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I have mentioned before that I love college football and so today was a big day.  National football signing day.  Took up a bit of my time as I watched what players were going to some of my favorite schools.

 

I also watched at least one press conference and listened to the coach describe what he looks for...I thought it was very relevant to baseball recruiting and this forum.

 

Here are some....

 

* Doesn't want anyone else picking his team for him (i.e. ranking services in this case).  Said he or his staff has to see the player in action.  A ranking can draw you to a player, but they still gotta evaluate themselves.  And they DO evaluate players not ranked so high.

* Said he and his staff know how to evaluate across geographical boundaries...that is compare one player to a similar player from a different state or region

* Wants to get to know the players AND their families.  They talk to HS coaches and counselors and principals, they want to know how the kid is around school every day...they want to know that the kid has a good support system around them and that problems (if they arise) can be overcome.

* Tries to figure out if the kid is a 'combine player' or one that is competitive in a team framework.  Said a lot of players look great on paper with measurables, but they want to see and know how the kid will do on a football field with teammates around them.

* Grades...academics...grades.  Does not want to find the best player in the world who won't (or can't) get the academic work completed...and here's the important part...for 4-5 years.  They invest, they want a player they can develop and still have after more than 1 or 2 years.

* JUCO players are recruited to fill a void or need on the team.  A JUCO player is recruited with the expectation that they can contribute right away.

* Can the kid handle this full time job...called college athletics?  And he reiterated that it IS a job.

* Is this a player that fits the school's needs...and the school's "system."  In football you can imagine that means offensive or defensive system....but there are analogies to baseball as well (e.g. speed/base stealing (or not), power (if thats important to coach's system), etc...)

 

Those were the highlights that I remember.  I think they translate.  It wasn't a knock on combines or anything else...just that there's more to the picture than 40-speed, etc...  They try and figure that out.

 

I think it gives more 'hope' to parents of 5-10 RHPs (I've got one by the way).  But the whole picture might just get your son over the hump.

Last edited by justbaseball
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Thanks JBB for your post on what matters

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I know little about football recruiting. From what I have observed, the football recruit holds a lot more cards in his favor than the baseball recruit does or ever will.

 

I certainly would expect that a coach who is going to invest 100% dollars over 4-5 years to know who he is recruiting and the family as well.  Many of these coaches have mega dollars to travel everywhere within the US to see any player play and meet his family at anytime.  Most college baseball programs need to rely on those top tourneys and showcases to see as many as they can at one time. 

I think that all of this football ranking is mainly for the fans.

 

Many football players (not main players) also play multiple sports, soccer, and track and field, baseball because they only get partial from football?

 

I am glad that you posted what you did, because over the years there have been so many complaints that baseball players SHOULD get 100% scholarships.  I strongly  disagree.  There is IMO, as much as I love college baseball, no comparison to the two college sports and what they can do for any athletic program ($$), and most likely never will.

 

Meanwhile, did you hear about the 18 year old HS male model (calvin Klein, I think) who signed his intent letter yesterday, his dream has always been to play college football. 

 

This also is what matters, follow your dream!!!!!

 

 

 

 

I have to say, some of these new signing press conferences have gotten unseemly.  The ones on ESPN are over the top.  But even locally, it's becoming big news.

 

How about a reality check?  "Hey guys, congratulations, you are one of 85 scholarship players on campus, good luck earning playing time!"

 

The saving grace in baseball is that the % you get tells you where you stand in the coach's eyes.  In football, everyone is getting 100% so they all think they are destined to be big stars.

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