NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Coach, I sent out my information but have heard NOTHING back…what do I do now?

Don’t get discouraged! It is incredibly common for student athletes to assume that if a coach doesn’t respond then they are not interested. However, it’s important to keep in mind that college coaches are bombarded with hundreds of emails from potential recruits every day and your email may get lumped in with the rest. It may simply take them a while to get through their inbox and respond as long as it is within NCAA rules and regulations.

If the coach does not respond for one reason or another, do not give up. If you want to get recruited, you have to put yourself in front of coaches. When coaches don’t write you back, go ahead and send another 20 or 30 emails. I know emailing college coaches can be intimidating but it’s important and can put you on a coach’s radar. The more emails you send to college coaches the more responses you will get and the closer you will be to finding the right college.

Keep in mind, though NCAA rules prohibit the time and manner in which a college coach can contact you, you can call a coach as many times as you’d like and strike up a conversation. There will be setbacks in the recruiting process but persistence will always pay off!

If you are in the Network, want to become a part of the network, athlete or parent, LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE and join the Athletic Recruiting Network on Facebook!

As I drove north from Los Angeles to Lancaster, CA this past weekend, I was excited to educate families on the recruiting process and to talk to college coaches about what they are looking for when they award scholarships.

NCSA Senior Speaker Charlie Adams

The prestigious Cal South Soccer National Cup attracted over 3000 top soccer players and about 150 college coaches from places such as Indiana University, Penn State, Oregon, UCLA, Army, and all over. To give you an idea of the prestige of Cal South Soccer, 25% of the U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the 2003 World Cup were Cal South alumni and 26% of the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa were Cal South alumni. Landon Donovan is among those that have played in the Cal South programs.

NCSA provides the recruiting education at events such as this so that families fully understand the recruiting process and how to connect with scholarships, and more importantly, the right fit for their son or daughter to be a college student athlete and develop into a leader for life.

NCSA's College Recruiting Simplified

Before speaking twice on Saturday, I met with many college coaches as they checked in, got a manual from Cal South with info on players, and headed out to fields. My Talks and my Writings are based on thousands of interviews I have done with college coaches, athletes and families over the years.

While this will be more soccer specific, there is wisdom below that will help families with athletes in all sports.

I spoke with one Big Ten University assistant soccer coach about what they are looking for:

“We are looking more at the 2013′s (sophomores) and some 2012′s,” the coach told me. “I will come back with a Yes or No opinion on these players that I will report to the head coach. Some of these players have contacted us. I will go see them to see whether we like them or not. I want to see a kid that no matter whether they are winning or losing is playing hard. Effort! You can’t teach heart! I can usually tell within five minutes who the best players are on the soccer field.”

The coach continued as we walked to the first field. She had a list of certain players she wanted to see there. She had built that list through a variety of trusted sources. While talking, she talked about the value of families with properly evaluated athletes taking unofficial visits.

“In the last few months alone we have had fifteen to twenty unofficial visits. With some the family will say ‘we were in the area and wanted to set something up.’ We will at least meet with them for thirty minutes. With visits that are set up in advance we can do a campus tour, lunch, things like that.”

Like many of the college coaches there, she had traveled 2000 to 3000 miles to get there. Cal South Soccer and California in general has so many great players. While a University in a midwestern state will have good in-state players, they know a state like California has top star players and not all of them are staying out there. Many want to stay in state but many are very open to going away for college.

“They often want to try something new,” the Big Ten coach added. “We have one kid from Surf (prestigious soccer Club in California) and she spreads the word. Once they get to the campus and see how beautiful it is they seriously consider it. Some California kids want to go someplace with four seasons.”

I talked with the head coach of a University from the mountain states. He had two key pieces of advice for parents:

1) “Be involved, parents. This is your child’s decision but your job is to make sure they have all the information they need to make the right decision.

2) “Keep options open. Don’t just settle on a few schools. There are amazing schools out there that families don’t know about because they don’t reach out.”

