NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

In the world of college athletics fans  and players alike worry about rankings.  What everyone should realize is that the only group that really matters doesn’t really care too much.  College coaches are the only people who can award scholarships.  They might politic reporters after the fact, but during the evaluation process schools could care less what there class is ranked.  Many times rankings don’t come close to measuring the true potential of a recruiting class as this ESPN.com chat points out.

Greg from Cincinnati writes: As a Bearcats fan, I’m thrilled over the year they’re having. However, what concerns me is that, short of an epic choke, this will be the second year in a row with a Big East title and BCS Bowl Game, and third year in a row with at least 10 wins, but they still are not bringing in the “elite” prospects. Cincinnati is a hotbed of football and always boasts a handful of top ranked high school teams and prospects on the national scale, but they are still being out-recruited by other Big East teams like WVU and Pitt. What are your thoughts?

Brian Bennett: My thoughts are that a few years ago, Cincinnati’s recruiting classes were ranked among the worst, if not dead last, in the entire Big East. Those same players are now working toward a second straight Big East title and BCS berth. So don’t worry too much about recruiting rankings.

With all of the useful recruiting information provided on this blog, why do families use NCSA?  Here are some answers:

NCSA has been well worth the investment. I now actually consider it a bargain.

NCSA has taught us how to approach recruiting. Would have no idea without NCSA’s help.

NCSA gives the athlete a lot of exposure. It also lets you know DI is not the only division out there! The information available to the student-athlete from NCSA (coaching sessions, newsletters, reminders about the profiles, etc…) are very helpful in what you should be doing at certain times.

The coach knows us personally and we are more than just a person in a file.

My initial reaction was one of skepticism. I had just invested in an unknown commodity. I was concerned about the direction my son would be receiving and whether or not our goals would be taken into account or whether we would be pushed off to some obscure college just to fill a quota. I was impressed with Coach Matt Roe. He was upfront with us and put together a plan of action that was along the lines of our goals and my son’s ambitions. This was our first session so we still have a long way to go, but if the rest of the sessions and coaching go as well as the first session my concerns will be alleviated and my son’s college football future assured.

You have helped me through all the proper recruiting steps and guided me to the colleges that meet my needs and expectations. Also have explained to me the importance of any extracurricular activities and how it could help for a college application.

You have done everything we could ask for and the info and leadership is right on. NCSA has been the best thing we ever did for our son to get recruited.

Before I joined NCSA, I didn’t realize half the things I had to do in order to get myself out there to coaches. Now that I am part of it, NCSA is kind of like a guide that helps me. E. They don’t do my work for me, but make sure I’m doing the right things to get noticed. Just a big help in general. And the people are really nice.

NCSA has opened a lot of doors for me. It has helped me to get looks from colleges that never would have known about me otherwise. If I get to go to any of the schools that have contacted me for basketball I definitely owe a lot of that to NCSA.

NCSA is for real. It has a system and a process that alerts its athletes of many crucial points about being recruited. In short it is a great tool and resource to play at the next level. 

NCSA is a good resource. The athlete can get as much out of the program as they want. The resources are there, it is up to the athlete to use them all.

The web based information you provide is great. We got off on a bad foot but I have to tell you you guys “rock” and the thing is, as a family, we are learning the process. Don’t you worry, I have already recommended friends and other folks to NCSA.

I am now realizing the value of the investment with NCSA., Our son is realizing the potential also by the letters he is receiving vs. the results his teammates are getting from colleges.

We have had nothing but great experiences with NCSA. You’re always there when we need you and give us good advice. Amanda Rawson has been great and very helpful. She’s very knowledgeable about the recruiting process. Jon has already been accepted at one of his #1 college choices and just waiting for the other one to respond regarding admission.

NCSA provides athletes with a wealth of information. I think it’s imperative that any athlete looking to play at the next level get involved with NCSA.

I know Jay would not have received so many phone calls and letters that he did without this service. Some of the best LAX schools in the country have contacted him solely off his video!!!!

