Star Rankings and Recruiting
May 26th, 2009 - byI am constantly preaching to potential athletes that they need to focus on promoting their skills to college coaches and don’t need to worry about rankings on internet sites. This is for the simple reason that these sites do a great job of reporting recruiting news, but their rankings systems are based on which schools have already offered prospects a scholarship. South Carolina is known as a school that nabs an increasing number of highly regarded recruits, but these same players aren’t ranked nearly as high when they first start receiving offers.
USC Defensive Line coach Brad Lawing has recruited hundreds of players over his more than 20 years as a college coach. He has signed players rated highly by the recruiting analysts and players whom the analysts ignored.
In Lawing’s opinion, the rating of players and the ranking of signing classes is a scam.
“I can take a three-star and make him a four-star, and I can take a four-star and make him a three- or two-star with the contacts I have,” Lawing said. “That’s how ridiculous recruiting on the Internet is. I took Chris Culliver (USC safety) from a three- to a five-star in three weeks. All you’ve got to do is talk to the right people.”
My advice is simple: Don’t worry about websites and worry about developing relationships with college coaches.