I asked this coach to share advice in a variety of areas. Because his University is located up near Canada, he does not get to many Showcase events and depends on Video for initial evaluations of prospects.

“I like to see video to see if it sparks an interest. Before we sign a player we will see them in person and get them on campus, but video helps. At Club matches you need to shoot video that is a little elevated. Use a good stable ladder or something. I want to see players that make good decisions on the field, how good they are on the ball, are they winning tackles a lot?

I then caught up with a coach from a D1 program in the Los Angeles area that was anxious to get out to the field. Like the other coaches she had a List of players to evaluate but was open to discovering someone.

“I am always open to a player catching my eye,” the coach said. “If the player is too young for me to personally contact because of NCAA rules I will get word to their Club or High School Coach. I like to see speed and athleticism as well as technical skills. Do they keep the ball for their team? What do they do special? Also, try not to stand out in the wrong way like passing the ball to the other team.”

“As far as how scholarships are divided up,” the coach added, “it is everything from a full ride to tuition and fees to $10,000, $5,000. We can mix and match athletic, academic and needs based money.”

Because this was an elite event, there were mainly D1 coaches in attendance. I talked with the coach of a mid level D1 soccer program.

“We really like the good players that express a sincere interest in our program,” the coach said. “We are happy to look at them. We don’t want anyone to slip by.”

Regarding video, the coach echoed what others said is a common mistake. “They will show someone passing the ball and the video will cut off before the pass reaches the next player. At least have two or three seconds leading up to the pass and after it has finished.”

Regarding how their scholarships are given out (in D1 sports like football, volleyball and basketball there are full athletic scholarships – in D1 soccer the women have 14 they can divvy up and the men 9.9):

“Our philosophy is to sign the best class and give the most money to the best players, then to take care of the seniors and then the ones that play a significant role,” said the coach. “In soccer many times it is the players in the spine of the field that get the most athletic scholarship money – the strikers, the Center Mid’s, Center Back’s. The Goal Keep’s. Those that score and prevent scoring are critical in wins and losses in soccer.”

About an hour before my first Talk to the families, I talked with another D1 coach.

“I watch for decision making on the ball,” the coach said, “speed, touch on the ball. With Goal Keepers, a good commanding presence.”

There is tremendous soccer played at all levels of college sports. I talked with the coach of a NAIA power that was moving up to D2. He said families don’t understand all the opportunities out there.

“It depends on the institution,” said the coach, “but if your college has exemptions and a recruit has a 3.5 GPA then there are really good packages that can be put together at D2. There are all kinds of things that can be done, including needs based, but the 3.5 thing shows why recruits need to focus on their academics.”

“Regarding my List of prospects to see, a priority goes to the player that has a way of contacting me. If they take an interest in me, I take an interest in them. There are two things I really look for. One is your work ratio. Do you work hard all the time? The other is how you interact with your team, how you react to questionable calls. Your character is just as important as your ability in my opinion.”

Audience asks questions after NCSA's College Recruiting Simplified

Each year I speak at this Cal South event, I spend time talking with Cal South staffers that have observed their players being recruited.

“It is all about fit,” said one veteran observer of families who have succeeded in finding the right fit for their player, and those that have failed. “We had a really good player here that was in love with going to Seattle Pacific. It was the right fit for her. Some others said why are you settling for that? She wasn’t settling. It was right for her!”

A year ago this same lady told me of a talented soccer player there that had major D1 schools but that had fallen in love with a smaller school. Pressured to go to a Pac 10 (now Pac 12) school, she relented and did. After two years, she transferred to the smaller school that was the right fit for her.

A College Coach tells Charlie Adams what they look for in recruits

Of course, at an event like this, many of the players want to go major D1 and have the skills to do so, but as always it is vital they find the right fit for them!

The more educated parents and athletes are about recruiting, the better experience they will have in recruiting. Make sure to have one of NCSA’s Recruiting Experts come to your School, Club or special Event to inspire and educate everyone on the 5 Things You Need to Do and the 5 Things You Must Know to have success in recruiting and connecting with scholarships. Under the director of former Dallas Cowboy Izell Reese, NCSA has a stable of speakers made up of former College Coaches, Athletes and Journalists ready to come educate and motivate your people in 27 sports. Because of a partnership with the NFL Players Association, these presentations are presented at no cost. Go to the link below and set the wheels in motion to bring in recruiting education.

