NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

I had the opportunity to speak to parents and athletes at the Schuman NUC Football Combine in Lafayette, Louisiana. I had three conversations that shed valuable perspectives on recruiting and the college athletics/academic experience that you can benefit from. First, former LSU All American Linebacker Trev Faulk was there as a Camp Instructor and Motivational Speaker and had some powerful insights on how to use athletics to build a successful future.

Faulk was a six foot three inch 241 pound linebacker in the SEC that was twice 1^st Team All SEC and 2^nd Team All America. He was so good that he earned starting status as a true freshman just a few games into his freshman year. In the rugged SEC, that is saying something! Character-wise, he is the only player in the history of LSU football to carry the honor of permanent Team Captain as a true sophomore. Academically, he went in with a game plan to nail his Educational opportunities and not just be one of the players who barely stays eligible.

“I knew that LSU would get everything they could out of me as a football player, and I knew I was going to give them everything,” Trev told me. “I also knew I had to get things that would benefit me. I went in with a plan to try to graduate in three years. My cousin (NFL player) Kevin Faulk graduated from LSU in 3 ½ years. I talked to some people and got an outline. I went to Summer School. I took “X” amount of Hours in the Fall and “X” amount of Hours in the Spring when it wasn’t in in the season. I took more Hours then. I balanced in Electives with the tougher Business classes so it wouldn’t be too strenuous all at once.”

Faulk graduated in 3 years with Honors and a degree in Business Management. He was thinking long term. Although he was good enough and had the God given body to play in the NFL, he only played there for five years. He was done with football before age 30. “I was fortunate that God allowed me to be able to play as long as I did,” said Trev.

Faulk is a tremendous example of a true college student-athlete.

“Everyone wants to be successful,” Trev told me, “but few are willing to pay the price.” Not every athlete is willing to run that extra 100 in the heat, or get off Facebook or off the phone with their girlfriend and get to studying. You have to do the little things right all the time, and most importantly you have to take care of your business in the classroom. You have to give your best effort. An old coach of mine told me you are either getting better every day or getting worse.”

NCSA Athletic Recruiting is the Recruiting Education Partner of events like Schuman NUC. I spoke to the families about what it takes to have successful recruiting experiences, and asked Trev for his insights on recruiting.

“The biggest thing is to get out there,” he said. “There are so many kids that have the dream and the goal to get to the next level. Realistically, not everyone is a Division One player, but there are other levels that play as well. It is important to be honest with yourself and realistic. Research as many schools as you can and get to Camps and Combines. Ultimately, focus on your business in the classroom to make yourself more attractive to the schools.”

Now, onto the second and third perspectives on recruiting. While at the Schuman National Underclassmen Combine, I talked with Natchez (MS) Cathedral Head Football Coach Ron Rushing about some of the Myths of the Recruiting Process. Rushing played College Baseball at Division Two power Delta State. Like many other good players, he thought the Colleges would chase him when he was a High School standout.

“Out of High School,” Coach Rushing told me, “I threw out 21 of 22 baserunners and hit .517 and had to walk on at Co-Lin Community College. One of the biggest fallacies is if you can play you can sit there and they will find you.”

Coach Rushing as observed how some of his families have had success with exposure.

“99 percent of the calls I get from College Coaches is about kids in NCSA or another one of the sources they use,” said Coach Rushing. “It is professional and creates a lot of interest.” To seen an example

While at the Combine, I also talked with Ryan Gregory, who played College Football at Louisiana College. His story was eye opening.

“I was being recruited by a few D1’s,” Ryan told me. “Schools like Southern Miss (where Brett Favre played), Tulane and Louisiana Tech (alma mater of Terry Bradshaw). They led me along in a way. I never looked much at smaller schools. On Signing Day Tulane decided not to offer me. I had heard of a D3 named Louisiana College and it ended up being the perfect fit for me. I got a great education, and they allowed me to help coach my senior year when I was injured. A lot of athletes don’t think D3’s give out scholarships and it is true that they don’t give athletic money. LC was able to give me more academic money than any D2 was able to, so it worked out. I tell kids today to go where they want you, not just where you want to go.”

As I speak on the Recruiting Process, it is always valuable to get perspectives from people like former D1 star Trev Faulk, current High School Coach Ron Rushing, and former D3 player Ryan Gregory. It is my hope that you can learn more about recruiting by the experiences and perspectives of others who have been there, so that you can find the right fit for your athlete.

To See if You Qualify for a Scouting Evaluation with a Former College Coach or Player Click Here to get Started!

Charlie Adams

NCSA Educational Speaker

cadams@ncsasports.org

I listened as College Coaches from all levels shared their observations about Parents, Recruits and trends they are observing in recruiting. Dan Tudor, nationally known for working with College Coaches to help them with their recruiting strategies, held his annual National Collegiate Recruiting Conference in Nashville.

