Subscribe to the NCSA BlogThe Early Bird Gets the Scholarship
October 21st, 2009 - byA record breaking senior All-State football player. Sounds like a shoo-in for a big-time athletic scholarship. 15 years go; Absolutely. Today; No longer a guarantee.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports on Parkview’s Jay Davis who despite being on pace to top school legend Jeff Franceur’s single season mark for receptions, lacks a scholarship offer from major BCS schools.
Within the last five years, methods of recruiting have changed drastically, with colleges both offering scholarships to and accepting commitments from primarily high school juniors.
Who is hurt most in this shift to early recruiting? Seniors such as Davis, who are late bloomers. Some players need a little longer to shine, be it because of player development, injuries as juniors, or simply being stuck behind older teammates on the depth chart in past seasons.
“It’s not impossible for a young man to come out of the blue as a senior and earn a big-time scholarship offer, but the odds are a lot longer than they used to be,” North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire said. “Just about every college coach that stops by our school these days is asking about juniors and sophomores. They are finished with seniors, unless something happens.”
Fortunately for North Gwinnett’s overlooked seniors, something did happen when teammate JaWuan James backed off his early commitment to Alabama and is now researching the 50 college offers he stacked up last spring as a junior. North Gwinnett wide receiver Cordero Dixon, who missed most of his junior season with a leg injury, is getting a few extra looks by colleges now pursuing James.
At Parkview, Davis is flourishing with 46 catches in eight games, one shy of Francoeur’s school record (47 in 2000 season). The Panthers didn’t plan on passing as much this season, but changed their minds after the rapid improvement of Davis and another late-blooming senior, quarterback Kalik Barnes.
The 6-foot-1 Davis has an offer from Miami of Ohio, but no other takers yet from the dozens of schools that are still evaluating senior film.
“This kid is so talented and worthy of a big-time offer … he has made some of the hardest catches of any player I’ve ever coached,” Parkview coach Cecil Flowe said. “He can play ACC or SEC football, no doubt about it. Yet I’m afraid because he didn’t start full-time last year at wide receiver and have junior stats, that he is being overlooked.”
It’s easy to see why colleges are offering players earlier than ever: if they wait too long, they run the risk of being left out of the running for a particular prospect.
Davis’ story is just another example of why athletes need to start the recruiting process earlier than ever. When is the right time to start? Whenever a recruit is sure he wants to play in college. Once they’ve come to that important decision there are many steps that need to happen. If Davis had been in touch with coaches earlier than this year, chances are likely he would have more offers. Once that first offered is secured, things usually snowball into several offers. By not starting early Davis never gave the recruiting process a chance to snowball. Don’t let the same thing happen to you!
October 21st, 2009 at 5:38 pm
I would love to hear from parents out there how they feel about how EARLY recruiting starts now for their kids? I think it is a tragedy for the athlete and their family. Your thoughts?
October 21st, 2009 at 11:54 pm
The process is starting earlier and earlier. Our daughter started reaching out to colleges and universities in the spring of her sophomore year. She verbally committed to a top academic D1 volleyball program in April of her junior year. She will sign her National Letter of Intent early next month. I’m currently advising several freshmen football players to contact 150-200 programs now, at the mid-point of the current football season.
October 24th, 2009 at 11:36 am
The early bird suggustion is great, but what happens when you have a school like ours that is small and the coach had his favorite last year and this year that my son is a senior he can’t occur the stats he needs because were so far ahead by half time that he sits out the second half to let the third string kids on our team playl, you see we are on KVA, and our school is so big we should be on SMAC teams, even with that my son is in the paper all the time and leads the team almost every game that the coach plays him.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
The early bird suggustion is great, but what happens when you have a school like ours that is small and the coach is new and obviously has not done his homework. Had his favorite last year and this year that my son is a senior he can’t occur the stats he needs because the coach feels he doesn’t have D1 quality players (we have sent out info at all levels) and is hampering my son from the position he’s trying to play in college whether D1 or not. He has moved my son from his position as RB to WR because a new kid can’t catch the ball. They have ran the ball more this year in the few games we’ve played than they did all season last year.
October 28th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Coach,
I would say this , I feel it is all about the connection your child makes , earlier the better . Unless you are going BIG D1 programs, you still have time to have coaches see you the end of your Junior Year (my son plays Lacrosse) and tournaments over the summer . We have made our verbal committement and look forward to signing 11/11 ! To be done will be a happy day . This is a very hard process for the athletes , their team mates (who may or may not make it) or the school may pick them over them , and last for parents ! I also think when dealing with kids , alot could change ..so people un desided right now may really make out !
October 28th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
My son is an eighth grader and we have already started the recruiting process.