Hey Everyone,
So there has been a few threads somewhat related to this topic, however not a lot of my questions have been really answered. So, I am a football player who is currently in my junior year. I injured my knee right at the start of my junior season, when I was in the starting position at left tackle. I missed almost half of the season, and by the time I came back, I struggled to fit back in and get back to where I was at the start (In the beginning I was one of the best linemen on the team.) This lead to me not really having any highlight clips, as I never started again and barely saw a significant amount of playing time to begin with. This is when I began to worry. I really would like to play college football (preferably at an academic D3.) I think I’m still a good prospect, as I am a good student, and one of the biggest players in the region. I am just worried as I was getting attention at camps this past summer, however every coach is looking for film and every recruiting form is asking for this film as well. I would really love to play on the next level, as football is my passion, but will I not have a chance as I have nothing from my junior year to show?
Thanks for any advice you can give!
GotBlur,
Sorry for the injury. Unfortunetly it happened at a bad time for you. We went through something similiar (baseball) with my youngest son. He injured himself during the primary window for college baseball recruiting for his target schools. He had a number of D3 schools interested in him that got less interested when he was injured… The injury was not extensive but just happened at a really bad time. He took the approach that he will target the schools first (for academics) and then try to walk-on if he is still interested in playing college baseball. A funny thing happened while he was injured. He got exposed to ROTC and its leadership program. So, to make a long story short he is strongly considering ROTC programs within the schools he been accepted to in addition to (or a replacement to baseball). One door opened as one door was temporarily closed. His Dad is very proud of him.
As far as your situation goes, I would take a similiar approach as my son. Research the academic schools you are interested in, and send a note to the football coach explaining your interest, injury, academic and athletic credentials. Apply to the schools that you think are a good fit. As a high school tackle I’m sure your size will get someone’s attention. But it is going to be up to you to initiate contact and follow up. Do not wait for them to contact you, and do not stop contacting schools until you are both committed to each other. Good luck…
Just a personal note. My son is also an offensive lineman who was a senior this year. He did not start as a junior and will play at Princeton next fall. He was recruited hard by several Ivys and most of the NESCAC among other schools in this cycle. Now, he was in a peculiar circumstance in that he played in a premier national program and the two tackles who played ahead of him his junior year are both playing D1 right now. But I can say with some certainty that not having a ton of tape from junior year will not kill your chances of playing at the next level.
I know that a lot of the discussion on this board revolves around what are in football terms extraordinarily early recruiting and commitments by athletes, but the reality is that in football quite a lot of recruiting goes on senior year, and at the D3 level is still going on now for the class of 2015. Heck, one of my son’s classmates got an offer from an FCS school last week! While it is true that FBS/Power 5 schools are beginning to fill their 2016 class during this spring evaluation period this is the exception, not the rule. Even at that level, evaluations will go on through the camp season this summer and into the football season next fall. At the FCS level and below none of this is really happening yet. At that level, the schools are just reaching out to recruits to see who may be interested in their program at this point. Urban Meyer can be pretty sure that any kid he contacts will be interested in Ohio State. Coach Margraph at Johns Hopkins, not so much. You should use this time to do the same. Talk to your high school coach, find out who he has relationships with and where he thinks you will be a good fit.
It sounds from your post like you got at least one start at tackle this year, and that you got some snaps towards the end of the year. I would go ahead and put together a short highlight clip, just so you have something to send when coaches ask for film. Realize that at this point, coaches are asking for film because something about you intrigues them, either your measurables, your size, your program, something. So they ask for film because that is all they can do right now. Send them a short tape and a note explaining about your injury. ideally, this will be enough to whet their appetite and they will be looking for you this summer. I would say that camps will be crucial in your eventual recruitment, so choose where you camp this summer wisely. Go in this summer, flash some ability at the camps and then if you fit what they are looking for some coaches will ask for a full game tape from the beginning of your season. Particularly for offensive and defensive linemen, a lot of coaches will want to see a full game tape. Highlight tape shows you have the ability to execute certain things, as does your performance at camps. Full game tape shows you have the will to play for 48 minutes. Go knock some people on their butts in game 1 or 2 and you will be fine. Best of luck!
Thanks for your thoughts guys!