NCSA provides me with resources that help me maximize my time through the recruiting process as well as has a game plan in place to help me get recruited.

I think NCSA has a good recruiting process that helps underrated and undiscovered football players such as myself get five steps closer to receiving a scholarship.

In the summer of 2003 I made a pilgrimage to the place that every high-school baseball player looking to play in college should go. I had always wanted to go to this place and I still look forward to the time when I will return. The place I speak of is Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska, home of the College World Series. My summer travel team was competing in a tournament in Omaha and by design, we purchased tickets to go watch a weekend’s worth of college baseball at the highest level of competition. I remember everything about that trip from stealing 2nd base during a game of my own and, in the process, tearing open my chin (I still have the scar) to standing next to ESPN’s Kenny Mayne at a urinal in one of the bathrooms at Rosenblatt. The College World Series is college baseball and from then on I knew that not playing baseball in college was not an option.

 At the time, and partly due to my amazing experience in Omaha, my expectations were unrealistic. My summer coach asked me for a list of schools I’d like him to send my information to and I quickly scribbled down a list of top Division I programs I had seen playing at Rosenblatt. For me to think that I had an opportunity to play at some of these top schools was very unrealistic for me in terms of my recruiting process and my abilities as a baseball player. In other words, I was a DIII player looking to play baseball at the Division I level, except I wasn’t aware of this. When I soon realized that I would be playing baseball in college at the DIII level, I was slightly disappointed. But looking back, I understand why I was a DIII player and I don’t regret the decision I made to play baseball in college at that level. Not only had I not gotten enough exposure at an early enough age or been aware of such services such as the National Collegiate Scouting Association, but plain and simple, I just wasn’t good enough. Looking back on this I can’t help but smile at my own naivety and the fact that I am 100% satisfied with the decision I made to play baseball at John Carroll University. I may have never gotten the chance to play in Omaha or get interviewed by Erin Andrews after a big win, but I did get to play the game I love at the collegiate level. I did get to forge bonds and friendships that will last a lifetime and I did become a better all-around person by learning the values of hard work, dedication and teamwork.

We all tune in to watch big time college football programs compete on Saturdays during football season, and everyone loves the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament come March, but for those of us who won’t ever compete at that nationally acclaimed level, take pride in the following facts:

1. You train just as hard as anyone to compete at your full potential in the sport that you love.

2. You attend class just like every other student in every other college, except you have made sacrifices to prepare for games and practice as well.

3. You will form life-lasting bonds with teammates that are just as strong as those bonds that are formed at higher levels of competition.

4. You will become a better all-around person for the hard work you dedicate to your team and to your school work.

So, in my situation, while playing baseball in college was very different than someone playing baseball at a big time DI program, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. The memories I have of the experiences I went through during my playing days in college will last forever and no one can take that away from me. What I want to stress to all student-athletes is to be realistic about their expectations when it comes to playing their sport at the collegiate level. The sooner that you do this, the sooner you can embrace your future experiences as a collegiate athlete, whether it’s playing for a top tier DI program or competing for DIII school. Please believe me when I say it’s not about the recognition, or the television highlights, or the contracts with Nike and Adidas. It’s about putting on the same uniform as your teammates and competing in the sport you all love to achieve one common goal…winning. A win is the same at the DI level as it is at the DIII level and for a serious student-athlete looking to compete in college, winning is all that should matter.

The quest to find the right college for a student-athlete is a challenge that we here at the National Collegiate Scouting Association readily accept with open arms. We understand not only what it means to families to have their student-athlete comfortable and excited to be attending the university of their choice, but we also understand the passion and desire that our student-athletes have to find that particular university. We also understand how important it is for college coaches to be matched up with qualified student-athletes who will help their universities grow both academically and athletically. With this being said, we here at NCSA will do everything we can to match student-athletes with universities that we feel would be a good fit. But when it’s all said and done, it’s up to the student-athletes to visit these schools, meet these coaches and decide for themselves if they truly see themselves being members of that university for the next four years of their lives. So how does a student-athlete go about doing this? How do they put themselves in the best situation possible to meet coaches and visit schools? They should be utilizing a somewhat untapped resource and with this I would like to introduce the unofficial visit.

