On Recruiting

[GoZips]

Interesting speculations on football recruiting floating about. People concerned that the

Zips are being out recruited by C'ant State. Really? How many kids flock to play for a

program that is a perennial loser? Recruiting at C'ant State has to be a nightmare for

any coach. Kids love to play for a winner. They want to be on TV. Even kids with only

the talent or size to play at lower levels dream of being an NFL star. That carrot

motivates ninty-nine percent of them.

If that were not so, why is the Varsity A club room at the Rubber Bowl decked out in

"Look who we sent to the NFL" motif?

The final determination of how good a recruiting class comes when that class is playing

as juniors. Not on signing day, not on red shirt day, not any day except that junior

year. Who is left standing? Who made the two deeps? Who is on the field? What is

their record? Been to a post season bowl lately?

When a lot of freshmen and red shirt freshmen make the two deep, the team is either

in the midst of rebuilding or has recruited incredible talent, or, in Akron's case, both.

This year's team is young and talented. Most of us rightfully expect the recruiting to

continue to improve. See above. Kids want to play on a winning team.

It is encouraging to read that Chris Wells is shopping. His senior year was not the

greatest. Still, the kid has talent and good coaching can get him up a notch or two.

Perhaps there are rumblings down the road at Columbus State about other running

backs they are offering to. Its a rare big time school that can warehouse talent

these days. OSU is certainly not one of them.

Counting verbals ranks right up there with counting unhatched eggs.

Personally, I like the way JD keeps his commits under wraps. No need to advertise

to bigger schools who is in your camp. They will only come to raid. Better the kid be

off the radar as much as possible.

Based on two excellent years of recruiting under JD and the great results I expect

that the next signing class will even excel over this year's outstanding group.

Fear the Roo