To bring a NCSA Recruiting Expert in

Every family and every athlete needs professional third party evaluation to help them in understanding how to connect with the right fit to play college sports on scholarships:

To Get Started on Your Third Party Evaluation of Where You Realistically Fit at the Collegiate Sports Level Click Here!

Charlie Adams

cadams@ncsasports.org

Follow Charlie Adams’ Recruiting Insights on recruiting on facebook

My thanks to Bill Lewis and everyone at Cal South that made this event such a success!

It’s definitely that time of year where most families are contemplating what volleyball camps they should be considering and or attending. As a former College Volleyball player myself (University of Minnesota) and NCSA’s Head Volleyball Recruiting Coach this is a topic that I am talking about more than ever lately with families which is why I wanted to shed some more light on this topic. When it comes to camps there are many things to be aware of, especially before sending in that deposit! I want to take you through step by step things to consider and how to choose camps that are right for you.

Almost all colleges/universities offer camps during the summer months. The unfortunate bottom line here is that most camps have one purpose; they are a money-maker for the organizers. Coaches can bring in a lot of income through this method. Although we would like to think everyone has good intentions, it’s often not the case. Beware of overpriced camps; they do not necessarily indicate the best training or coaching. Camps also exist for the obvious reason to help players become better at the game of volleyball. They can also serve as a platform for evaluation. Some coaches even require their top recruits to come to a camp so the coaching staff has the chance to evaluate them in person as well as work with them on the techniques they would want to implement. A common misconception here is that you will be “discovered” at a camp. Coaches do NOT scout at camps. If college coaches are running the camp, they do not have the time or interest in discovering NEW talent. If the Coach doesn’t know about you beforehand, they will not know about you on your way out!

The majority of athletes will begin receiving camp brochures in the mail or through email inviting you or making you aware of the camp. You can also check out schools’ websites to get information on any camps that they are offering. There are essentially two ways you may receive camp information. The first way is that you are someone the coach is recruiting or interested in recruiting. The second way and much more likely, is that you are in some type of database or list and the coach has absolutely no idea who you are or your talent level. So based on that information you will either attend a camp for training purposes OR evaluation purposes to assist with your recruiting.

If you are attending for training be sure to do some research on the coaching staff. How much experience do they have? How successful have these coaches been?  Do they have a reputation for producing great volleyball players?  Who is actually going to be coaching at the camp?  Will the Head Coach and Assistant Coaches be involved with the actual training? Also consider how they typically run the camp.  Are you with girls your age and ability level?  Do they run the camp at a fast pace?  Are you getting personal attention? You may want to talk to someone who has attended the camp before signing up. Finally, don’t be afraid to contact the Camp Director listed for the camp and address your questions to her or she directly.

If you are attending a camp for exposure than there’s even more work to put in to make sure this is a realistic fit for you and that you are investing your time and money wisely. College coaches discover talent through a variety of different lists and reliable sources. College coaches rely on third party recruiting sources to save time and identify talent early. Coaches also may look to popular social networking sites to attract students to their school while some may send thousands of questionnaires to candidates to express initial interest. However, the best way for student-athletes to develop relationships and get on a coaches recruiting list is through direct contact via phone, email or an in-person visit. Just because you receive a camp invitation doesn’t necessarily mean the coach is actively recruiting you. Get in contact (phone calls are recommended) to see if they are recruiting your position and have they evaluated you yet. If you don’t know which colleges would be a good fit for you, a 3^rd party evaluation would be beneficial.

The rules and regulations of recruiting are continuously changing. Remember, the best way to maximize success is to be proactive. Start the process early and become known by as many sources as possible!

I strongly recommend that all players consider volleyball camps so really take next month and begin doing some research.  Make an informed and well-thought out decision before you decide which ones to attend.

