderful Holiday Season and Happy New Year!

The team at ROUTE Analytics

[bigmarcus3000]

DIV II Virginia Union downs DIV I Hampton 36-17 behind MorrisSep 07, 2019 HAMPTON, Va. (AP) Khalid Morris threw four touchdown passes, including three to Charles Hall, and Division II-member Virginia Union scored 22 unanswered second-half points to beat Hampton 36-17 on Saturday. Hampton's Evan Lomax missed a 35-yard first quarter field goal and Morris hit Hall on an 80-yard TD pass on the following play. Bryan Epps picked off a Deondre Francois pass, setting up Morris' 40-yard TD completion to Tabyus Taylor for a 14-0 Panthers lead. The Pirates (1-1) rallied in the second quarter, with Francois hitting Jadakis Bonds on a 49-yard TD pass and Francois scoring on a 1-yard run to make it 14-all. Lomax hit a go-ahead 32-yard field goal as time in the first half expired. Morris' 38-yard TD pass to Hall put the Panthers up 21-17 in the third quarter, then Keenen Evans dropped Shai McKenzie in the end zone for a safety and a 23-17 lead. Jefferson Souza's 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter put it out of reach and Morris hit Hall on a 44-yarder for a 33-17 lead. Morris was 7 of 21 for 199 yards passing and Hall had three catches for 152 yards. Taylor gained 165 yards on 25 carries. . . . #Collegefootball #collegefootballtour #CollegeFootballMeetsCollegeXC #CollegeFootballAmerica #collegefootballsaturday #collegefootballrecruiting #collegefootball #vaunion #CollegeFootballGoals #collegefootballisback #CollegeFootballGameday #collegefootballplayoffs #collegefootballallday #bigzach #zacherystrong #football #virginiaunion#hbcu#vuu #makingdreamscometrue #trusttheprocess #Texas #LSU #espn #whodatdjnawdy #lsu #lsufootball #lsutigers #geauxtigers #Louisiana #hornsdown https://www.instagram.com/p/B2IqinGhRON/?igshid=174izu46ekm4t

[usatoday00]

College football week 1 prediction, college football, NFL, college football... #collegefootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CollegeFootballGameday #collegefootballsaturday #collegefootballtour #collegefootballplayoffs #collegefootballallday #CollegeFootballAmerica #CollegeFootballGoals #collegefootballisback #CollegeFootballMeetsCollegeXC #collegefootballrecruiting #collegefootballuniforms

[alittlebitofnikkig]

Who you reppin!?! Get your college football fan gear on with us. . . . . . . . . #collegefootballnationalchampionship #collegefootballamerica #collegefootballcountdown #collegefootballpicks #collegefootballhalloffame #collegefootballnews #collegefootballuniforms #collegefootballedits #collegefootballsyd #collegefootballsaturdays #collegefootballstadiums #collegefootballkickoff #collegefootballgameday #collegefootballseason #collegefootballchampionship #collegefootballfan #collegefootballbets #collegefootballtour #collegefootballisback #collegefootballplayoff #prilaga #collegefootballhighlights #collegefootballplayoffs #collegefootballrecruiting #collegefootballfans #collegefootball #collegefootballsaturday #collegefootballplayer (at Southeast San Diego) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2rQ3fpH_W6/?igshid=1kf7vpv8vv9wt

[wiltake]

Podcast 5/5 I Got Five On It (cont.)

[astrategy-blog]

Look good... feel good... play good... all good @g5ive._ ・・・ D A W G ®️🐶 #highschoolfootball #highschoolsports #collegefootballrecruiting #sports #sportlife #sportzclip #sportsperformance #athlete #athletics #athleteswag #athletelife #athleticwear #athleticdevelopment #athletictraining #like4like #footwork #football #followforfollow #ncaa #cfb #highschoolsports #dowork

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Get Ready For The Ed O.B. Report! 

A Quick Convo With Wendell Smith, coo + co-founder, and the newest member of the ROUTE Team, Ed O'Brien

[Wendell]  Ed, we’re excited to have you join our organization!  Can you give us a snapshot of your experience as a sportswriter and analyst in the high school recruiting space over the past 13 years? 

[Ed]  I have to tell you that this is the most excited I've been as I’m heading into my 13th year of covering high school football and third year of covering a Power 5 college football team. The opportunity to join the ROUTE team was something I couldn't let go past me and I look forward to being a part of something that's going to revolutionize the recruiting game. I started covering high school football in Pennsylvania in 2006 on Pennlive.com. I started off by just creating game highlights and that involved me getting my own high school sports blog on Pennlive.com. In 2015, I moved on to work with Rivals.com, covering Pennsylvania high school football. In 2017, I moved on from Rivals to Scout.com. Scout.com was bought out by 247Sports in early 2018 and I've been with them ever since. I covered Penn State football for Scout in 2017 and began covering Pitt football and basketball in 2018. I still cover both sports for Pitt on the 247Sports network and high school football.

