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.
