By
Mo Collins
SMASHWORDS EDITION
*****
The Ultimate College Recruiting Guide
Copyright © 2010 by Mo Collins
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author,
except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: A Beast on the Field
Chapter 2: Partnering For Success
2.1 The Role of the Student-Athlete
2.2 The Responsibility of the Parents
2.3 Qualities that High School Coaches Seek
Chapter 3: Recruiting Myths vs. Facts
3.1 Mastering the Fundamentals
3.2 You Have to Out Work Your Competition
Chapter 4: Playing Options in College
4.1 National Collegiate Athletic Association
4.2 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
4.3 National Junior College Athletic Association
Chapter 5: Establishing Your Eligibility
5.1 No Grades. No Play
5.2 NCAA Eligibility Requirements
5.3 NAIA Eligibility Requirements
5.4 NJCAA eligibility requirements
Chapter 6: Types of Financial Aid
6.1 Athletic Scholarship
6.2 Academic Scholarships
6.3 Grants
6.4 Work-Study
Chapter 7: The Recruiting Process
7.1 Seven Ways a College Coach Finds You
7.2 The College Evaluation Process
7.3 What College Coaches Are Looking For
Chapter 8: Setting Your Recruiting Value
8.1 Building Your Player Resume
8.2 Building an Effective Highlight Video
8.3 Effectively Distributing Your Information
8.4 Learn How to Use Social Media Sites Correctly
Chapter 9: National Signing Date
9.1 National Letter of Intent (NLI)
9.2 A Word to the College Bound Student-Athlete
INTRODUCTION
Every year millions of high school student-athletes across the nation dream of earning an athletic scholarship and playing college sports. But because there is so much wrong information out there about the college recruiting process many of them are left standing out in the cold as the opportunity to play college sports passes them by.
This book will give you the step-by-step process to help you navigate through the journey of college recruiting. My advice to parents and student-athletes is to take control of your athletic career. Never wait around for someone else to do the job for you. There are opportunities on six different levels for a student-athlete to earn a free college education through an athletic scholarship, but that free education will not simply be handed out. Both the parent and the student-athlete must step up to the plate and work hard to make sure that athletic scholarship goes to them.
Throughout the course of this book the student-athlete will learn how to get the attention of college coaches and recruiters. You will learn the most efficient way to contact college coaches to let them know you are interested in attending their school. Most importantly, you will learn how to get the right colleges to contact you.
Also in this book is valuable knowledge regarding the recruiting process—what to do and what not to do; the ups and the downs; truths and half-truths; and facts versus myths. The goal is to provide as much information as possible to help the student-athlete achieve the goal of earning an athletic scholarship, grants or any type of financial assistance to help pay for college.
Throughout this book, I will stress the importance of academics in the recruiting process. Student-athletes who believe all they need is a good jump shot, along with height, strength, and speed to earn an athletic scholarship, sometimes overlook academics. Nothing could be farthest from the truth. While it is important to excel in your sport, it is also extremely important to excel in class as well. Ultimately, getting into college boils down to this for student-athletes—No Grades, No Play. Without the right combination of grades, acceptable scores on standardized test, and other academic factors, getting into college will not happen.
As a high school football coach, former high school, college and NFL football player, I have experienced the recruiting process from all sides. I have seen it and I have lived it first hand; unlike a lot of “so-called” recruiting experts out there selling books and holding seminars. The reason I wrote this book is because I am very passionate about the topic of recruiting. Also, I want every kid who has the desire to play college sports and to earn a free education to have a chance to do so. College tuition is expensive. If you have the athletic ability to earn an athletic scholarship then you should do everything within your power to make it happen. For some kids, their only path to college is through athletics. I can relate to that. I probably would have never earned a college degree from
The University of Florida, if not for an athletic scholarship. So it is possible to obtain a quality education without paying for it if you have the right combination of athletic and academic ability. The time is “NOW” to take control of your athletic career! So let’s make it happen!
CHAPTER 1
A BEAST ON THE FIELD AND IN THE CLASSROOM
Like most American boys, football was always a fascinating sport to me. As a kid, I spent countless hours in front of the television set rooting for my favorite team, or playing sandlot football with my neighborhood friends. In some ways football was in my blood. My father, Carl Collins, briefly played professional football; but he never pushed me to play. In fact, my father waited until I chose to play for my middle school team before he even mentioned the sport to me. At the age of thirteen, I decided to step away from the television set and onto the football field and play as part of an organized team. I was an eighth grader at Hawthorne Middle School when I tried out for the junior varsity team; easily making the squad as a linebacker. Even then I was an imposing person – five feet ten inches tall and 220 pounds. I was a big kid. And a determined one. Before stepping onto the practice field, I had already told myself that I would be the best at what I did; regardless of the sport I participated in.