For those student-athletes who have seen movies like The Program, He Got Game and Blue Chips, the recruiting process might seem like a dream come true. In The Program, Darnell Jefferson is welcomed to Eastern State University by a charter bus filled with cheerleaders. NBA superstar Ray Allen plays the main character in He Got Game and is whisked away from campus to campus for weekends of fun and spoil. Several “blue chip” prospects in Blue Chips receive gifts and frequent visits from the coaching staff. One thing each and every parent, coach and student-athlete needs to know is that these are movies attempting to depict a very long and difficult process. For the majority of high-school athletes, the best way to get a feel for a school and a coach is to take advantage of the unlimited amounts of unofficial visits a recruit can take during their four years of high school.

One might ask, “What is an unofficial visit and what other kinds of visits are there?” Great question. An official visit is one where the cost of part of the visit is incurred by the school. For example, a recruit is invited to visit the campus and during their visit the school will pay for their flight, hotel room and meals. These are less common than unofficial visits and are heavily regulated in terms of how many a school is allowed to give out and how many a student-athlete can attend. The alternative is the unofficial visit, where a student athlete visits the campus on their own and pays for it themselves. Although it may be less glorious than the official visits depicted in films, it is just as effective in terms of finding a school that you would be comfortable and eager to attend. Did I mention that you can take an unlimited amount of unofficial visits? Read on…

So let’s say you are a student-athlete and this blog has inspired you to take some unofficial visits…but you don’t know how to go about it. Here is your crash course to the unofficial visit.

First, come up with a list of schools and programs that you are interested in learning more about. Basically, you want to narrow down your list to schools you would realistically like to attend and compete for. Next, pick a weekend where you know the coach of your respective sport will be on campus. Football and basketball games are very popular events for coaches to entertain recruits, so pick a weekend where there is a game such as football or basketball. Next, you want to contact the coach to let him or her know that you will be visiting that weekend. Ask if they can give you a few minutes of their time to meet and possibly answer some questions that you may have (hint, hint…come prepared with academic and athletic questions for the coach). Next, contact admissions and also make them aware of your visit. Campuses are constantly giving tours and you want to make sure you see the campus in its entirety because it will be your home for the next four years. You also want to have a main contact in the admissions department to answer any questions you may have before, during and after your unofficial visit.

So now you’ve got your game plan to schedule some unofficial visits, but what is it that coaches are looking for when a recruit comes to campus. Marc Thibeault, head coach of John Carroll University’s baseball team, explains what he is not looking for.

“I can’t tell you how many times a recruit shows up with holes in his jeans, hat backwards, earring in and really has no questions when they visit. “

Coach Thibeault looks for potential student-athletes who can carry themselves well both on and off the field. Making a good first impression when meeting coaches is essential, and your appearance is key. A great point Coach makes is the ability of the recruit to ask meaningful questions during their visit. Think of it as a job interview; when your potential employer asks if you have any questions and you say “Nope, I think we’re all good here,” they are going to take that as a lack of preparation and excitement on your part when it comes to becoming a member of their team. College coaches will view this the same way.

When asked about some good questions for recruits to ask on their visit, Coach Thibeault had a few in mind.

-What did your graduating class end up doing upon diploma?

-How many freshmen ended up playing 4 years?

-What are the years of players playing my position?

-What were the credentials of last years recruiting class?

The above questions are great things to ask coaches and by asking these questions, a recruit shows the coach that they are interested, committed and eager to contribute to the program.

The bottom line is that no one buys a car without test driving it. No one gets married without dating first and no recruit should commit to a school without visiting campus. So instead of waiting by the phone or the computer for a coach to invite you for an official visit, maximize the unlimited amount of unofficial visits you can take and put yourself out there. The recruiting process may seem less glorious than depicted in the movies, but the end result of choosing the right school is all the glory a recruit needs.