[Wendell] Since coming on board we’ve launched The Ed O.B. Report.  What should your audience expect to see in this new outlet? 

[Ed]  The Ed O.B. Report will feature a lot of me spotlighting high school football athletes across America. I will be providing in-depth player evaluations on athletes I've seen during the off-season and during the season. I will also be on the road covering football games and providing detailed post-game reports (top players of the game, top plays of the game, etc). And of course, I'll have to chime in with my thoughts on college football during the season. I also plan to include The Go ROUTE Podcast at the start of September. So, in all, it'll be a mix of everything.

Check out The Ed O.B. Report 

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Bayou Baller!

Winner of #MYROUTE Campaign - Troy Bradley, Senior CB at Parkway High School, Bossier City, LA

Interview by ROUTE marketing intern, Samantha Mansfield 

[ROUTE] Troy, congrats on winning our hashtag campaign. Let’s begin with your position and where you attend school.

[Troy] My name is Troy Bradley, I’m a 5′9″ cornerback at Parkway High School in Bossier City, LA. I’m a senior this year. 

[ROUTE] How long have you been playing football?  Do you play any other sports or is football your primary sport? 

[Troy] I’ve been playing for 2 years. I love all sports but football is my main sport.

[ROUTE] Who are some athletes that inspire you or that you’d consider role models?

[Troy] A couple of athletes who inspire me are Morris Claiborne (because he’s from Louisiana) and Marshawn Lynch. 

[ROUTE] Are you thinking about playing football in college? Where do you aspire to play? 

[Troy] Yes!  I want to play at the next level. My dream is to play at LSU but I’m open to wherever I have an opportunity. The ROUTE app has shown me my probability to make rosters at other programs like Texas A&M, Baylor and Texas Tech. 

[ROUTE] What is the most important thing you’re looking for in a college program? 

[Troy] The most important I’m looking for is a team program that will help me grow and reach my full potential as a student athlete. 

[ROUTE] What do you want to major in? What profession do you plan to pursue? 

[Troy] I’m not completely sure what I want to major in but I’m very interested in coaching football at the high school level.   

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Keep Reaching For Your Dreams: The Road to a Super Bowl

by Tyler White, ROUTE Analytics Intern

Obafemi Ayanbadejo is a former NFL running back, fullback and special teams player with the Baltimore Ravens. Signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 1997, he spent 11 years in the league and won a Super Bowl Championship with the Baltimore Ravens along the way. 

[ROUTE] At what point in your high school career did you realize you could play football at the next level?

[Femi] Let’s go back a little bit. I was a 3-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball and basketball) and football wasn’t even the sport that I really cared about. To be honest, other than one year of Pop Warner and flag football, I didn’t even start playing football until my sophomore year of high school. If I thought I was going to get a scholarship in any sport – I thought it was going to be baseball. At no point in my high school career did I think I was going to get a football scholarship...and at no point did I think I was going to be a pro football player! I grew up in California dreaming of playing baseball at UC Santa Barbara, Cal Berkeley or Stanford. That was my goal. Football was never on my radar beyond high school – that’s the truth.

[ROUTE]  You played Division I football at San Diego State, but you took a detour through Cabrillo Community College. What led to you to Cabrillo?

[Femi] I was 16 years old as a senior. After graduating high school, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, so I decided to take a year off and did two things: got a job in the kitchen of a retirement home working as a busboy and a waiter – and a Golds Gym membership in Santa Cruz. Every morning, I would take the bus to the retirement home and I’d work from 6am-2pm. Then I’d walk to the gym and lift weights for an hour and a half, then I’d go home. I had this routine for well over a year. I made some money and then I eventually went to school at Cabrillo College where I played both football and baseball.

“I didn’t start at the beginning of my freshman year and I was barely even playing.”

There was a lot of work in-between Cabrillo and San Diego State University (SDSU). No one even knew who I was – I had to play two years of junior college football. I didn’t start at the beginning of my freshman year and I was barely even playing. My coach really didn’t trust me until 4-5 games into the season. I was playing running back in high school, but at Cabrillo I was playing a combination of running back, fullback, and tight end. It was an adjustment for me. But once I studied, digested the playbook and the offense, the coach started to trust me. The second half of my freshman year, I went on a tear.