If you have any further questions you can always call (1-866-579-6272) to speak with a national recruiting expert.

Kelly Stuntz

Head Volleyball Recruiting Coach

My high school coach advised me against using NCSA. He said that anything you could do for me, he could do for me. I love the man, but I’m so thankful I didn’t take his advice. NCSA gave me opportunities to be recruited by colleges all over the country, across two divisions. You made me an amazing highlight video and allowed me to emphasize my priorities to narrow down my choices. Thanks to you I’ll be studying and playing at Occidental College this fall — I’m excited and deeply grateful!

-       Morgan Mason

I would recommend NCSA Sports to any parents that have a kid that plays sports and is trying to be recognized. NCSA is on top of their game even when you are not. It is so impressive to know that you are not paying for a recruiter that is out to get money but a recruiter that has the best interest of your child. I would like to thank you for staying on top of everything.

-          Elijah Johnson

Great access to college coaches, great ability to see who is watching your film and how many times. Great customer service. Billy Porter is extremely responsive to my communication. Thank you for everything!

-          Brett McMakin

The way NCSA handles you and your situation is always great. They just want the best for you and they express that with their actions very well. I know I will get results.

-          Adonis Ramos

Very hard-working people. This is a great program to get kids in high school recognized at the collegiate level. They will do anything and everything to help a student athlete to get to the next level.

-          Dylan West

I was amazed at the advanced features and contacts that you guys presented with your website. We had no idea how this worked and was very satisfied with your services!

-          Kaitlyn Leal

NCSA has been there for me. I have called them for help and they have always been there to help. There has been time’s were they have e-mailed me letting me know what colleges are still looking for players. I wish I could have been part of the NCSA family earlier. Thank you so much NCSA, I would not be going to college if it wasn’t for you. God bless the hold NCSA STAFF LOVE YALL!

-          Toby Burkey

It really helps students with enough athletic ability to reach out to those schools they might not have known about previously. It also makes the recruiting process much quicker and less stressful.

-          Allia Knight

NCSA has been great with answering any questions I’ve had and on the phone they explain everything very thoroughly.

-          Christopher Lengeling

I had actually recommended NCSA to a teammate simply because I thought that NCSA provided in-depth coverage on a student-athlete’s recruiting. From NCSA, I personally have learned a great deal and furthered my recruiting process.

-          Connor Young

We believe NCSA to be vital in the recruiting process, and feel that with NCSA, more options are available to ensure that an aspiring athlete will in fact be recruited.

-          Erica Griffith

Everything that has been promised has been kept. I couldn’t ask for anything more!

-          Mayson Madden

Every month, the NCSA team gathers both live at headquarters and watching a live broadcast online, for the monthly huddle.  This is a chance for members of each departments to update each other, share stories of changed lives, and get ready for another month of diligent, hard work.  Here is a recap of the May Huddle!

Every year talented young athletes who want to play college sports do not get the opportunity to get noticed and miss an experience of a life time! Many young athletes get caught up in the “name game” when picking a school which leaves them riding the bench for four years with no opportunity to showcase their skills. You may be a “star” athlete at your high school, but that does not guarantee future collegiate success or exposure. 

How can athletes avoid getting caught up in the “name game”?  Here are 3 steps that will help:

Step 1:  Find out what schools you qualify for!  You can schedule a recruiting analysis with our Scouting Team to discuss your options as a family by calling 866-579-6272.  You can also check out our “Sport Specific Recruiting Guide” which provides an outline of general Division level requirements for each sport by clicking here

Step 2:  Start thinking about what you are looking for in a school!  Most athletes wait until Junior or Senior year to even start thinking about their preferences.  There is a lot to consider including the size, type of campus, location and much more!  Your preferences might change as you get older but the more you have thought about it, the better off you’ll be.

