Football Recruiting Expert Tom Lemming recently answered some of the most frequently asked questions from football prospects and their families.
NCSA: What are the biggest differences between BCS caliber athletes and mid-major conferences?
Lemming: Sometimes the differences are miniscule. In some cases one tenth of a second or a few pounds may separate an elite athlete from a good athlete. Therefore, training can help bump student-athletes from one level to the next.
NCSA: Can you please comment on how players are ranked?
Lemming: Rankings are arbitrary depending on who does them. Personally, I need to see a student-athlete play live and on film. I also use a collective approach and collect feedback from my various contacts in the football community. My natural instincts also play a role in my analysis.
NCSA: What are your methods for identifying top talent in traditionally weaker high school settings?
Lemming: When I attend a football game, I usually do not even pay attention to the score, so players are not at a disadvantage if they play for a school that is not competitive on the field. College coaches focus on the strength of individual players, not teams or schools.
NCSA: How many football players that do not receive a call in the spring of their junior year should realistically think they have a shot at playing Division I football?
Lemming: If an athlete does not receive any phone calls it is not very likely that they will receive a Division I scholarship, and they should focus on other levels. Remember, there are many opportunities to play football and receive scholarship dollars that are not Division I.
The rest of Tom Lemming’s interview is located inside your Recruiting Management System (RMS).