By the end of my freshman year, I was getting recruited by schools like Kansas, New Mexico and Louisville. I also played baseball in the spring and had a killer freshman year. I got drafted by the Marlins.

The big question I had to ask myself was: do I stick to baseball or keep playing football? I decided to return for my sophomore year, where I made first team all-conference and led my team in touchdowns. After my fall sophomore semester, I didn’t go back to play baseball in the spring. SDSU offered me a scholarship to play football and I accepted. I always wanted to be an Aztec. It always had that shine and glow to it, so that had a lot to do with it. 

Unfortunately, I got injured half way through the season during my junior year at SDSU. I came back for my senior year and started at tight end. I won most improved player that season. I was very proud of that award. After all the work and effort I put into improving myself and coming back from my injury, the recognition from my teammates and coaches was awesome.

[ROUTE] So, you almost played professional baseball? 

[Femi]  After I finished my senior season of football, I was encouraged to play baseball at SDSU by the (baseball) coach. When I went out, there were a bunch of scouts from teams like the Phillies and the Giants. They saw I was a big kid, played football, could hit the ball, and could run. They were like, “Man! Who’s this kid?” I hit a couple home runs and they saw my arm in the outfield. Based on my initial tryout, they were thinking of drafting me as a “project”.  Not too long after that, my football coach called to tell me that he was getting inquiries about me from NFL coaches and asked me to come for Pro Day. So, I left the baseball team and thought if someone picks me up or drafts me, I’ll play in the NFL! If not, I’ll just go back and play baseball.

During Pro Day, I ran a 4.5 40-yard dash; smashed 225 (bench press); and had a great vertical! I ran routes and caught a bunch of balls from the running back and tight end positions. But after all of that, I still didn’t get drafted and only received one call from the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent.

“I knew how important it was to get a degree and I was so close. I wasn’t going to let anything get in my way.”

[ROUTE] How important was it to have a college degree and be prepared for life after sports?

[Femi] After leaving SDSU, I had a semester’s worth of classes to complete because I changed my major to psychology. From 1998 to 2001, I went back to school during my off-season time. I took classes and worked out on campus to get my degree four years into my NFL career. I knew how important it was to get a degree and I was so close. I wasn’t going to let anything get in my way.

[ROUTE] After your career as a pro athlete, you decided to become an entrepreneur. What are you working on?

[Femi] After I retired, I went back to San Diego to open a training facility. I wanted to help people become healthier and to be more mindful about their fitness and wellness decisions. I ended up selling that business and decided to return to Baltimore where my kids lived (and where I’d played with the Ravens).

I had a large network in Maryland and decided to get my MBA at Johns Hopkins. My passion was health, wellness and fitness as well as tech. I was intrigued about how artificial intelligence was taking over the fitness world. So, I’ve created a company called HealthReel. Our first app helps users stay active and make good decisions regarding their health by focusing on caloric information, metabolic data, body composition and disease risk. 

“There are no shortcuts. Not in sports, not in business, not anywhere. If you aren’t willing to grind, you’re just talking.”

[ROUTE] If you could share one piece of advice for aspiring college football recruits, what would that be?

[Femi]  There are no shortcuts. Don’t think that just because you are the best on your team, that you will just end up at a Florida State or Michigan or Georgia. You have to be willing to grind and put in the work. And just because you don’t end up there right out of high school, doesn’t mean that going to a JC or a lower tier school to start is a bad idea. My brother started off at a JC and ended up at UCLA and eventually played 10 seasons in the NFL. I started off in JC and played 11 seasons the NFL and won a Super Bowl. 

A lot of kids have this idea on where they are going to play, but aren’t willing to get down in the dirt. They want to take a shortcut. There are no shortcuts. Not in sports, not in business, not anywhere. If you aren’t willing to grind, you’re just talking. There are so many different routes you can take, you just have to stay the course and not let anyone determine your worth. If you want to whine, complain, and moan – then you’re not ready. You will run into someone who’s not as talented as you are, but is willing to give 100% and is never going to quit. They just put their head down and grind. That’s how you get to D1 and the next level.

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RaVon Davis: THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE

ROUTE talks with RaVon about his journey from Uncommitted Senior to JUCO to Walk-on to Scholarship.  

RaVon Davis now trying to earn his way onto a NFL roster. 

[RaVon]: My process started a little late. In high school I had interest from a few college programs – Temple, Towson and Coastal Carolina.  None of them worked out. I had the talent, but I didn’t get a lot of solid offers because my grades were not good early in my high school career.  In fact, I wasn’t eligible to play during the 10th grade.

After considering all of my options, I decided to pursue the Junior College (JUCO) path. I began that process right before graduating from high school.