The University of Houston is off to its best start in football since the late 1980’s.  Typically up and coming programs try to parlay any improvement on the field to improvements in the caliber of recruits they go after.  However Coach Kevin Sumlin shuns that theory and has indicated that they will continue to evaluate players the way they always have.

“It’s a backhanded slap to the guys who committed to there are better players who now want to come here.  whos to say that the guys we got aren’t really good?  And who’s to stay the the numbers on the Interent are correct?  Its important to target guys who you think fit your schemes.  Then you ask: Is he a good person?  Is he qualified academically?  Does he want to be here?  There’s a lot to be said for taking a  kid who wants to be here over a wait and see guy.”

Coach Sumlin’s recruiting strategy should be comforting for recruits in every sport.  The Houston staff evaluates every player on their own merits.  They aren’t concerned with anyone else’s evaluations, especially the medias.  That gives every serious recruit a chance to prove themselves.

But how can recruits prove to a coaching staff they are worthy of being recruited?  First they need to get a foot in the door by proving they are athletically qualified (fit their scheme).  Once that is accomplished the other questions coaches have can be answered rather easily if the recruit puts in the proper effort to build the relationship.   This can be accomplished by reaching out to the coaching staff consistently and pro-actively.

However, recruits need to understand that there are right ways and wrong ways to reach out to coaches.  That is why so many recruits reach out sources like NCSA to make sure they know exactly how to handle each situation.

The fall sports season is truly one of the most exciting times in all of the sporting world from the high school level, collegiate level and on to the highest ranks of the professional sporting leagues. As Major League Baseball enters their postseason play, the National Football League kicks off their season and the puck drops for the National Hockey League. High school athletes are in mid-season form for their respective sports and the same goes for college athletes across the country. What is so magical about this time of the year is that while so many sports are going on congruently, at so many different levels, one major lesson is to be learned by everyone participating in these sports. Whether you are taking the field as a professional athlete or waking up early for off-season training for your high school or college, one thing is happening to all athletes. They are being taught the values of hard work, commitment and dedication by their parents, coaches, teachers and teammates. To many, sport is merely that; a game that is played by people of all ages and that it is merely a game. However, those who understand sport at a much deeper level know that it is so much more than just a game. The lessons that are learned and the work ethic that is instilled in athletes are truly amazing. Let’s take a look at a few examples of how athletes use what they’ve learned in sport and have applied them to everyday life.

Nothing has changed for Trevor Heffernan in terms of his schedule since he graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During his days at WMU, he would wake up at 4 and 5 AM for early morning skate with the Men’s Ice Hockey Club Team where he played goalie, and then head off to school for a full day of classes. This routine was engrained within Trevor so when it was time for graduation, he was well-practiced in the ability to be a hard worker no matter what he was doing. Whether it was working down at the Chicago Board Options Exchange upon graduation or working on his family’s farm in upstate Illinois, Trevor always put 110% into whatever it was he was doing.

“The bonds I formed with my teammates playing hockey are unbreakable. It was these bonds that taught me the value of counting on the person next to you, whether it’s on the ice or working on my family farm. You need to commit and work towards your goals regardless of what they are.”

Today, Trevor’s main priority is preparing his family farm, Susanna Farms, for the annual harvest, which is a month long celebration of the history and natural beauty of the vast acreage of their farm. To be more specific, Trevor spends countless hours making sure things are prepared for hayrides, pumpkin picking and his pride and joy, the First Annual Haunted Hayride.

“I understand and appreciate the great history that this farm represents. Everything I learned about respect and dedication, I put towards this farm and getting it ready for other people to enjoy it as I have.”

Trevor is a true example of how playing college athletics can not only mold you physically to perform at a high level on the fields, courts and rinks, but more importantly, mold you mentally to be an all-around better person.

