The Things I Messed Up On During The My Recruitng Process - Blog #1

I hope that I can continue this blog series to save someone their time and effort.  I feel that there was a reason that I struggled with the recruiting process when I went through it four years ago.  I am here to insure that families don't have to go through the same mental stress of not knowing the "game".

I'll keep this short.  Just know that if you are not a heavily recruited Division 1 athlete during the season, nothing is guaranteed to you.  Even if a coach has been keeping up with you during the season, that does not mean you will be receiving a scholarship offer to play at that school.  Even the teams that expressed interest in you during the summer, as some of you now know, none of that stuff is set in stone.  I say that to say this: any coach that expresses interest in you, respect them as if they were your final option.  No matter the size of the institution. No matter the money they are willing to give to you.  Treat each contact from a coach as gold. You never know where that contact will take you later down the road. (Life lesson) 

My Lesson: Up until March of my senior year, I was banking on the love that I received from a small Division 1 school called Gardner Webb.  Their running back coach had showed me love during that summer through my camp circuits.  He checked in with me during the season and all the way up until signing day.  To me, I saw this as a college offer.  I told all of my friends I was getting an offer from them. In my mind I had committed.  My parents had become content in the process as well, but I mean, with no guidance, who wouldn't?  Long story short, I began to turn down smaller colleges that were interested in my style of play.  North Carolina Central, North Carolina A&T, Pembroke University, Guilford College, Greensboro College, Ferrum College, Randolph Macon.  All because I had made this imaginary connection with Gardner Webb. 

Once signing day passed, I started to reach out to the running backs coach and didn't hear back from him for days.  Months.  Signing day is in February. It wasn't until the end of March that I started to question my college future.  Coach Barnette (Guilford College) stayed persistent with me. He never stopped calling me even though I ignored his calls.  Even though I didn't show Guilford respect in the beginning he was there and saved my college hopes.  The other schools stopped contacting me after I showed disinterest.  They had filled their recruiting needs by the time I realized that I was up the creek.

My message to you is to show each one of those recruiters the proper respect. You are not above any of those schools especially if you haven't received any offers.  What are you thinking?  Acknowledge them for acknowledging you as one of the best at what you do.  Show some class because you don't know how that one phone call can save your college hopes.

Just a little from my life...

- Janesh