Besides speaking, I had the opportunity to listen to the Coaches. The group included Coaches from all levels of College Athletics, from schools such as the University of Missouri, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Belhaven, Emmanuel College, Swarthmore College and many others. During one session the Coaches met as groups and came away with these current trends in recruiting athletes in 2011-12:

A growing Sense of Entitlement among many High School athletes that are being recruited or that are playing College Athletics.

1991 Heisman winner Desmond Howard came out with strong comments about the growing sense of Entitlement among athletes when he spoke at the Black Coaches and Administrators Convention in May: “The way these coaches recruit these kids, they make them feel like they’re the cat’s meow, that the program can’t move forward without them at the school,” Howard said. “When you recruit them that hard, then you gas them up on who they are. You give that guy a sense of entitlement.

“I was told by a giant, Bo Schembechler, that no one man is bigger than the program. Not even (Schembechler). He was larger than life. For me to sit there and this guy tells me nobody’s bigger than Michigan, that’s all he had to say.”

Howard told the St. Petersburg Times that heavy coverage of recruiting has young players in the spotlight before they’ve accomplished anything significant in college.

“I’ll give you a perfect example: Michigan fires coach Rich Rodriguez,” said Howard, who starred at Michigan from 1989-91. “All the noise in Ann Arbor is, ‘Is Denard Robinson going to stay or leave?’ I’m like, ‘Hey, if the kid wants to go, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. You looked fantastic for five games against nobody. That’s what you did.’ I’m not going to deny his talents, but, ‘You ain’t won nothing in Ann Arbor, son! Not so much we need to worry about if you’re going to be here next year or not.’ ”

NCSA Educational Speaker Derrick Mayes, who was a standout receiver for Notre Dame and who jokes that his fingers are still bent from catching passes from Brett Favre in the N.F.L., travels the world to speak about the recruiting process. He shared these observations: “My in response to the growing sense of entitlement among some young athletes: It’s so ironic that as I ponder this very idea,  I’m over in Europe spending some unbelievable quality time with the DoDDS High School student athletes, whose parents serve our country in the Military abroad.  I see just the opposite of entitlement issues over here -  humble, respectful, hardworking. It’s no wonder that the military’s children have so much “pre packaged” virtue & discipline. Perhaps our pampered “stateside” student athletes should take a look at their counterparts across the pond, who have a fraction of luxuries, resources, or – sense of entitlement.” Derrick Mayes, NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network Educational Speaker

Continuing on with what the College Coaches say are developing trends in Recruiting that they have observed recently:

The athletes keep getting younger that the College Coaches are looking at or that are contacting the College Coaches.

Many athletes’ parents have been spending a lot of money on Club, Travel Ball, AAU, Strength and Speed Training, and things of that nature and they expect a return on their investment in terms of significant scholarships.

NCSA Senior Recruiting Coach Joyce Wellhoefer, a former D1 Softball Coach, had these insights:

“When I was coaching six years ago all that was the same as far as “entitlement” and parents over the kids hand holding. They would go on the Visits and not go with parent groups but stay with the kid on everything (pretty soon they will be staying the night with the kid on site in the dorm!  The only thing that I have seen as a bit of a change is that signings for Softball have been earlier than six years ago.  Now almost all D1 & top D2 schools have commitments of junior year or younger.

But that is so true with parents spending so much money on clubs, travel, private lessons and many expect the ‘full rides’  I also had a hard time getting the Junior College athletes as they were getting full rides and then to come play D1 where I was at I could only give them 1/2 or less as I was not a fully funded program.” Joyce Wellhoefer, NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network Senior Recruiting Coach

The Official Visit is now the Unofficial Visit as many athletes are committing early before they can even take Official Visits in their senior year of High School.

For more on Unofficial Visits

Official Visits vs Unofficial Visits

Parents are more involved than ever before in Recruiting and many are saying things to College Coaches such as “We are taking the SAT’s” or “We made it to State this past season.”

For more on the Parents Role in Recruiting

Many athletes know all about texting their friends but their phone communication skills are weak, which hurts them in recruiting

NCSA Recruiting Expert and Speaker Othello Henderson, who played football at UCLA and in the NFL, says: “Student-athletes need to realize good communication skills, whether in person or over the phone, are an essential part of obtaining athletic scholarships. The recruiting process is not the time to act shy or stand-offish, especially when it comes to coaches and scouts. Being respectfully articulate is key. Unless a coach or scout initiates, using the same colloquial rhetoric they do with friends may not be the smartest form of conversation.” – Othello Henderson, NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network Educational Speaker

“I see the weak phone skills with our kids. That is one reason I am not a big advocate of the facebook. When I work with NCSA kids I treat them like I am recruiting . I call their cell phones (sometimes Mom or Dad to get some things) but I try to get more time with them alone because that is what College Coaches want and expect when they are recruiting them.”