Step 3:  Do your research!  Once you know what schools might be a good fit for you, start learning about them!  You can use the NCSA Power Rankings here which give you snapshot of the best schools in the country based on graduation rate, athletic performance and academic success.  Many athletes have never heard of some of the schools in the top 10.  Check out the Power Rankings here.  Every athlete and family can also take advantage of our “College Search Map” which is located in all versions of your Recruiting Management System (RMS).  The college search map allows athletes to filter their search by several preferences and find all the schools that offer their sport based on that criteria.  There is nothing else like it and ALL of you have access!  If you already have your RMS login information, click here.  If you need to create an account click here. 

Just remember this decision will change the rest of your life.  Don’t risk your future just because you saw the school play on ESPN or they have a cool mascot.  Find the school where you can play, have some or all of it paid for, enjoy your experience and most importantl…earn you degree!

Coach-Is there a limit on how many times I can call college coaches?

NCAA guidelines restrict the number, timing, and manner in which a coach can contact a prospective recruit!  However, there is NO limit to the number of times a student athlete can call a coach during their high school career. As long as the coach answers the phone, the student athlete and coach can talk for as long as they want. However, a college coach cannot return a phone call or message from the prospect even if requested, unless it falls in the allowed period of time. Parents are not allowed to receive return phone calls either.

Student Athletes can also send letters and e-mails to college coaches at any time in their high school career as often as they want. Letters are a great way to introduce yourself to a coach and show interest in their program. However, always make sure your letter or e-mails are fresh and concise. College coaches can’t recruit you if they don’t know you exist!

If you have any further questions you can always call (1-866-579-6272) to speak with a national recruiting expert.

Become part of the network on FACEBOOK. Like the NCSA Page!

Coach- How am I supposed to stay organized if I am worrying about contacting hundreds of coaches?

It is more important than ever to stay organized! Many potential high school recruits may receive tons of mail and sometimes the volume of these questionnaires and letters can be overwhelming. Student athletes should create and maintain a Correspondence Log to stay efficient and organized. Add all contacts to this Correspondence Log and keep track of all the details of each conversation or correspondence with a college coach. It is easy for student athletes with a large amount of contacts to get confused about which coach he or she has not yet communicated with.

A recruit needs to stay accountable and respond in a timely manner to all emails, letters, and phone calls as well. This can make or break an athlete’s shot at a scholarships. They should work to cultivate these relationships by keeping coaches updated. Ideally, a student-athlete will develop relationships with many different coaches as a freshman in high school and a Correspondence Log will help track and manage your growing number of contacts.

By responding to all questionnaires and keeping in touch with every coach on your Correspondence Log, you are keeping your doors open and increasing your opportunities of securing a scholarship to one of the schools on your list. Staying organized can make the recruiting process a lot less stressful!

If you have any further questions you can always call (1-866-579-6272) to speak with a national recruiting expert.

Become part of the network on FACEBOOK. Like the NCSA Page!

January 2012 UPDATE! In the story below, you will learn how a High School athlete that was All Conference in FOUR sports handled recruiting. Houston Hodges is a freshman at Wabash College, one of the highest rated academic institutions in America.

Houston had a tremendous freshman football season and has made an acrobatic play to force overtime in a basketball game. He scored 5 points in the last 20 seconds to force OT:

Here is his amazing shot at the buzzer

Before his recruiting story, his father, Dave, gives us an update on how Houston is doing, playing two sports in College:

“Charlie, having a full semester to evaluate Houston’s decision to go to Wabash I would have to say things have gone very well.  One of Houston’s initial concerns was the ability to play two sports.  Houston started at the cornerback position for the 12-1 Little Giants.  They made it all the way to the quarterfinals and got beat by Mt. Union.  One week later he played 17 minutes in a huge Wabash home basketball win over #5 nationally ranked Wooster. He played very well for only a couple of practices with the team and has played in every game since joining the team. Yesterday we found out he scored a 3.65 GPA for his first semester. Houston is going to double major in economics and education. Two sports and a heavy classroom load are not for everybody, but Houston is adjusting well. It requires a lot of self discipline.  Houston’s choice to got to Wabash also had a lot to do with his brother already being there and playing football and running track. Austin is an Econ major with a minor in Spanish. Houston got a chance to see what a Wabash education can do when in November Austin landed a very prestigious paid internship with Eli Lilly this summer.  So other than not getting a chance to get home much Houston has had a great first semester.  Celebrated an undefeated regular season, won the conference (earning him a beautiful ring),dominated in the Monon bell game, and made it to the quarterfinals against MT. Union where he had an interception and fumble recovery against 2^nd best team in DIII. No doubt Houston could play corner in some bigger programs a level or two up, but this is a great fit where he can have an immediate impact in two sports.  Coming from Plymouth the other consideration was playing in a winning program. 12-1 in football, 8-1 in basketball. Houston is right at home with no regrets.  The part his mom and I love is because he took care of his academics in high school, we are paying less than a state school for a Wabash education. Thanks for your continued interest in Austin and Houston.  We appreciate greatly all the opportunities you and NCSA create for deserving young people. – Dave Hodges, father

In this story you will gain valuable insights on recruiting from one of the top athletes in the Midwest. Houston Hodges of Plymouth High School is in his freshman season at Wabash College playing TWO sports. He had a  stunning High School career that saw him become 1st Team All Conference in the rugged Northern Lakes Conference in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track.  You don’t see many athletes anywhere that achieve 1st Team All Conference status in four sports. Here you will see the story I wrote of his recruiting experience, and then more of the UPDATE on how it is going for him as he plays TWO SPORTS at the College level:

photo of Houston Hodges, courtesy South Bend Tribune

HOUSTON HODGES RECRUITING EXPERIENCE:

As a High School senior, Houston ran the 40 in 4.5 seconds. He was a marvelous prep athlete who was recruited by many schools for his football and basketball abilities, but so much of where you play at the college level is God given, specifically when it comes to size. Houston was five foot nine inches tall and weighed 165 as he went through recruiting.

“As a Division One or Two in football,” his father Dave told me, “it was going to be real tough. The University of Iowa was pretty aggressive early but when they saw him physically they said, ‘No, it won’t work (at the Big Ten Conference level).’ It was hard for him to accept that if he were six foot two inches tall he could play at that level. Most kids think they can play one notch higher in college than they really can. Houston was two notches above at first!”

The Hodges family utilized the exposure and tools of NCSA as well as doing things such as getting his opposing high school coaches to write testimonials on him. That carried a lot of weight with college coaches because it is the kind of verified information many college coaches trust. Here are two:

“I think Houston is a tremendous competitor who understands the game of football and how tough you have to be. As an opposing coach on our scouting report it reads:  Difference maker on either side of the ball, we must limit his big plays! Your son is the kind of player all coaches want on their team and the kind of player colleges need to evaluate his heart not just his size. Good luck with recruiting.”

Coach Dawson, Concord Minuteman, Head football Coach

“Houston Hodges is a quite a bit above average athlete. We had trouble staying in front of him due to his quickness. I am impressed with his competitive spirit.  As a point guard his team wins most of their games.  I have seen Houston play a lot of basketball and he plays unselfishly as any I have seen.”

Doug Ogle, Head Basketball Coach, Warsaw Community High School

Houston was heavily recruited by many schools, and was getting multiple calls at night from college coaches, especially at the D3 level where he was more of a realistic fit. He had about fifteen schools consistently recruiting him. Two highly respected schools, Wabash and DePauw (alma mater of Butler University basketball coach Brad Stevens) really went after him.

“One thing I would stress to families,” said Dave, “is it is very, very important to go where you are really wanted. There were schools that were on and off with their recruiting and some that would have taken him but you could tell it wasn’t a major priority. With those two schools, they were constantly pounding.”

At the D3 level, there are no athletic scholarships but people have to understand there are remarkable packages out there that can make it very affordable. Because Houston worked his tail off in the classroom all four years of High School (Houston is 5th in his senior class of 272 with a 11.5 GPA on a 12.0 scale) he has earned a tremendous scholarship package to Wabash College.

