NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

There are varying opinions on the value of playing multiple sports in High School. No doubt, there has been more talk in recent years of ‘specializing’ in one sport.

I was watching the local news last night when WSBT TV (CBS) Mishawaka, IN ran a story on a LaPorte (IN) 12th grade athlete named Dustin Demuth who had received a scholarship to play baseball in the Big Ten at Indiana University starting this fall. The story indicated he had been all conference in football, basketball and baseball in one of the toughest conferences in his state, the Duneland Conference.

LaPorte baseball coach Scott Upp, who leads a baseball program that has been ranked as high as number one in America, had this to say about the growing trend of ‘specialization.’

“If there are coaches out there that are telling kids to play one sport, I think they’re crazy,” Upp said. “Because while you’re working on drills and everything else like that, he’s out competing against Crown Points and Merrillvilles and things like that, running from 6’2”, 280-pound linemen. He’s trying to get away and make plays. So he’s competing, and you can’t really substitute that. And basketball, with time winding down, he’s got the ball in his hands, he’s learning how to compete. And all those things that happen in other sports just make him that much better in baseball.”

Dustin told the station, “I love competition. I love being out there with my team and making plays, and I’m just fortunate enough to play three sports”

If you would like to view the story

What are your thoughts?

For Immediate Release, May 3rd 2010

The National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA), a nationwide college athletic recruiting organization, has partnered with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) in an unprecedented move that signifies each organization’s commitment to further education and opportunities for all student athletes.

NCSA has earned the reputation as the most trusted source for college athletic recruiting education, data, and technology for collegiate coaches, student athletes, and their families. Now, the collaboration between the two organizations will allow members of the NFLPA to take an active role in supporting NCSA’s efforts to empower all students who are looking for more opportunities through athletic scholarships.

Through NCSA’s “College Recruiting Simplified” seminar program, an impressive list of current and former professional athletes, coaches and sportscasters work as educational speakers for NCSA. Super Bowl Champion Derrick Mayes, four-time Pro Bowler Blaine Bishop, and 1990 All-Decade team member Levon Kirkland are among the former NFL players currently traveling the country to speak to student athletes about their own experiences with college and professional recruiting.

This mutually supportive relationship with the NFLPA has resulted in NCSA becoming the largest employer of former NFL players worldwide. According to Director of NCSA’s Speakers Bureau and former Dallas Cowboy Izell Reese, “NFL players are the ideal candidates to educate the next generation of student athletes on the importance of the college recruiting process.”

“As an active professional athlete, you are always conscious of life after football,” added Reese, who also serves as Vice President of the NFLPA Retired Players Atlanta Chapter. “Working with NCSA has provided a meaningful career that allows us to interact with kids and educate them on the recruitment process through our personal experiences.”

The NFLPA will also lend its support to NCSA’s National School Lunch Program, which offers extended recruiting services to student athletes who show extraordinary promise but may not have the financial means to support their dreams of playing college sports. The outreach program is available for student athletes who qualify for the organization’s free recruiting services and also receive “reduced or free lunches” at their high schools.

“The partnership for us is simple,” NFLPA Director of Retired Player Andre Collins said. “We see NCSA as a premiere company that not only enhances the college recruitment process, but serves as an essential and advantageous resource for all student athletes.”

Our high school football journey began during Shavarez’s Junior year at Eagle’s Landing High School in McDonough, Georgia. His new , first year head coach did not have a tailback. He demanded that Shavarez play tailback due to his natural athletic ability and speed. Shavarez had always considered himself to be a wide receiver. I convinced him to play tailback, against my better judgment and despite knowing that as a Junior, his scholarship recruiting goals would be affected. Three games into his Junior season, Shavarez broke his big toe playing tailback and would miss the rest of his Junior season. We are now, really behind the “power curve”. Therefore, I asked the head coach to agree that since he played tailback this year, that he would return to his natural position during his Senior year to compete for a scholarship.

The next series of events, while unfortunate, led to my introduction to NCSA and much unfamiliar recruitment techniques. The coach refused to honor his end of the bargain to return Shavarez to wide receiver and chose to sideline him during spring training and not play him at all. As a parent, I became concerned about my son’s morale and future. I decided to transfer him to Henry County High School also in McDonough, Georgia. I met with the coach and shared my concerns and goals. The head coach needed a wide receiver and was very supportive and impressed with Shavarez during combines and camps earlier in the summer.