Joyce Wellhoefer
NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network Senior Recruiting Coach

At the Conference one of the top Softball Coaches in the country was talking to me about things she looked for regarding character in athletes. In that sport, at certain times, all of the athletes are in the dugout together when the team is at bat. She said one thing that would turn her off is the talented athlete that comes into the dugout, sits down, and yells, “Mom!! Red Gatorade! NOW!!” She says that happens more than you would think. Scratch that kid off the Recruiting List…

It was funny how she said it, but she had a point. On the other hand, she said the kind of player that really jumps out at her is that center fielder that goes out the outfield calmly but firmly giving instructions to her fellow outfielders, and saying something along the lines of, “Nothing gets past us to the fence!” College Coaches want that kind of determined, respectful young person that has a fire within. That kind of young person is competitive, sets high standards, and is a leader.

There is a great need for athletes and families to be educated on what leads to a successful recruiting experience.

To bring NCSA Recruiting Education to your Summer Camp, League, Parents Meeting, High School or Club Event click here

To Set up a Personal Evaluation Time with a Former College Coach or Athlete to make sure You understand the Recruiting Process, click here

Charlie Adams

NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network Educational Speaker

cadams@ncsasports.org

NCSA Verified Member Chad Kelly, nephew of Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly, is bursting on to the scene of college football recruiting.   ESPN’s Corey Long wrote a recent article summarizing Kelly’s recruiting outlook so far.  Kelly is 6’3, over 200 lbs, and runs a 4.56 40 yd dash.

Chad’s profile on NCSA’s Recruit Match Database has been viewed by over 50 Division I Universities.  Accordingly, he has 15 scholarship offers that Kelly has narrowed down to 7 top choices.

Florida State

Alabama

Clemson

Purdue

Michigan State

Buffalo

Syracuse

Playing out of St. Joseph’s Collegiate institute in Buffalo, NY, Kelly has been a huge surprise to most of the big guns of the recruiting world.  Even his uncle did not realize how much Chad would be recruited.  Coming from a small catholic school, Kelly stuck it out through the recruiting process to gain the exposure and looks he has proved he deserves.

The NCSA team wishes the best of luck to Chad Kelly as he makes his college decision in about a month or so.

Dave Schnell was named the number one High School football recruit in the country in 1985 by Sports Illustrated. Just about every major power recruited him.

“Howard Schnellenberger (former University of Miami and Louisville Head Coach) was in my house three times,” said Tom Kurth, Dave’s former Head Football Coach at Elkhart Central High School. “All of the major schools wanted him.”

Students would hear that Joe Paterno was in the school building. Coach Kurth had chairs outside his office so the college coaches could wait to deliver their recruiting pitch.

Dave died early in the morning of May 22nd after a hard fought battle against cancer.

He was just 44 years old.

Though many knew he had been sick since 2007, it is still hard to believe. Think about that High School sports icon in your community, that larger than life figure. You think they are invincible and can’t be brought down.

After Dave died, I called Coach Kurth to reflect on his former players life, the impact College Sports had on Dave, and reflections on recruiting.

“I was very proud to be his High School coach,” said Kurth, “and very proud of what he did as a College Quarterback, but I am most proud of the concern and love he had for his four children as a parent. He was always deeply concerned they do the right thing.”

At Elkhart Central High School, Dave was a six foot three inch and 218 pound quarterback who never carried himself as if he were better than others. After he passed away, this was one of the many posts on his facebook page:”With all his success and records he set, Dave always remained humble and made time for others.”

He also maintained a work ethic that the great ones have if they want to truly succeed at the next level. He had the God given size and strength (some say they never saw a human being throw a bowling ball so hard…) yet he didn’t rest on his laurels.

“Dave and I would go into the High School gym late at night in the winter,” reflected Kurth, “and do a series of drills. We would get in there as late as 10:00 and then go over 3 step drops, 5 step, 7 steps. He would pass into a basket from various angles. He would run, do step drills, jump rope. He was coachable there and on the field. He never once complained about anything I asked him to do to get better. I would take him around to coaching clinics and we would show them the drills we had set up.”

The major D1 schools recruited him relentlessly. As it wound down, Kurth continued to emphasize the importance of finding a place where he would be more than just a football player, and that sports was a vehicle to get an education. He chose in-state Big Ten school Indiana University partly because Kurth knew many of the coaches there and knew he would be taken care of, and that he would get an education. He did, going on to be the owner of Berkey Insurance in Elkhart.

“That he signed with I.U. shocked some people,” said Kurth. “He turned down Miami, Penn State, Michigan and many others.”

Sadly, the day Dave signed his National Letter of Intent during his senior season of High School, he and his family buried his Dad, Spencer.

“I never will forget,” said Kurth, “that I.U. Head Football Coach Bill Mallory came all the way up for the funeral. Then, when Dave got real sick this past week and the end looked like it was near, I called Coach Mallory again (who is now retired) and he immediately dropped what he was doing and came to visit Dave in the Hospital during his final days. He will be back for the funeral.”

When Dave was too ill to accept his induction into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame last May, Coach Mallory was there in his place. With him was Anthony Thompson, Dave’s teammate who was the 1989 Heisman Trophy runner up as a running back. Mallory gave a powerful, emotional acceptance speech on behalf of Dave.