My first year playing for Hawthorne I was named MVP of the team. I actually had the chance to play on the varsity team, which had the more experienced players. But I chose to remain on the junior varsity team because I wanted to learn the game. It was important to me to be fundamentally sound, not just talented. From Hawthorne it was on to West Charlotte High School, where I continued to excel at football. In fact, midway through my junior year, the coaches asked me to play both offense and defense and I agreed. I was a fulltime two-way starter, dominant on both sides of the ball. But I was just not dominant on the field, but also in my academics. I excelled in the classroom, earning recognition as student-athlete of the week because of strong grades and strong play on the field. I was a very self-motivated kid. No one had to push me to do my best in class or the field. During my three years at West Charlotte, I would receive football accolades such as All-Conference, All-State, and All-American, one of the highest honors in football. I also played in the Shrine Bowl, an annual high school all-star game featuring the best senior players from North Carolina and South Carolina.
Our West Charlotte team was also very successful. We were ranked among the best in the country and played in two state championship games, although we never won the title. Football recruiters and scouts began noticing me early in my high school career. Questionnaires and letters from major colleges started arriving in the mail during my
sophomore year. But it was not until my junior year that scouts really took notice of me, in most cases indirectly. Most times the scouts came to see a particular teammate of mine, a kid who was the nation’s #1 ranked wide receiver coming out of high school in 1994. He was a phenomenal talent. This guy put fear in the hearts of opposing players and he made the scouts drool. Practically every major college football program in the country wanted to sign him. Some players on our team might have envied the attention he attracted but I did not. I saw it as an opportunity. Whenever scouts came to see him during practice or play, I would also put on a show for them. Although I was always a hard worker, I stepped it up a notch when I knew scouts were on the sidelines watching our star player. Since I played offensive tackle, I figured they would have to notice me if I totally dominated my opponent. It was my job to make sure the quarterback had time to throw the ball down the field. My thinking was that without me doing my job, the quarterback could not do his, and most certainly, our Parade All-American wide receiver would not be able to shine.
One other thing I did to stand out was to run sprints with the linebackers and tight ends. They tend to be faster runners than my fellow linemen. But when I ran with them, I managed to finish at the top of the group. That impressed the scouts and got me noticed. It showed that I was willing to put forth the extra effort to be the best. Soon most of them wanted to know who the big kid was who was wearing jersey number 79.
Along with my smart and intense work ethic, my willingness to be a leader also helped set me apart from my teammates. I encouraged them when they were down, got in their face and challenged them to play better if they slacked off, and patted them on the back when they did well. They looked up to me and fed off my intensity and energy. But I was not just a verbal leader. I backed up everything I said with excellent play on the field. That more than anything, earned me the respect of my teammates and coaches.
But none of this would have mattered had I not had the grades to go to the next level. That helped me stand out from my peers and opponents, particularly in the eyes of college coaches and scouts. I was goal-oriented, even at an early age. My goal was to play football in the Southeastern Conference, better known as the SEC. It is considered by some to be the toughest conference in the country. The University of Florida, the University of Alabama, Louisiana State University, Auburn University, and the University of Tennessee are among the schools that play in the SEC. And they all have won at least one national championship in either football or basketball – or both – and produced countless top notch players who have gone on to play professional sports. It is where I wanted to play, but I knew I could not just be a great athlete and expect to fulfill my dream. I also needed to be strong academically.
And I was. I maintained a B average throughout high school and scored in the 900s on the SAT, both of which earned me the attention of a scout from the University of
Florida. The school offered me a full athletic scholarship, recruiting me to play defensive tackle. Although I played both offensive tackle and defensive tackle in high school, I
knew I could not do the same on the college level. My father advised me to play offensive lineman in college because it was a thinking man’s position. He thought I had the best chance of reaching the next level from that position. Of course, that decision was at odds with the University of Florida scout who had recruited me to play defense. When I told him I wanted to play offensive tackle, he placed a call to then-Florida coach, Steve Spurrier, who within fifteen minutes agreed to offer me a full-ride to play on the offensive line.
****
I did it. I had made it to the big league, or so I thought. Being a member of the Florida Gators football team put me in elite company. But my joy quickly turned to sorrow during week three of my freshman year after the coaches decided to red-shirt me. Being red-shirted meant I could practice with the team all week but was not allowed to play on game day. I could retain my freshman year of eligibility. Being red-shirted was a crushing blow. My pride was wounded and ego severely bruised. From the first time I stepped onto a football field in the eighth grade I was always an integral part of the team and routinely one of the best players on the field. Now, I was not even allowed on the field. My spirit sank. Although the coaches never came out and said it, I felt they red-shirted me because they thought I was not good enough to play.
After getting over the pain of not playing, I quickly realized that at anytime the game of football could be taken from me. Because of this revelation I became intensely focused on two things: the classroom and conditioning. I immersed myself in my studies and became a beast in the weight room. I vowed to become the smartest, strongest, and toughest guy on the football team that next season.