“I was shocked about what is available,” said Dave, “especially for a D3 regarding academic money. Long story short, he will get about $34,000 out of $40,000 paid for.”

That is without a lick of “athletic” scholarship money. Many times student-athletes can earn packages at outstanding D3 institutions (some of the best colleges in America) and pay less than someone at a traditional state University.

In Houston’s case, another strong reason for going there is his older brother Austin is already an athlete there and has loved the experience. Being D3, Houston will play both football (cornerback) and basketball (point guard), which is almost impossible to do these days at the D1 level. It will be a challenge as he will major in Economics and Spanish, but he will learn time management skills that will make him an outstanding job prospect upon graduation.

I talked with Houston about the recruiting experience, and asked him to share insights that would benefit families.

“The calls from coaches were nice,” said Houston, “but you really need to get on campus and take unofficial visits. A big thing for me was watching practice. I could see which ones were intense and which ones were more laid back. I want to play for a college coach who is real passionate. Also get to know their coaches on a more personal level and make sure they know who you are. You really want to find the right fit. I liked the college coaches that wouldn’t just call and talk football or basketball but about life. I also knew I wanted to find a smaller school that was more tight knit.”

I asked him about the reality of his size.

“Like every other kid I wanted to play D1,” said Houston. “When Iowa contacted me it was exciting but then I realized my size wouldn’t allow me to play at that level. What I eventually saw was that I needed an academic place that would prepare me for life after football. My parents were always telling me that although an athletic scholarships would be nice I would get more academic scholarships. I am going to major in Economics and Spanish. I want to travel eventually and with more and more people speaking Spanish it will help in business to know that language.”

The Hodges utilized many resources in recruiting including being a part of the NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network.

“I got calls from schools in places such as Minnesota and Pennsylvania,” said Houston. “It opened up possibilities I didn’t know were there.”

Less than seven percent of High School athletes have what it takes to play at the college level. Houston is now wearing a college uniform. Already a big role model to young kids in sports mad Plymouth, he is a bigger role model at the next level.

“It is amazing to think I will be a college athlete,” said Houston, at the time he decided on his College choice. “Growing up I knew I was a good athlete and now I feel so privileged to be a college athlete.”

He will also experience the unique traditions that are out there. When Wabash plays arch rival DePauw for the Monon Bell, the Stadium is overflowing. Last year there were 11,733 packed in the Stadium and another 2000 standing outside. There are usually about ten players in the game that were All State in High School.

Do everything you can to find the right fit for your son or daughter at the next level. It is critical to have an evaluation to help understand what is the right level athletically, academically, socially, geographically and much more.

To do what the Hodges Family did to have Success in Recruiting, click here

Houston Hodges and his brother Austin were key members of the 12-1 Wabash team

UPDATE: Houston played a great deal as a freshman and helped Wabash College Football to a 12-1 season, losing to 10-time National Champ Mt. Union (alma mater of Colts receiver Pierre Garcon) deep in the playoffs. In that game Houston Hodges finished a big day with an interception, 2 solo tackles, and a fumble recovery.  Austin Hodges had two assists.  Former North Judson standout CJ Gum had a big day with 8 solo tackles and 5 assists. He finished his senior season with 105 tackles.

As a defensive back, Houston had 19 solo tackles, three interceptions and eight pass deflections in his freshman season. He went straight into basketball.

Here is an article on how Houston is playing 2 Sports at the College Level

Plymouth High alum Houston Hodges playing basketball at prestigious Wabash College

Final Thoughts from Dad Dave Hodges on how most athletes need help with recruiting exposure:”

“Charlie, it is only the elite athlete who does all the Combines and is already on everybody’s list that does not need much help.  Everyone else can benefit. We heard from programs we never new existed that never would have found us had it not been NCSA.”

Plymouth High Athletic Director Roy Benge brings in NCSA Athletic Recruiting Education each year so that the families in the area can be are educated about the recruiting process and the Athleadership message of NCSA.

To bring a NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network to your School, Club, or Event

Charlie Adams

NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network Recruiting Expert

cadams@ncsasports.org