That is the bond that forms when a young person finds the right fit to be a college student-athlete. They bond for life. Dave always said that Coach Mallory was that father figure he needed so much after his own Dad died. All recruits should put a major emphasis on making sure the coach they play for in college is a person of integrity and character like Mallory.

He led I.U. to their first win over Michigan in twenty years. He was the QB when I.U. beat Ohio State 31-10, the first time I.U. had defeated Ohio State in thirty six years! It was a game that Buckeyes Head Coach Earle Bruce called the “darkest day” in Ohio State history.

In that game, which was in Columbus on Ohio State’s home field, the score was tied at ten early in the second half when I.U. got the ball on their own three yard line. The Buckeye fans got loud. Dave, in an act that is still talked about, walked back from the line of scrimmage and turned to the Ohio State fans. He started waving his arms for them to get louder. The fans were stunned, and promptly got a lot louder as he kept waving his arms. He then drove his team right down the field 97 yards for a touchdown like a knife through warm butter. He later told friends his offense was so confident and in such sync that they knew the Buckeyes could not stop them. That’s what every college athlete strives for, to have a team in such harmony that it really doesn’t matter what the opponent does.

Coach Mallory (a conservative coach who probably had 10 1/2 heart attacks when Dave was egging on the crowd) later told the Indiana Daily Student that Dave walked up to him after the score, poked him three times in the chest, and said, “Coach, you gotta have poise!!”

“That was Dave,” Mallory told the newspaper. “He was a winner and that was how he led.”

To this day that is the only time Indiana has won at Ohio State in over half a century. He became the only quarterback in I.U. history to beat Ohio State and Michigan in the same season. He was part of three straight Bowl teams, including throwing for 378 yards in a MVP effort in the Liberty Bowl against South Carolina. His best game was his last, the Liberty Bowl. What a way to go out as a college athlete!

Like many star recruits, he could have gone to an established program and been a part of championship teams. Instead, he made his mark on a program that was up and coming at the time. Indiana was 4-18 the two years before Dave. Many recruits would have wilted under going into such a challenge. Not Dave. He wanted to be a difference maker. Recruits have to consider that – do they want to help maintain a program, or build one. It is personal to each recruit.

Even though Dave was the nation’s number one High School football recruit, he didn’t think it was “a given” that he would be a NFL player. He got his education in college. The Buffalo Bills got him out of college but with their superstar QB Jim Kelly there, Dave’s pro career did not last long. With his education and the network you establish as a college athlete, though, he was able to establish a successful business.

I last saw Dave in January of 2010. He came out to hear NCSA’s College Recruiting Simplified at his alma mater, Elkhart Central. We had a big turnout in the cafeteria. The photo below shows Athletic Director “Buck” Buckley speaking at the event. Ironically, one of his goals as A.D. is to bring Elkhart Central back to the mental and physical toughness they had in the 1980′s when the likes of Dave Schnell played there.

Dave came up to me afterwards with that special smile of his and talked about how he wanted to learn more about recruiting today. His four kids are pretty darn good at sports, and he figured the more educated he was on recruiting in today’s world, the more opportunities for them. He wasn’t like some former bigtime athletes that think they have recruiting all figured out and don’t realize how much it has changed since they played.

He got sick again that year, but you never would have known it with his “never give up” attitude. One of the things college sports teaches is to always battle back. When he was a quarterback in the Big Ten, those fast, strong defensive lineman and linebackers would knock him backwards. He would get right back up! In life, it was the same. Dave was twice diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia starting in 2007 when he suddenly got real sick. At one point after chemo he was in such bad shape that they read his Last Rites to him. He would not give in and beat the first wave into remission. Afterwards, he said this to the Indiana Daily Student:

“All the running and mental stress that I went through at IU made me mentally tough,” Schnell said. “Then I got sick, and I said, ‘Wow, all that really helped me through both of my bouts with cancer.’”

For Schnell, refusing to give in doesn’t require physical strength or prowess, but rather the right mind set.

“When you’re fighting cancer or any major illness, it not only takes a toll on you physically, but mentally as well,” Schnell said. “You have to be mentally tough and you never give up. You say you’re going to beat this thing, and that’s the way it is.”

He had a relapse of the leukemia in 2010 and fought it until the very end. It was so bad that at times he had to sit in his Hospital room without being able to see his family because of infection risks. His longtime friend Robert Buss told me of the final fight.

“Twelve hours before he died,” Robert reflected, “I was with him. He was asking the nurses to get him up so he could walk around and get better. He got up Saturday morning with no nutrition in him. It had been a week, maybe two since he had eaten. He couldn’t hold eight ounces of water….but he drank a whole Ensure and had another for lunch. He was always so positive and was even joking with his mother about a thousand dollar bet on him being able to go home, but he died at 3 in the morning…he had the heart of a Lion.”

“At IU he was known for being so clutch and having such poise,” Robert said. “He didn’t understand you were supposed to lose certain games, which is why he beat Ohio State and Michigan. He changed the rules, and we thought he could change the rules on this, but at the end it was too much.”