I went to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.  It was tough for me at first. I was homesick and I was redshirted my first year.  I played my second year and thought that I did ok.  

However, after completing my second year, I still didn’t have much interest or offers that were right for me.  I was speaking with recruiters from University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB was starting their program again after a 2-year hiatus) and Delta State but neither opportunity worked out for me.

I decided to return home to pursue an option that I knew was going to be very difficult: walk on University of Maryland.

“...the walk-on football player is treated very differently from the scholarship players.”

The walk on process was very tough at Maryland.  Even if you make the team, the walk-on football player is treated very differently from the scholarship players.  You don’t get the same level of support that scholarship players do: tutors; training; access to other resources. [Editor’s note: Every collegiate program is different, therefore the walk-on experience may be different. Please research and ask questions of current/former players, parents, and coaches.]

I began the process the spring of 2016.  The coaches were pretty tough on me at first.  However, after spring and summer work outs I received a scholarship during the last practice of summer camp.  I started as cornerback the first game of the season!

My first season at Maryland was challenging.  I was competing with another player for the nickle corner position. It was very competitive, but I ended the season securing the starting position.

The next year I had a set-back: I dislocated my ankle during spring practice.  I spent a lot of time rehabbing and training.  But when you’re injured, your position is not guaranteed… it’s “next man up”. I returned from my injury that following summer and was able to compete for and win a starting position in the secondary again.  

I played my second season and was able to graduate this past spring with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Science.

“But keeping my head up and always carrying a chip on my shoulder helped me to stay grounded and focused.”

Currently, I’m in Florida training for pro day.  I’m trying to earn my way onto a NFL roster!  There are many players in the league that were not drafted so I have a lot of motivation.

My advice to college football prospects is to stay focused on your path. Success didn’t come easy for me. But keeping my head up and always carrying a chip on my shoulder helped me to stay grounded and focused.  

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A Dream Without a Plan is Just a Wish

By Wendell Smith, ROUTE co-founder + coo

As National Signing Day approaches, if your dream is to put on a baseball cap and sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) from your dream school on February 6, you’re either stoked right now or there’s a good chance you are now facing the possible reality of your dream not coming true. Guess what? You’re not alone. But, ask yourself was it a dream or a wish? Did you have actually have a Plan A? If so, do you have a Plan B?

“A Dream Without a Plan is Just a Wish” Katherine Paterson

No FBS offers on the table?  Did you consider any FCS programs?

Only DII schools have shown interest and offered you?  Do you only want to play DI (FBS or FCS) or not at all?

How are your grades? DIII’s don’t give athletic scholarships, but they do provide merit (academic) or need-based awards. Afterall, a scholarship is simply financial aid. Does it really matter what they call it? [By the way DI Ivy-League programs don’t offer athletic or merit-based financial aid (only needs-based). Why? Because everybody that is eligible for admission to an Ivy has excellent grades.]

Did you consider NAIA? NAIA schools have money!

You may need (or want) to go the Junior College (JUCO) or community college route (they have money too!). There is a TON of DI talent playing at the JUCO level. Consider it a “pitstop” or even a “launch pad” to DI.

Actually following my own advice: My son is a graduating senior and football player and one of his dreams is to play in college. He is not likely to get the offer he wants on February 6, so we’re executing on Plans B, C and D:

We just returned from an overnight visit at a DIII college program.

We emailed EIGHT FCS and DII coaches last night with his transcript; most recent report card; SAT scores and HUDL link.

We’re leaving tomorrow for another overnight visit at another DIII college program.

If we don’t get any attractive offers by the time we need to decide on a college, he is going to go the ‘walk-on’ route.  

Whatever your dream  – DO NOT QUIT!  The only way to make a dream come true is to execute on a plan (A, B, C or…). If you still WANT to play football at the next level, it’s likely that you can find the right fit for your skillset and make your dream a reality (even after February 6)!  Opportunities and offers don’t come by accident.

“Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit”   Vince Lombardi

If you didn’t get recruited to the college football program of your dreams during the early signing period, and it still doesn’t happen for you by February 6, here are some things you need to know:

DI schools can still sign players up to April 1. (February 6 is just the START of the regular signing period, NOT the end)

DII programs can still sign players up to August 1.  

Because DIII schools don’t give athletic scholarships, they don’t sign NLIs, but they continue to recruit players throughout the year.  Same for NAIA.

JUCOs (NJCAA) signing period is February 6 and generally aligns with the NCAA (FYI…mid-year transfer period ends mid-January). Note: If you sign a NLI with a JUCO, you are unrecruitable by another NJCAA member until mid-June.

