CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => "Missing Stars" Prospect Player Locator => Topic started by: Drew4UTk on February 21, 2019, 10:42:00 AM
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First things FIRST: Register with the NCAA as an eligible student athlete. Use the links provided on their page here (https://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future (https://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future)) and follow the directions. There is also more valuable information on that page you should likely read and understand. Here are some points, stated candidly, that should direct your efforts both here and elsewhere. I won't endorse these as 'absolutes', however, they are pretty close to actualities.
Your grades matter- but they aren't what is going to gain you attention. It's sad, but it's also the truth. No coach ever blew up a recruits phone after hearing they are 4.0+GPA students that also play the game. They want ~studs~, and after they identify those studs, then they will evaluate on eligibility, and much of that is grades and conduct. Be under no false pretense, though, they most want an athlete with killer talent, and one that can be made eligible is going to be higher on the boards than a player who is marginal and 4.0+GPA.
Your Social Media matters. Don't fall prey to the trap Social Media presents prospective players. Many times I've heard said "that kid was sharp, but.... His twitter account? Man, I'm glad I saw that before wasting any gas driving to him". Seriously. Never miss an opportunity to keep your mouth shut- nothing is better than negative, and positive posts on your Social Media that advertises yourself as something they will not regret affiliating themselves with is better than that.
What REALLY matters? Simple... Size. Speed. *Game. Size and speed is something you are vaguely able to control at a younger age- yeah, you can spend time in the gym to bulk up with some success, but nothing like what you'll be able to do in a controlled environment of a College Football Program with diet and regime compounding and squeezing every advantage out of your genes. When you cross into the age group of college students, you are far more responsive to training naturally, and man oh man do those programs know how to maximize the gains. You obviously need to be in shape, and especially as compared to those around you. What you need to be able to do is to apply maximum effort always, to include practice, gym, and especially the field. Game- you, you've got to have game. Game is defined as 'no quit', 'effort', 'intensity', 'aggressiveness' at the top layer- but there is more underneath it scouts are looking for that is far more subtle and you can 'tip your position' either good or bad without even knowing it- IF YOU HAVE GAME, IT IS APPARENT EVERYWHERE AND IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. You take everything to the max- you play it to the bone- you demonstrate this on the field by never quitting on a play, you demonstrate this in class by keeping your head down and applying yourself, and you demonstrate this in life by socializing with positive impact on your surroundings. Here is the thing (which will lead into the next point), PHYSICAL CAN BE TRAINED, AND IS 'CORRECTABLE' THROUGH TRAINING, but do you know what isn't? GAME. Observing student athletes at the level you're playing is tricky in that some are more physically developed than others and will only hold that edge until the others catch up. GAME is either present, or it isn't. GAME takes you places. Watch 'Rudy' the movie. Rudy had game. Be like Rudy.
Don't get hung up on Position. Scouts see hot shot QB's come into the program recruited as such, only to see them turn truly remarkable WR's. Scouts see hulking LB's arrive and throw on 30% of their current weight on over a summer and become cannibalistic and fantastic DT's. Knowledge of the game will even evolve to a whole new level. Like 'GAME', one thing that can be taught is 'VISION'. Vision is being able to read, anticipate, think a few seconds ahead of opponents or even teammates, and reacting accordingly. Vision is NOT position dependent. Either you 'get' it, intrinsically, or you don't. You've seen it- players that have no visible physical gift or tangible talent playing like they've lost their minds- and it's because they 'see' it before most do.
Vision and Game? You're going places. Vision, Game, Clean Character as observed on your Social Media, Grades, Size and Speed? You don't need this site- you're already most likely on the radar. If you're somehow not? You're about to be... Sign up.
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I'm not sure how I missed this above... but:
Prepare yourself in mind and body for 'the sell' at the end of your 8th grade season. You'll be needing the attention of your coach (which is done how? just like the above on a minor scale). You'll also want to start reaching out by the end of your Freshman year. When you are entering your Sophomore year, this is most often when scouts are going to start paying attention and start talking to you- unless you don't have access to them (usually through your coach). This is when you're going to want to start pressing the issue by getting film NOT ONLY HIGHLIGHTS but entire game's in the hands of scouts and/or coaches at the next level. If you've not gained any attention by the end of your Sophomore season, you're going to want to take an aggressive stance (this is where we can assist hugely) and start sending out your information. < that is our lane- where we can really put some heat on your prospects.
As you enter your Junior year, which happens during your Sophomore spring practices, you're going to want people looking at you and you're going to want to make positive impressions as often as you can. There is nothing- notta- zero- restricting you (or us) from contacting next-level programs to get you attention, however, they can't just reach out to you whenever they want. They are strictly controlled.
If you can, you're going to want to affiliate with other aspiring athletes. If one of you is noticed, chances are that will get you some exposure too. Check this carefully: this is a cutthroat game, but you never cut your teammates throat. Always speak well and act courteous toward your teammates, especially one on one with either scouts or coaches. You have their back? They'll have your's.
Never speak negatively about opponents. You're graded against them, and they're graded against you. If you're speaking foul about your level of competition, you're making your own performance suspect. There is nothing wrong with confidence, aka 'moxy', but tipping toward arrogance while downplaying opponent's skill isn't going to help you. Saying something like "Yes Sir, that kid can play- but I've spotted his tendency to arm tackle instead of wrap up on film and by talking to others, so I'm not extremely worried about his ability to stop me" is a FAR better response than disrespecting him. It demonstrates your drilling down into and cognizant of your opponents 'mechanics' and this, by itself demonstrates professionalism, regard, and 'taking it to another level' while compared to other athletes and while taking the opportunity to disclose your grasp of the game. It shows you're paying attention to the game at a granular level- building blocks to understanding- and something that will impress even the most critical coach/scout.
If you've made it through your Junior season without attention of next level programs, it's time to go into a full court press. Do you recall the explanation of 'game' in the post north of this one? Game, summed up in one word, is 'tenacity'. Tenacity on the field and everywhere else in your life. You don't take 'no' for an answer. You want something? You go get it- within the rules- and within respectable expectations. Striking out and pursuing attention of scouts, or next level coaches demonstrates to them you have tenacity and aren't easily defeated- which means you're more likely to make it through grueling and constant trials once you make it to the next level. You got game? Show it. There is nothing wrong with pursuing your dream and you're not less of a person for seeking it. It's been said the winner is separated from the loser because they got back up 'one more time'. Winner's can be trained. Loser's will always sit around yapping about the unfairness and how nothing is their fault. If you're going to succeed, you're going to have to earn it, and earning it isn't always comfortable. Set your bar, and have the 'game' to follow through no matter the odds.
If you're a senior and you haven't been contacted by a scout, not all is lost- but it's crunch time. You need help, now. As in- right now. You'll need to know about every camp, and every seminar in your region and make effort to attend. You're going to want a resume with you at every stop. You're going to want a highlights reel along with full games on film and ready to present whenever a chance presents itself. You better be in shape. You better have every block checked you can check, and have the element of surprise that makes a scout think "how did I miss him?". Again, we can help here.