His High School Coach, Tom Kurth, and I talked for a long time two days after Dave’s death about Dave, and then about the recruiting process. Now retired, Coach Kurth talked about their bond, and about how years after playing at Elkhart Central Dave would come back and watch High School practice up on the hill. Coach Kurth would go up and sit down next to him and they would talk.

“He was my friend,” said Kurth. “I am really going to miss him.”

Tom Kurth was one of the High School coaches that played a very active role in helping his athletes find college scholarships. It was easy with Dave because he was the number one rated High School football player in the country according to S.I. But as recruiting expert Tom Lemming says, if you are not one of the top 100 or 200 in your sport, you have to be proactive in recruiting. You can’t wait for college coaches to come after you.

“I observed my Dad when he was coach at Hobart High,” said Kurth. “He really wanted kids to better themselves and go to college. He said the greatest reward you could get as a High School coach was when they said, ‘Thank you.’”

Kurth was the head football coach at Elkhart Central from 1966 to 2001 and the Track and Field coach longer than that. He helped 97 kids get full Division One athletic scholarships and countless others to all levels of college football and track and field. His football program was so strong Alabama signed three of his kids. Bear Bryant used to be a regular visitor to Elkhart Central.

Kurth was ahead of his time because, even then, he knew it was best to start the process early.

“I always told the players if you want to go to college we would start when they were sophomores by writing letters. In a nice way I saw the kids as commodities and to sell a commodity you have to get it out there. The reason I wrote letters early was to create awareness and when the kids got good the college coaches knew about them. I still have letters I wrote to Bill Walsh when he was at Stanford. They all wrote me back.”

“A lot of the kids all wanted to be at D1 schools,” said Kurth. “I didn’t want some of them over their heads. I always said what you want to focus on first is a place where you can find your area of interest in education. I constantly preached to use athletics as a vehicle to an education. Second, I encouraged them to go where they could play. When you get there, it doesn’t matter if there are 5,000 people in the stands or 100,000, what you care about is if you play! I had a really good player named Mike Stock that took visits to D3, D2, mid major D1 and bigtime D1 programs. He ended up signing with Alabama, but he wanted to see all levels to make sure he found the right fit.”

“Families need guidance,” said Kurth. “Charlie, that is why it is so important what you and NCSA do. I admire what you all are doing because they just don’t know. For example, there are more single mothers today than ever before.”

Kurth was a High School coach that considered it his responsibility to help athletes find college scholarships. “I was in coaching to help kids,” he said. “I was not a great coach. I had great athletes and great assistant coaches. It has always bothered me that a lot of High School coaches are not involved in the process. Some think that when the kid is done with High School, they are done with the kid and that it is not their responsibility. I cared so much that I always made it a point to go see my kids play in college, whether they were at Alabama or Northern Illinois or Franklin College. It meant a lot to them to see their High School coach in the stands.”

Kurth was motivated to help kids become college athletes because he had a remarkable experience at Wittenberg University, where he played football. Was it the SEC or Big Ten? No, but he loved it.

“If the good Lord would give me any four years of my life to live over again,” said Kurth, “I would pick those four at Wittenberg in a heartbeat.”

That is why if you have the God given ability to be a college athlete, don’t let this once in a lifetime opportunity slip away. You may not be recruited by every college in the country like Dave Schnell, but there is a place out there for you if you are committed, have the athletic ability, and the academic ability.

Dave may be gone, but he will live on as a role model to all alums of Indiana University, Elkhart Central, the Northern Indiana Conference, Elkhart County, and most importantly to his family and friends.

“Dave was the best Dad I ever saw,” said Robert, his longtime friend. “His kids, Spencer, Sam, Vinnie and Brooke, were always number one. He lived for them.”

If you go to facebook and search Dave Schnell you will see the endless heartfelt writings about the impact a college athlete can have on others, including these:

“Dave, you leave behind a legacy not only of your greatness on the field, but the greatness in which you treated those you knew.”

“With all the success and records he set, Dave always remained humble and had time for others.”

“When I lost my job Dave Schnell asked me what he could do for me. I will never forget that.”

“I used to dream of being David as a kid playing street football on Roys Avenue.”

“From Hebrews: ‘With so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every burden and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.’ You endured through this long and difficult battle with leukemia. And always will you live on in your sweet children and in all those who were luck enough to know you. Peace, friend ….. peace.”

At the Viewing for Dave, his I.U. football jersey was draped over the casket with a framed picture of him under pressure in the pocket, firing a pass downfield for his Hoosiers.

Memorials can be given to the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church or David E. Schnell Football Scholarship through Key Bank, 1842 E. Bristol St. Elkhart, IN 46514.

For more on his battle in his final hours read Columnist Bill Beck’s touching story in The Elkhart Truth

Charlie Adams, former WSBT TV Sports Director

NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network Educational Speaker

cadams@ncsasports.org  To Bring Recruiting Education to your School, Club or Event

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:

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

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

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

When NCSA Educational Speakers deliver their message on the recruiting process, the importance of Character and Academics is a driving force. Earlier this week I emphasized those points at LaPorte High School.

Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote a powerful article on the eve of the 2011 NFL Draft about Robert Hughes and his dream of playing at the pro level. The Notre Dame senior running back has the physical tools and the drive. A great motivation is the memory of his late brother Tony, who was shot and killed 3 1/2 years ago near his Chicago home.

Tony was an outstanding athlete who had football scholarship offers from Big 10 Universities, but he didn’t hit the books and could not meet academic requirements. His football career came up short of where it could have gone.

In the article, Jensen describes how Tony shifted his focus on making sure Robert did not make the same mistakes. Here is part of the article:

“Tony sometimes picked Robert up from Hubbard High School after work and always checked his report card.

‘‘We can’t let him do what I did and mess up his grades,’’ Tony would tell his mother.

‘‘It was something that I was hearing left and right from my mom and brother,’’ Robert said. ‘‘You had to learn from it, or things weren’t going to be good.’’

Once, to bolster his point, Tony posted his full week’s paycheck from Starbucks on Robert’s bedroom door with a note.

‘‘This is what I make right now, for my mistake,’’ Tony wrote.

Right below that, he posted the minimum salary for an NFL player, which was $230,000 at the time.

‘‘This is what you can make if you bust your tail and don’t make the mistakes I made,’’ wrote Tony.”

Robert listened. Recruited by many schools, he signed with Notre Dame because of academics and has earned his Sociology degree. Though not expected to be a high Draft pick, he will most likely play in the NFL. Running backs last about 8 years if they are lucky (most just a few years), so he knows his degree will make sure the 40 to 50 years after his pro career reach their potential.

While Robert listened, so many athletes – especially football and basketball players – don’t and end up failing to reach their potential as a College student-athlete. Athletes most often respond to that credible third party that delivers a message of the importance of character and taking care of academics. I can’t tell you how many Schools and Clubs I have delivered Talks at where the leader says, “We tell the kids over and over but it’s us telling them…they really respond when that outside source tells them.”

In the article, their mother Blanchie says, “Had I had the information that I had for Robert, then Tony could have been in the same spot (an athletic scholarship), but you learn through trial and error.”

Their family did not have recruiting education when Tony came through the process. After Tony came up short, he made sure to get educated. There continues to be a huge lack of education about the recruiting process, calling many athletes to fall through the cracks or underachieve their scholarship potential. When I spoke at LaPorte High, their outstanding Athletic Director Ed Gilliland told me of a survey he did with a group of community advisors he meets with on a regular basis to go over things. Tops on their list was the need for the community to get educated about the College Athletics recruiting process. He brought in NCSA and South Bend Athletics Director Kirby Whitacre (who has a lot of experience in helping families understand recruiting) to speak in their Auditorium. Athletes in hockey, football, basketball, golf, track and XC, softball, volleyball and baseball, as well as their families, attended.

NCSA has a stable of speakers who excelled academically in College and in their sport and many that played at the professional level. They are ready to speak to your young people, athletes and coaches about the recruiting process. NCSA speakers are requested at more than 1500 high schools and events each year to help athletes in all sports understand the process. Thanks to a partnership with the NFL Players Association, we do these events for free!

To learn more either send an email to askcoachtaylor@ncsasports.org or fill out the short form at this link

To read the entire story on running back Robert Hughes and his quest to reach the NFL to honor his late brother Tony

To talk with a College Scout now to see where you are in the Recruiting Process

Charlie Adams

NCSA Athletic Recruiting Network Senior Speaker

cadams@ncsasports.org

Yesterday, SI.com writer Andy Staples published an article about this year’s NFL Draft prospects and how each of them were viewed coming out of high school.  Of the top 32 prospects expected to go in the first round on Thursday, many received mid-level rankings from most scouts and websites.  It is striking how some of the best players in college football were overlooked coming out of high school.

Defensive End J.J Watt, projected to be drafted mid-first round on Thursday night, received no stars as a recruit coming out of high school.  After playing tight end for a year at Central Michigan, Watt decided to walk on at Wisconsin.  He picked up a day job and attended community college just to pay for his Wisconsin tuition.  In 2008, however, Watt did walk on to the team, earned a scholarship, and became the most dominant defensive player in the Big Ten for the past two seasons.

Offensive Tackle Anthony Castonzo is also projected in the top 15 for the draft.  Castonzo demolishes the stereotype of dumb jock, coming out of high school with a 35 on his ACT.  Unsatisfied with the offers he received out of high school, Anthony chose to attend a military academy for a year hoping to get a bit more attention.  Taking hold of his recruiting through persistence and great performance, Anthony ended up at Boston College the following season.  Castonzo started at OT as a true freshman and broke a school record for games started with 54.  Oh, and he graduated with a degree in biochemistry.

Being a great student athlete does not guarantee the attention you want from college coaches.  Again, you cannot expect to simply “get noticed” by the coaches of every school you would like to play for.  If a student athlete is smart about the recruiting process, proactive, and reaches out to build relationships with coaches, he or she can open up so many opportunities for the future both athletically and academically.  Let Watt and Castonzo be examples that some stars are not noticed right away in high school, they are not in the equation until later.  It is your job to put yourself in the equation, make a coach notice you.

