What Division 3 schools are asking athletes to have before recruiting...

Just want to take the time to thank God for my success...

Last week I had an informational meeting with a couple of Guilford College football coaches.  Ben Abitz, Guilford's newly acquired running back's coach,  coming into his second year with Guilford.  He pointed out some unique perspectives that I would think the average athlete would already know.  As when I went through high school, things such as having an SAT finished before your Junior year or having above a 2.5 GPA by the end of your junior season, were the basic requirements that I was taught.  Coach Abitz stressed that because division three recruiting takes a back seat to the bigger institutions, when they do come and want to recruit you, there are issues that they are finding to be reasons that athletes can't make it to the next level.  When the division three school make their recruiting trips from school to school, the high school athlete should make it as easy as possible for the coach to begin their recruiting.  So to recap, Abitz stressed to have the "academics" taken care of.  "An athlete can be the best running back in his conference, but when you aren't up to date with your academics, you are making it difficult for us to bring you into our institution because of the requirements to attend the college."

As for Coach Brad Davis, Guilford's offensive line's coach, just finishing up his sixth season with the Quakers, stressed the need for performance. As the conversation went on, he talked about the difference between potential and performing.  At the division three level there is not a lot of time wasted on the judgment of potential.  Results must be the driving force that pushes a coach to recruit an athlete.  On the division three level, getting recruited is less about connections as the bigger division 1 schools tribe on, but more about facts.  Yards, height, weight, grades, SAT.  "We want athletes."

As I do also play HB for Guilford College, I can a-test to the business.  Every player will get an opportunity to show what you can do. Whether it's your first opportunity at returning punts. Or you get a chance to play running back on the scout team offense.  You can shine and get a chance to move up from where ever you are. 

Back to the point, two things I got from this interview. 

1. Don't make the coach's job hard. Have your academics in order so that you can have a smooth recruiting process.

2. Division three comes down to can you perform when it's your turn or not. That simple. To get a coach's eye, you have to make plays at what ever position you are playing.  Show them something that they can fall in love with. I think every coach is looking for a specific skill set, something they can take and mold to fit their own system.

- Janesh