It was then that I decided that I must find professional resources and quick means of exposing Shavarez’s skills despite having no high school film to share with recruiters. I signed him up for several well known camps in the area as well as out of state. It was at the Mark Richt Georgia Football Camp that another parent told me about NCSA. I researched information on NCSA. Then I attended a Nike combine in Atlanta where an NCSA representative, Joe Burns gave an overview of NCSA. I took the pamphlets and application and enrolled immediately. Now, it was critical to get video from the camps and then hope that Shavarez has a good Senior season at wide receiver. I invested in a very good camcorder to produce quality footage to submit to NCSA and college recruiters. NCSA immediately constructed our site and Scouting Report following an informative phone interview with my family. Remember, earlier in my journal, I mentioned that we need a process that was quick and would expose Shavarez’s skills and accomplishments. Well, I am honest when I say that, when NCSA got the first three game highlight video and circulated the footage to multiple schools throughout the country, great things happened immediately. The responses were not all from D-1 schools, but we understood that most schools recruit one year to three years out. So realistically, D-1 was not of primary concern. Shavarez had a stellar season and received many honors at wide receiver. We received many calls and/or letters from D-II, and Junior Colleges, and a few from D-1. I began feeling confident that we would at least get an all paid college placement somewhere. NCSA allowed me to have a second video on the site. I chose to wait until the end of the season to post that video. That strategy proved most effective as the signing period does not end until April 1st, allowing much time to peek the interest of late recruiters. The most impressive thing about NCSA is the constant contact and inquiries from the NCSA recruiting staff. Also, they responded promptly to all my questions and ensured my Scouting Report was always updated.

As a parent, I had a conversation with my son and asked what your goal in athletics and academics is. Once I understood that he wanted to play college football, I began scheduling ACT tests and getting with counselors to ensure that the core courses were covered. It is imperative to enroll with NCAA Clearing House (Eligibility Center) and get your ID #. Nearly all coaches will ask about your Clearing House status. Failure to enroll could turn-off some recruiters. The best advice that I can add at this point is to never give up or feel hopeless. If scholarship does not look imminent you may want to inquire about getting recruited in preferred walk-on status. It’s not as bad as it sound. In preferred walk-on status, the athlete is guaranteed a spot on the team roster. You may have to foot the cost during enrollment to the college but the athlete has an equal opportunity to compete for a scholarship and starting position. In the traditional walk-on status, the athlete has to earn a spot on the roster and is not guaranteed the spot up front as is the preferred walk-on.

Hope my journal is informative and appreciated. Don’t waste time. Now is the time regardless of the athlete’s school grade. Your hard work and perseverance will pay off in some capacity.