With over 90,000 roster positions at colleges all over the country, it’s likely that the motivated, adaptable recruit can and will find the right fit!  So, choose your path and plan your dream!

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Recruits: Get into “Ship Shape”

Coach Anthony Johnson is the running backs coach and the recruiting coordinator for the Shippensburg University Red Raiders. Previously, he was the offensive coordinator and director of football operations at his alma mater, Salisbury University. Prior to that Johnson served as assistant coach at DI Central Connecticut State University in 2016, where he coached the running backs and kick returners. Johnson also spent five years at Cheyney University. He was the head coach of the Wolves in 2014 after serving as an offensive coordinator the previous four seasons.

ship·shape/ˈSHipˌSHāp/

adjective

ship-shape

in good order; trim and neat.

[ROUTE]: In your career, you've spent a lot of time speaking with recruits and their families.  What are some changes you're seeing in the recruiting process for student-athletes of all skill levels? 

[Anthony Johnson]: We can communicate with student-athletes more than we could before.  Between technological advances like cell phones and texting and the use of social media, we have greater access to recruits, and they have greater access and ways to reach and connect with recruiters.  It wasn’t like this before… in some ways there are less restrictions around communication.  On the other hand, I find the mind set of recruits and their families have not changed much.  They are still not educated enough about the recruiting process.  Many of the student-athletes and parents that I interact with have unrealistic expectations about the process.  In a way, I think that because there is greater access on both sides of the equation, recruits feel like they should get offers more easily. It simply doesn’t work that way.

“Recruits and their families must consider more than football when making this decision.”

[ROUTE]: Can you share some thoughts on the importance of recruits finding the best fit for a collegiate football program as opposed to the most popular options for them? 

[Anthony Johnson]: This is my 14th season recruiting.  I’ve always advised recruits to choose a program where you will be happy spending four years at the school.  Make sure that you’re coming to the program because you also like the school. I’ve had kids tell me that they like a program because of the mascot, school colors, stadium, etc.  My response is that all those external trappings are nice, but if you are not dialed into the school it’s not likely to be a good fit for you.  I’ve worked with many kids that have transferred from a D1 to D2 or D3 program and most say the same thing to me: “Coach, that school didn’t feel like home to me”. They loved the name and prestige of the program but didn’t like the culture, didn’t like the dorms, etc.  Recruits and their families must consider more than football when making this decision.

“A recruit that is waiting on grades from the last quarter to make him eligible is a big red flag.”

[ROUTE]: What are the top three attributes you think that recruits need to have in order to be competitive in the recruiting process in any program?

[Anthony Johnson]: Character: I want to recruit good kids. I define that as a recruit that has a good head on his shoulders; someone who is honest and operates with integrity. I appreciate when a recruit tells me that he’s considering offers from other programs – obviously, I understand that is part of the process so lying or trying to mislead a recruiter doesn’t make much sense.

Education/Grades: I tell kids all the time that the academic minimum is not the requirement. A recruit that is waiting on grades from the last quarter to make him eligible is a big red flag.  This is related to the character issue – are you willing to work hard enough to play football? This includes keeping up your GPA, staying out of trouble, etc.  

Film: Not much to elaborate on here.  I look for kids that have the skills and can play football.

“These messages create the impression that everyone is getting an offer.”

[ROUTE]: Do you see technology playing a role in helping recruits become more educated about the process and make better decisions? As a recruiter, do you see technology making your job easier/more efficient? 

[Anthony Johnson]: I don’t think technology is helping our kids become more educated about the process.  I maintain that many student-athletes have a false sense of reality.  We all see the same messages on Twitter and other social media platforms: “I’ve been blessed to get an offer”.  These messages create the impression that everyone is getting an offer. It’s clear to me that parents are not more educated about the process. I can argue that because technology has given us greater access to social media and other platforms, it has made the process worse for many recruits by thinking that everyone is getting and deserves an offer. And when the process doesn’t go the way that recruits and their families imagined it would, it can make a kid feel that they’re not good enough.

On the other hand, I would say that technology has made my job easier.  I can reach out and communicate with a recruit in many ways: Twitter, Hudl, Instagram, etc.  To be honest, we may not need recruiting services.  

I’ll also add that access to social media platforms can also hurt a kid as well because I can see all his activity on social media. And if there is a disconnect between what that recruit presents to me when I meet him and what I view on his social media channels, that can be an area of concern.

I want to say that recruits need to decide what are you looking for in a program? Do you want to play competitive football in a good conference? Do you want to be no more than two hours away from home? Is the dorm and food on campus important to you? There are many considerations outside of football and recruits and their families need to be mindful of them.

[bigmarcus3000]

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