The following season I was considered a sophomore in the classroom, but was still labeled a freshman on the field because I had been red-shirted. I came out so prepared and worked so hard that I was named starting left tackle after taking the position of the guy who started at the spot the previous two seasons. He was one of the best offensive linemen in the SEC, but I still unseated him. My play on the field was so impressive that I made the SEC all-freshman team that season. In 1995, we lost the national championship game to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The following season we returned to the big game and won the title by beating the Florida State Seminoles, 52-20.
My classroom achievements matched my on the field success. I maintained a B average throughout my entire college career, made the Dean’s List, and eventually earned my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sports Administration.
Every Monday was pro day at the University of Florida; a day in which pro scouts showed up to survey the team’s talent. The same strategy I used to get notice in high school I also used in college, but I added something else to it. Of course I worked hard on the field, but I also used the media to gain more attention from the scouts.
On one occasion I made some controversial remarks about Tennessee quarterback, Peyton Manning – at the time, the golden boy of the college football world. I said he was “overrated because he had never won a game in the Swamp against the Gators.” The Swamp was the nickname fans called the stadium where our football team played its home games. I also made controversial remarks about Tennessee defensive tackle, Leonard Little, who was considered one of the best in the country at his position. I told reporters to “tell the little one I’ll be looking for him.” Such comments became “so-called bulletin board material,” comments that supposedly angered the opposing team and motivated them to want to win even more. My coach, Steve Spurrier, warned us not to make those kinds of controversial remarks because it sparked media frenzy and hyped the game even more.
But I did not care. I knew that by calling out one of the best defensive ends in the country it would get media attention. People were wondering, who the trash talking fat kid from Florida? I put pressure on myself to shine and I did. I made controversial remarks, but I backed them up when it came time to play.
After earning my degree I still had one year of football eligibility remaining, which meant I could have played one more year at Florida. But I was ready to move on. Coach Spurrier did not want me to leave, but I felt as if I was ready for the challenges of the NFL. In fact, I told NFL coach, Bill Callahan, that I was bored with college football. He said such cockiness was the main reason he drafted me in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft to play for the Oakland Raiders. The team signed me to a six year, multi-million dollar contract. It did not take long for me to make an impact. Five games into my pro career I became the starting left tackle.
Making the leap from college to professional football required more adjusting than I anticipated, but I was grateful to have reached my goal of playing professional football. The only real awe factor came when I lined up against players that I watched on television or read about; players such as Bruce Smith, Derek Thomas, Reggie White, and John Randall. But I held my own against them and eventually mastered the mental aspect of the game instead of just relying on my physical talent.
Unfortunately, knee injuries cut my career short. I had five knee surgeries during my seven year career and the wear and tear had taken its toll on me physically. I could have extended my career had I submitted to more surgeries, but I refused. I always believed that a successful NFL career was 10 years, but my pride would not let me continue to play if I was not at 100%. For the second time in my career the game that I loved was taken away from me, but this time I knew that I would never have the opportunity to play football again.
Following my retirement from football I returned to my hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina but I was not sure what was next. I had dabbled in real estate for a while and really enjoyed it. But soon my interest waned. A good friend of mine, a former 12-year NFL veteran got me interested in coaching high school football. He and I worked hard together molding young athletes, trying to help them get to the college level. We called several of our college football sources with the hopes of getting athletic scholarships for our players, but we hit a lot of roadblocks and initially did not have much success. That is when I began studying the intricacies of the college recruiting process. Although I experienced it first-hand as a player I really did not know the ins-and-outs of the system. So I delved into learning about it. I studied the NCAA’s guidelines and academic requirements for potential student-athletes – everything from the NCAA clearinghouse registration process to the number of official visits an athlete can take, to the importance of core courses. Soon I became passionate about helping high school athletes maneuver through the college recruiting system. I held seminars in which I talked with high school athletes, parents, and coaches about how to become a legitimate college prospect. What I discovered during this time was there was a void, a major disconnect between high school athletes and colleges coaches. Students really did not know what their options were when it came to getting into college, nor did they know the recruiting process. Most thought all they needed to do was simply be a great athlete and their dream of playing for an elite college would be realized. A lot of student-athletes were not taking their academics very seriously, nor did they realize the potential benefits of going to a smaller college. For many of them, the emphasis was on just being an athlete instead of a student-athlete.