Steven Smith

Norwalk High School CA 3/30/2010 Ricky Ellis

Twin Lakes High School IN 3/30/2010 Charlie Adams

Urbana High School IL 3/30/2010 Randy Taylor

C.E. Ellison High School 3/31/2010 Othello Henderson

Carmel High School CA 3/31/2010 Derrick Mayes

Champaign Central High School IL 3/31/2010 Randy Taylor

Heritage High School CA 3/31/2010 Julian Jenkins

Kiski Area High School PA 3/31/2010 Jai Hill

NIKE Combine – Baltimore, MD 4/3/2010 Howard Stevens

Richmond Police Athletic League “Rock Out” CA 4/3/2010 Julian Jenkins

Schuman NUC – Boise, ID 4/3/2010 Paul Putnam

Schuman NUC – Durham, NC 4/3/2010 Tony Collins

Schuman NUC – Hampton Roads, VA 4/3/2010 Mike Tomczak

Schuman NUC – Nashville, TN 4/3/2010 Blaine Bishop

Hofball Baseball Fever Classic FL 4/5/2010 Rich Hofman

Mesa Verde High School CA 4/5/2010 Derrick Mayes

Plymouth High School IN 4/5/2010 Charlie Adams

Burnsville High School MN 4/6/2010 Randy Taylor

Cosumnes Oaks High School CAl 4/6/2010 Derrick Mayes

San Rafael High School CA 4/6/2010 Julian Jenkins

Alta High School UT 4/7/2010 Paul Putnam

Monessen High School PA 4/7/2010 Mike Tomczak

Trucks Training CA 4/7/2010 Julian Jenkins

Jamestown High School VA 4/8/2010 Howard Stevens

Schuman NUC – Mobile, AL 4/10/2010 Izell Reese

Schuman NUC – Orlando, FL 4/10/2010 Phil Clarke

Schuman NUC – Philadelphia, PA 4/10/2010 Cecil Martin

Schuman NUC – San Angelo, TX 4/10/2010 Othello Henderson

Steubenville HS Football Combine OH 4/11/2010 Jai Hill

Tennis Pros of Atlanta GA 4/11/2010 Nicole Watson

Former Quarterback Terry Hanratty is the only Notre Dame player to finish in the top 10 of the Heisman balloting three straight years. He went on to become Terry Bradshaw’s backup for the Super Bowl powerhouse Steelers. This is a man that understands the Sports experience. He is also someone who is right in the middle of a child being recruited, like so many of us.

From his second marriage, Hanratty has two children, including 16 year old Conor, who is being recruited. I picked up a copy of Blue and Gold Illustrated and read an interesting story by outstanding writer Lou Somogyi on Terry Hanratty’s perspective of the recruiting process of his son.

His son Conor, even though he won’t turn 17 until late summer, is already 6-5 and 300 pounds. When I speak, I say the D1 thing may come because of God given things like the size Conor has been blessed with. D1 is a realistic level for him to play at in College.

In the article, it is revealed that young Conor, an 11th grader, has already been given a written scholarship offer by Notre Dame for the 2011 class. Although his Dad went to ND, they are still looking at many other possibilities.

In two months they will take a West Coast visit to Stanford and Cal. They have already visited Wisconsin and Iowa, as well as Duke, Virginia and Boston College.

Of course, with Dad Hanratty having played for Notre Dame, it would mean a lot for his son to play there, but this what the elder Hanratty says about it:

“I want Conor to make the best decision for his future. I’ve told Conor, ‘Notre Dame was the greatest decision in the world for me, but you’re not me, this is a different era and a different coach.’ The main goal is to lok at the best academic/athletic schools, meet with the faculty, and I’ve told him it’s going to hit you when you know which is the right school.”

In the article, Hanratty talked about the differences in recruiting back when he was being recruited in 1965 compared to today’s accelerated pace of recruiting.

“The tenacity of recruiting because of the early offers now given to high school players today,” said Hanratty. “My son started getting seriously recruited after his sophomore year, and I thought it was crazy. But things today are also more by the book with restrictions on how many calls they can make, etc. Back then, schools from all over the country were offering me cars, houses, money, my best friend would get a scholarship with me to go to the school . . . . it was like the ol’ Wild West.”

Whether his son goes to Notre Dame or somewhere else, he wants him to be a true student-athlete, something we should all insist for our children in recruiting. He recoiled when thinking about some of the pitiful grad rates of some D1 Football programs.

“The grad rates at some of the schools are abominable and the NCAA really needs to step in and have some impact here. These kids cannot be used like that. A very small percentage can get to the pros and the rest are done – and if they’re without a degree in today’s economic climate, then they’re really done.”

The elder Hanratty is proud of true student-athletes like 2009 Heisman runner up Toby Gerhart of Stanford. “He took 21 credit hours last semester, which is amazing,” Hanratty said.

He is on the mark. Never has there been a greater need for a college degree than today’s world. College athletics are not only a way to get a degree, but they also enable young people to develop the “inner fire” that is important to succeed in today’s world – to have that burning desire to compete, to be a total team player in a company, to be solution-minded, and to be a leader. More than ever companies are specifically looking to hire true college student-athletes because of the DNA they bring to their company culture.

Conor Hanratty is looking to to a student-athlete at a top academic school. When he graduates from college in either 2015 or 2016 his resume will go to the top of the pile over most normal college students. He understands that he is making a 40 or 50 year decision, in that being a true college student-athlete at a top academic school, whether it is Boston College, Stanford, Vanderbilt, DePauw, Millsaps or what have you, will have a major impact on the next 40 to 50 years of his life!