Kellen Kmiecik began his collegiate career playing baseball at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. He soon found opportunity elsewhere at Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina. During his college years, Kellen competed in several prestigious summer leagues including invite-only leagues in Alaska and South Carolina. In January, Kellen will head to Arizona to compete in an invite-only league so professional teams can evaluate his talent. However, Kellen brings the same passion and determination to the baseball diamond that he brings when he helps his father run the local Recreational Center in Elmwood Park, Illinois.

“I enjoy my time at the recreational center because it is a great way to give back to the surrounding area and it’s so enjoyable to see all the kids come in here and play the sports they love to play.”

When I asked Kellen if playing baseball, especially at the collegiate level, had anything to do with this, his response was precise.

“I learned everything I know about respect, focus, hard work and dedication from playing baseball. I was always taught from an early age that playing baseball is about ability and respect. There is a right way and a wrong way to play the game, and I play the game the right way. I try and live my life the way I play the game.”

Parents often worry about their student-athlete as they head off to college for their freshman year in terms of academics and athletics. Will they play enough? Will they get a good education? Will they make the right decisions? Both Trevor and Kellen are great examples of student-athletes becoming upstanding, respectful citizens upon graduation. So much goes into being a collegiate athlete that is behind the scenes, and those who can’t handle the responsibility of hard work, dedication, commitment and respect will quickly make the adjustment or fade away.

The first step towards finding the right school for your son or daughter is through an aggressive and meaningful recruiting process. We here at the National Collegiate Scouting Association understand what it takes to not only be a student-athlete, but also be a well-rounded citizen. We understand the process and the requirements better than anyone in the business and we urge you to take that first step towards starting that recruiting process. The road may seem long and harrowing, but what lies beyond it for your future student-athlete is truly amazing and will make you proud.

One of the biggest myths about recruiting that NCSA is constantly trying to correct to athletes that play every sport all across the country is that, Coaches discover talent at camps. Coaches depend on verified information well ahead of camps to identify their top prospects.  Once they arrive at camp, along with all the other paying customers, the coaching staff evaluates their ability.

Pete Carroll was recently profile d by Esquire magazine and they described exactly how the USC staff treated camp.

A few minutes before seven on a Saturday morning, the queues were already forming outside Heritage Hall, another football camp, this one for actual players. A shish kebab of high school kids in colorful Under Armour and shower sandals waited expectantly, their accompanying family members settling in for the day’s long haul — most would picnic along the sidelines of the Howard Jones practice field. (That the neighborhood around the university is historically dicey would keep most of the families on campus until 4:30 P.M., when the camp ended with the fastest-man contest.) By the time the doors opened, more than 350 had registered, at a reasonable sixty-five dollars a pop, some clutching highlight DVDs, others just out for the thrill of being coached by Carroll and his staff. A dozen juniors and seniors were actually scholarship worthy — the staff knew well who they were.

So how do you join the dozen or so players that get evaluated?  You need to get verified as a viable recruit by a trusted third party to college coaches ahead of camp time.  Coaches simply don’t have the time or resources to evaluate every player they come in contact with.  Recruits should take the time to make sure they are verified ahead of time.  One way to do so, is to get evaluated by an NCSA Scout.

One overlooked part of choosing a university is the network of alumni that support graduating students once they graduate.  Powerful alumni networks often set elite academic institutions apart from their competitors.  The main benefit of a strong alumni is obvious: They help graduates find jobs!  However, you rarely hear recruits mentioning alumni when they make a college decision.

One prominent alumni at Stanford University is doing her best to give her school a recruiting edge and is proof of why recruits might want to think about alumni when choosing a school.

Tai-Ler Jones was one of the top high school football players in the country when he visited Stanford last spring. At the time, he was more interested in attending traditional college powerhouses such as Notre Dame and his home-state University of Georgia, as well as Cal and UCLA.

But three days later, Jones committed to play for Stanford — thanks in considerable measure to the words of a political science professor whose last job was at the White House:

Condoleezza Rice, the Stanford athletic department’s secret weapon.

“She heavily influenced my decision,” said Jones, who will enroll in 2010. “How many colleges can say they have a Condoleezza Rice and that she can be a mentor to you? It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.”