Read Staple’s article here

UPDATE: Just before Christmas 2011, the Detroit Lions signed former Benton Harbor High School Tiger Joique Bell to a 2 year contract. As I write down below, Joique made it to the NFL via Division 2 in College Sports. That story plus powerful recruiting wisdom from a High School coach that played at the D1 level.

NCSA provides recruiting education and motivation at Benton Harbor (MI) High School. Head Football Coach Larry Jackson and I spoke about recruiting before speaking there. Jackson played at Fullerton Junior College, where he was an All-American running back.  Following two years at Fullerton, he transferred to Michigan State University, where he became a two-year letter winner football and track and field. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from MSU. Jackson and his wife, Rhonda Jackson, have two sons. He cares deeply that High School athletes maximize their opportunities to use their athletic ability to get a college degree.

“Charlie, it is important that young people know they need to start the recruiting process early especially regarding academics,” he said. “They need to know about Core GPA and to research Colleges and know their entrance information.” In the halls of Benton Harbor High School there are signs that tell the minimum ACT scores needed to enter various Universities, which I thought was helpful information to students.

“Athletes today think the recruiting process just happens,” said Coach Jackson. “Many of them also don’t understand how disciplined they have to be in academics. They have to be on top of things because they are competing against thousands of athletes for scholarships.  Families also have to know the FAFSA and fill that out. A lot of parents don’t even get into that.”

Coach Jackson helped to set up the event for athletes of all sports and their families. He made sure coaches from school were there so they could learn more about recruiting. Even though he had played major D1 football, he was there to learn more about how recruiting is today, and he left with copies of “Athletes Wanted” so that coaches could use it as a resource.

In College Recruiting Simplified, NCSA Speakers thoroughly go over everythings families need to know and that they must do to maximize scholarship opportunities. At the April 19th Benton Harbor Talk I mentioned that 11th grade football players that were truly on the D1 radar should have received a phone call starting in a April 15th window. Sure enough, Coach Jackson said a couple of his D1-projected players had received a phone call earlier that week. That’s a strong sign that they can realistically play at that level. A school like Benton Harbor, which has produced the likes of Wilson Chandler of the NBA and Joique Bell of the Detroit Lions, is going to have more D1 prospects than a smaller school.

One of the best Benton Harbor football players in recent years was Joique Bell, who nailed the Evaluation Process and the College Sports experience. In High School Bell excelled in football as a quarterback with remarkable running abilities. He also played basketball helping the team to a #11 national ranking, placed seventh in the 110m hurdles (14.9) at the 2005 state track meet, and also participated in baseball. He served as a team captain in football, baseball and track.

When it came to recruiting, D2 was the best fit. He signed with Wayne State and rushed for 6728 yards as a 6’1″ 223 pound running back, 8th most in NCAA Football history. He won the Harlon Hill trophy (D2′s Heisman) as a senior and was a 2 time Captain who graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice. He is now a member of the Detroit Lions in the NFL. A major reason why is that he PLAYED in College. Had he gone to a higher level College that wasn’t the right fit that might not have been the case and his NFL dream could have died. His ultimate goal is to use his degree to serve in the FBI.

Joique Bell got it right. He has set himself up for the next 40 years. To make sure you have an objective evaluation of where you stand in the recruiting process set up your recruiting evaluation now!

Coaches, Athletic Directors and Parents: To make sure your athletes and families understand the recruiting process, you can bring in a NCSA Recruiting Expert. These are former College and  Pro athletes and coaches as well as sportscasters and College Athletics administrators. These presentations are filled with critical information as well as candid motivation in academics and character.

To bring a NCSA Recruiting Expert to your School, Club or Special Event

Charlie Adams

NCSA Speaker, Recruiting Expert, and parent of current N.C.A.A. athlete

cadams@ncsasports.org

Just because you are an All Conference or really good Club athlete, it doesn’t mean you want to play College. Sometimes we assume every good High School or Club athlete is dead set on playing at the next level, but that is often not the case.

Recently I spoke on the recruiting process at the Mizuno Mideast Regional Volleyball Qualifiers in Indianapolis.

Thousands of really good volleyball players were on hand along with coaches and parents. NCSA provides the recruiting education at events such as this one. While many of the players are totally committed to playing at the college level, I had many parents tell me their daughter wasn’t sure she wanted to compete at that level. These were very good All Conference caliber players who could play there. But, many don’t because:

1) They understand the commitment to play college sports and are not sure that is for them

2) They have played their sport so much that they are either fried or simply just want to be a regular college student who does some intramurals.

3) They are picking a very hard academic major and don’t feel they can do both in college.