Much had been made about USC’s Lane Kiffin much publicized decision to offer a 13 year old a scholarship. True to form he followed up with one outrageous move with another by declaring there is a decided difference between USC and UCLA players. He also can determine that difference almost immediately.

“We know within the first 10 minutes,” Kiffin said in a report by the Orange County Register, “whether they’re the type of guys that want to play here or there.”

Kiffin said he can tell the difference by “the questions that they ask,” the way the recruits carry themselves and a certain “feeling” he gets about them from having worked the area so long, according to the Register report.

He talked about his new recruits at defensive back as an example.

“One of the things I like is not one of these guys asked about a depth chart or who was here or how much can I play or worried about being able to beat people out,” Kiffin said. “Those are the guys that we want to come to SC. Everyone was like that, but especially this group.”

All kidding aside Lane’s recent statements are a reflection of the entire recruiting process.  It does start earlier than ever.  If the USC staff thinks a 13 year old is worthy of a scholarship, then it makes sense for them to be first to extend a verbal offer.

His comment about evaluation time is pretty accurate as well.  Coaches often make snap judgments on blue chip players after only a few plays.  They are what NCSA Recruiting Expert Coach Bob Chmiel calls “2 footers,” as in he only had to watch 2 feet of 16 mm film before he knew he was a scholarship player.

While the USC example is a case of extremes, the underlying lessons need to be absorbed by all recruits.

Bobby Freeman of Snellville GA and Shiloh High School  has a 3.62 GPA with 10 AP classes and other honors classes and was on the Gwinnett County GA All-Star Team. He has just committed to play football at Davidson College, and since they do not give athletic scholarships they gave him a HUGE academic scholarship paying over 75% of his tuition.

Bobby was matched with college coaches 5 times, had two separate videos processed, and participated in a group coaching session.

Bobby’s Grandma, Janice wrote:

Thank you for the exposure he got through NCSA!

We at NCSA want to congratulate Bobby on his commitment, and wish him the best of luck at Davidson!

The University of Michigan offering Aundrey Walker a full-athletic isn’t ground-breaking news.  The 6’5″ 355 offensive tackle has been receiving offers from colleges across the country.  What is ground-breaking is the manner in which he heard from Michigan Coach Rick Rodriguez on his Facebook page.

“I just checked out my Facebook page and Coach [Rich] Rodriguez just sent me a message that I had an offer from them,” Walker reported. “I’m blessed and honored, but at the same time I am staying humble because it can be taken away from me at any time.”

Walker replied to Coach Rodriguez with his home address so he can receive the official offer from the Wolverines in the mail. He said it is likely he will make an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor on Feb. 20 for Michigan’s Junior Day so he can learn more about what they have to offer.

“I’m interested in anybody who is interested in me,” Walker said. “Now that [Michigan] has offered me and shown me that they love me, my interest level is medium to high.”

College Coaches are now actively using Social Media to contact recruits in a meaningful and personal way.  Recruits would be wise to:

1) Create Recruiting Specific Social Media Sites, so coaches can easily contact them.

2) Make sure to monitor everything that goes up on the page to ensure it is always professional.

Coach Randy Taylor and Coach Bob Chmiel Present NCSA Today

The Top 10 Recruiting Classes in America

NCSA’s Top 5 Recruits and the Major Signing Day Themes

The Recruiting process has 5 things that every Recruit Must do to get Recruited.  You must

• Get Evaluated
• Post Your Academic/Athletic Resume Online
• Create a Winning Highlight/Skills Video
• Contact 100 to 200 Realistic Programs
• Execute the Proper Recruiting Strategy

Once you understand what need to be done recruits really only have three options.

1. Wait for a coach to find you.
2. Try to go about this difficult process yourself.
3. Get the help of a trusted third party like NCSA

Remember, that this decision will affect the rest of your life.  Are you comfortable leaving it up to chance?  Are you sure you can do it yourself?

Or, you can use someone like NCSA.  You can have all of the necessary tools built by a professional.  you can follow our step-by-step curriculum and get first-hand guidance along the way. You can also leverage the relationships with built with colleges for the past 10 years.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. But if you really want to get recruited, you need to accomplish these steps.