That is why I decided to write this book; to offer insight into how to get an athletic scholarship to play college ball-whether you play baseball, volleyball, lacrosse, basketball, football, or any one of the other 23 NCAA sponsored varsity sports. The student-athlete’s first priority in college should be to earn a degree. They must understand that it is not all about trying to play professional sports. After all, very few make it to the pro level. Practically everyone knows a high school athlete who was great at their sport who never made it to college because they did not take their academics seriously. Whenever I hold seminars or talk one-on-one with high school athletes and their parents, I try to get across to them their priorities should be academics first, then athletics. I currently work as a Regional Scouting Director for Collegiate Sports of America. One thing I tell parents and coaches is that I would rather take a good athlete who has great grades over a great athlete with poor grades, because the athlete with good grade gives me more options when it comes to getting into college. It is important for kids to not allow sports to use them; instead, they should use sports to get what they need – and that is a free education via an athletic scholarship.
CHAPTER 2
The Student-Athlete
Role: Do your best in the classroom and on the field. Remember anything worth having is worth working HARD for!
The recruiting process is a journey, a very long one. There are three partners in this process – the student-athlete, the parent, and the coach. It all begins with the student-athlete. Before the journey begins he or she must ask themselves a very important question: Is this what I really want to do? Playing sports on the college level is serious business and requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice – on the field and in the classroom. So you have to make sure that playing sports on the college level is what you really want to do. Another question student-athletes must ask themselves —Why do I want to play college sports? Is it because family and friends have convinced you it is the right thing for you? Are you playing just to gain attention for yourself or to be popular? Your answer to this question is important. You have to be honest and true to yourself because if you are doing it for the wrong reasons it will show in your performance in your sport and in the classroom.
If playing on the college level is what you really want to do, then you must step up to the challenge and work to do your best not just in your sport, but also in the classroom. This is your main responsibility in the recruiting partnership. The student-athlete is accountable for studying hard, attending class, developing a relationship with teachers, preparing for standardized tests, practicing hard and playing harder. There are several other requirements that the student-athlete will be asked to meet during the recruiting process that I will discuss later in the book, but the most important objective is to work hard in the classroom and on the court or field.
I always tell student-athletes that the only parts of the recruiting process they have control over are their GRADES and ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE. Do not get caught up with who is or is not contacting you, because it only takes one program to fall in love with you and offer you a scholarship. Stats are great but don’t get too wrapped up in them. I say this because there are only two official stats in high school: GPA and standardized test scores.
Those of you who play for a smaller or lesser-recognized high school program, recruiters still want you “IF” you can help their team win. Keep your eye on the prize and just keep moving forward, because if you want to earn an athletic scholarship you have to put in the work!
The Responsibility of Parents
Role: Support and monitor your student-athlete’s progress in the classroom and on the playing surface, and make sure that all the necessary steps are being taken to establish their college eligibility.
It is the responsibility of parents to make sure their son or daughter gets to practices on time, has a good meal before practices and games, and is well rested. Parents must also make sure their son or daughter is doing their homework, studying hard, and doing the best they can in the classroom. Parents should ask questions about their classes, what they are learning, are they grasping the material, and how they are doing on tests. If tutoring is needed parents should help them get the extra help and make sure they get there at the scheduled time. Parents must find out when standardized tests are scheduled and make sure they are properly registered Parents have to talk with coaches about the prospect of your son or daughter playing on the next level. Also talk with the school’s guidance counselor about whether they have the proper credits to be eligible for college.
During the recruiting process, talk with college coaches on the phone and meet with them when you can. We will talk more about visiting colleges later in the book, but for now I will say that parents should involve themselves as much as possible in the recruiting process without being a hindrance. It is not just enough to go the games and cheer on your son or daughter. You also have to help them get to the next level by being an active partner in the recruiting process. Do not just sit around assuming that the high school coach will put in the necessary effort needed to get your son or daughter an athletic scholarship from a college. As a parent myself I want the best for my kids and I am willing to do just about anything to help them have happy, productive, and prosperous lives. When it comes time for them to go to college I refuse to let anyone else out-work me in promoting my children and you should not either. At the end of the day the coach’s job is to win games. Once your student-athlete’s high school career is over the coach
has to focus on next season’s team. Some are willing to help, but as I visit hundreds of high school campuses a year it is becoming even more obvious that the majority of them just do not care anymore. Parents, you have to be the ones to step up or you will be the ones left footing the bill for college.
I have had several situations like the following example. I came across a talented student-athlete who had the potential to play in college. He was heavily recruited by several D-1 colleges. The problem was that he had a 1.7 grade-point-average and that just did not cut it. I tried on several occasions to meet with him and his parents to discuss my concerns but did not have any luck. I sent a questionnaire and even called their family home on more than one occasion but they ignored all of my attempts. It was not until well after the season, even after the national signing date had passed, that the student-athlete’s mother called. When we finally talked she was frantic, trying to get her son recruited to play college football. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do to help him. She had waited too late. Before then, if she would have done some of what she was supposed to as an equal partner in the recruiting process it might have been a better outcome for her son. She attended his games, cheered him on, and made sure he got to practice. If she would have only put as much energy into making sure her son was focusing on his studies her son might have been able to realize his dream of playing college football.