The former Secretary of State is as accessible to Stanford athletes and recruits as a first-year teacher’s assistant.

“I believe so much in the (athletic) program,” Rice said by phone from Washington, D.C., last week. “I also believe we have an obligation to help the athletes, and the recruits see that academics is taken as seriously as athletics, and the faculty is the best conveyor of that.”

Rice is an equal-opportunity conveyor.

She addressed participants of the Pac-10 women’s golf championships, which were held at Stanford last spring. She met with Harrison Barnes, the top basketball recruit in the country, when he visited campus over the summer. She welcomed former Cardinal football players Evan Moore and Trent Edwards when they appeared, unannounced, at her office door a few months ago.

And whenever possible, Rice meets with football recruits.

“We call, and when she’s available, she’ll do it,” Stanford football coach Jim Harbaugh said. “She’s so generous with her time, and she pours her heart into it. She talks to the athletes like she’s their age. It’s phenomenal.”

Jones, a highly sought receiver from Gainesville, Ga., was one of approximately 20 recruits watching an April practice when Rice walked over and introduced herself. She recognized Jones and knew of his father, Andre, who played football in the late 1980s at Notre Dame, where Rice earned her master’s degree in political science a decade earlier.

Tai-Ler Jones, normally loquacious, stood silent as Rice talked about Stanford and all it could offer. She suggested that Jones enroll in one of her classes and offered to “be a mentor to me,” he said.

A school’s support system is a key part to both graduating and finding the right job.  It can also be a support system that can help guide your entire professional career.  However, recruits can only choose a school based on extra factors like this if they have numerous school options.  How can recruits have so many options?  Only be starting early and developing relationships as soon as possible.

As I came up through the ranks of high school and college baseball, one luxury that I quickly learned to do without as soon as my freshman year of high school was a little something called “Spring Break.” While all of my friends were packing their suitcases for Panama City, Myrtle Beach and Cancun I was getting ready to perform at my peak potential. Spring Break in high school meant early morning indoor practices and in college at john Carroll University it was a week-long bus trip down to Florida to play our first ten games of the season. So what was it that drove me to sacrifice Spring Break after Spring Break while everyone else was out partying and traveling? Well, for a student-athlete, that answer is easy. I had been working tirelessly day in and day out for the past 9 months to get ready for my season and that was most important to me. I wanted to show off the speed, strength and skills I had sharpened in the off-season because in all reality, there is no such thing as an “off season” for the serious student-athlete.

As a baseball player, I technically had four seasons, not one of which could be considered the off-season. In the fall when I arrived on campus, I would immediately begin on-field workouts and scrimmages so that the coaching staff could evaluate the progress I’d made over the summer. Taking the summer lightly is not an option for those who are serious about playing at the next level.

Marc Thibeault, head coach at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, a perennial contender in the Ohio Athletic Conference, emphasizes the importance of a strong training regiment, especially for players early on in their career.

“My feeling is that proper training is vital to making an impact at an early stage of your career. Freshmen are competing with highly skilled veteran athletes at the college level. Having a solid training base upon arrival to campus in the fall can separate you from other freshmen and allow you the physical presence to compete with established players… Bottom line, we tell our freshman to come to camp in shape to compete for a starting position.”

Come October I started full-time lifting and conditioning, 5 days a week, in order to build up strength and endurance for the long grind of the baseball season. When it comes to these workouts, make sure that you are staying within yourself in terms of frame and ability. For you skinny guys, don’t be intimidated by the football guys you may be sharing a weight room with. Not only are your sports different, but you need to focus on being as strong as you can be, not emulating someone else who is beyond your capabilities. Safety is key, especially in the wake of the recent injury to University of Southern California running back Stafon Johnson.

During these lifting and conditioning sessions you also want to pepper in some sport-specific training as well to stay fresh once it comes time to get back in the swing of practices. Your first practice should not be the first time you’re swinging a bat, throwing the baseball or softball or running routes. Again, remembering Coach Thibeault’s words, be ready to compete for that starting job.