This is why it is critical to have an online profile and it is just as important to do a thorough evaluation. The online profile is one way to send out a green flag that you are serious about playing college. College coaches are looking for those kind of athletes that are qualified to play at their level and are on fire to do so. They don’t have time to discern who is serious about playing college and who is not.  Though it may come as a surprise to some, there are top Club and High School athletes (especially in sports other than football and basketball) who simply want to go to good ol’ State University, join a fraternity or sorority, play some intramurals to stay connected to their sport, and have more of a typical college experience. It might be that cross country runner that put in a zillion miles of running in High Schools and went all-out but now just wants to back off in college. Or, that swimmer that worked so hard in morning and afternoon practices for years and has simply had enough. That is why YOU need a way to let college coaches know you still have plenty in the tank and are ready. You need a way to put all your accomplishments together so that you can open the recruiting door. Don’t wait for them to figure out that you have the fire within. Be proactive in recruiting!

Start building your online Recruiting Profile now

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CHARACTER COUNTS

In a recent Chicago Sun Times article on 6′ 6″ Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale, writer Rick Morrissey wrote that Sales only had one Division One offer coming out of high school. The primary reason so many stayed away was his “dynamite-stick temper.” Sales, who is now 22, admits maturity was his biggest problem. This is what he told the newspaper:

“Giving up home runs, showing emotion on the mound, having a bad inning, coming in and throwing my glove – all the outside stuff that just brings negativity to your team and your dugout. Stuff that’s just not needed. So I think Colleges thought, ‘This guy could be a problem in a dugout.‘

There was just one offer for this talented pitcher because most programs did not want that stuff in their dugout. Sale was so good that at Florida Gulf Coast University during the 2010 season he posted an 11-0 record and a 2.01 ERA over 17 games. Sale pitched 103 innings while striking out 146 and walking just 14. Still, he didn’t get much recruiting interest because most College programs were leery of his temper.

College Coaches want talent, but not at the expense of team chemistry. Some will take chances, but most simply go to then next player on their recruiting list.

The Notre Dame women’s basketball team recently played for the National Championship. Their longtime head coach Muffet McGraw has said that when recruits visit campus, they often all go to the popular bookstore gift shop. She says the recruit that humbly says, “I don’t need anything” to her parents gains a lot more points than the recruit that is scooping up hoodies and shirts and all kinds of things for Mom or Dad to buy. That’s not a major thing, but it is little thing that adds up with other things to separate recruits.  College coaches are watching. They watch how you interact with parents after games, how you carry your bags from the bus to the building, how you react to an official’s bad call, how you act when you are out of the game, and on and on….

They have lists, and in many ways they are looking for reasons to take a recruit off that list. The young person of outstanding character and ability will find themselves staying on that list all the way to Signing Date.

To bring a NCSA Speaker to your School or Club to talk Character, Academics and the Recruiting Process

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Finding the Right Level of College Athletics for YOUR athlete

While in Virginia recently to speak to football players and their families at the Schuman National Underclassmen Combine in Hampton, VA (NCSA provides recruiting education for Schuman events)

I learned that all five seniors of the Princess Anne High School (Virginia Beach, VA) girl’s basketball team were headed to college programs.

Jazmen Boone will play for William and Mary. Amanda Andrades will play for Farleigh Dickinson. Maquasia Ferebee will go to Virginia State. Elizabeth Williams has signed with Duke while Andrea Paphites has inked with Carson-Newman. That’s a remarkable accomplishment (the five players helped the team win the AAA State Title) and it is a good example of the range of college’s out there.

Did all of the girls sign major D1? No, just one, to Duke in the A.C.C. William and Mary is D1, but not at Duke’s level. Carson-Newman is D2. So is Virginia State. Fairleigh Dickinson is a lower level of D1 than Duke. What it boils down to is the girl going to Duke is more gifted as a player than the other girls, but the other girls must be darn good to get scholarships to those other find schools.

The point is that not every player is going to the same level of college athletics. The important thing is to find the right fit athletically and academically for each individual player. The family that has success in recruiting is the one that comes to grip with the right evaluation for their child and doesn’t get all caught up in what level other kids on their team or Club are going. I remember speaking at a major volleyball showcase tournament where I spoke to a mother whose daughter was looking at mid level D1′s like Ball State, Illinois State and East Tennessee State. Her Club team had three other girls that were going to Big Ten Universities. This mother could have become all wound up and somewhat envious about wanting that high D1 level for her kid, but she was realistic and part of the reason was the other girls were simply much taller than her kid. While happy for them, she wanted to find the right fit for her daughter, and it was not a Big Ten school athletically.

I find that more than just about anything families struggle with figuring out what is a realistic evaluation for their child. As legendary retired HS Football Coach Chris Geesman says, “Most kids think they can play a level above where they can really play in College and most parents are TWO levels above!” When we speak we thoroughly go over examples of all the levels of college sports and that is always eye opening to parents. One of the most enlightening things you can do is a thorough evaluation with a NCSA College Scout to help bring clarity to this process. That way you find the right fit for your child.

For an Evaluation of where your athlete is regards to finding the right fit for College Athletics and Scholarships

Charlie Adams

NCSA Recruiting Expert and Senior Educational Speaker

cadams@ncsasports.org