Once your official practices begin is when you can relax and show off your new strength and skills. We always began our indoor practices in February and couldn’t wait to step off that bus into the warm South Florida air to start our season. The regular season is the time to focus all of your hard work and dedication on winning and playing your best. Out-of-season workouts are meant to be difficult, painful and challenging so that when game time arrives, you are free to relax and have fun.

If you plan a strict regiment of off-season training that will help you not only build muscle and strength but also speed, quickness and stamina, there is no limit to how high your game can soar. Whether you are a fall, winter or spring athlete, there is always the “off-season” for you to build your athletic skills. The summer season is a great time for a healthy mix of sport specific workouts, lifting, conditioning and actual participation in your sport.

Brian Flanagan, a senior outfielder for Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina, had this to say about his dedication to off-season workouts.

“Off season workouts help maintain what you’ve built up and will undoubtedly make you stronger… the will to prepare goes hand and hand with the will to win in whatever you are trying to succeed in.”

The next time your friends are packing their suitcases to party and take trips, don’t hesitate to tell them what you’ll be doing while they’re away. They might laugh and some of them might even poke fun, but none of them know of the dedication and commitment it takes to play sports at the collegiate level and beyond. For that, you are already one step ahead.

A FANTASTIC point on college sports excerpted from this week’s TMQ column on ESPN.com.  Greg Easterbrook writes:

Reader James Soukup of St. Paul, Minn., notes Nebraska — which Saturday played in throwback 1962 uniforms, commemorating a 300-game home packed-house streak beginning that year — is up to an “exhausted eligibility” rate of 94 percent, meaning Nebraska athletes don’t quit or become academically ineligible — they stick around till graduation. Boston College, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Wake Forest are among big-money programs that have strong graduation rates for football players; Cal, Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee have rates they should be ashamed of. Check any NCAA graduation rate here.TMQ maintains that academic success is a matter of expectations — if incoming players are told they are expected to study and graduate, as happens at Nebraska, they respond with academic effort. If incoming players are told they can party and skip class, that’s what they do. Many football-factory schools have all but stopped enforcing academic requirements — the NCAA determines who gets in, schools themselves certify who continues to play — and this has become an issue in recruiting. Recruits are told, “Don’t go to Notre Dame, they make you study there. Come to our school and party.” Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson said last week, “There are many things for which we all can be proud as Nebraska fans, but none that compare to the success that our student-athletes are having academically.” If the AD at Oklahoma (46 percent football graduation rate) said anything like that, he’d be arrested.

That nod to academic in conjunction with athletic success is why NCSA created  our Power Rankings.  The mission of the Power Rankings is to help prospective student athletes and their families evaluate the particular strengths of the top colleges and universities in Division I, II and III level institutions.

Chris Krause, CEO and Founder of NCSA, states, “The Power Rankings are an objective tool to empower student athletes to find the right fit in a college or university not only for its athletics but academics as well. Our hope is to educate these student athletes and their parents on the importance of evaluating schools that will provide the education for an enriched, successful career after college in addition to athletic success.”

NCSA’s Collegiate Power Rankings are calculated by averaging the academic rankings of U.S. News & World Report, the strength of the athletic departments by the United States Sports Academy Director’s Cup and each school’s student-athlete graduate rate.

The top twenty five overall NCSA Collegiate Power Rankings are as follows:

NCSA Power Ranking College or University

1 Williams College

2 Amherst College

3 Middlebury College

4 Stanford University

5 Washington University in St. Louis

6 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

7 University of California–San Diego

8 Princeton University

9 Tufts University

10 Johns Hopkins University

11 Duke University

12 Carleton College

12 Harvard University

12 University of Notre Dame

15 Emory University

16 Yale University

17 Bowdoin College

18 Cornell University

19 Haverford College

20 Northwestern University

21 Washington and Lee University

22 Carnegie Mellon University

23 University of Pennsylvania

24 Trinity College

25 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps-McKenna College