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OT: Question regarding my son

  • During the short time I have been on this site I have seen that a lot of the posters here know a lot about recruiting. This has prompted me to ask this question.

    My son is 15 years old and is completing is freshman year in high school. On the freshman football team last fall he was a dominate player and helped lead his team to their league championship. He played TE and DE and every special team thus never came off the field. He is currently 6’-1” or 6’-2” about 190 pounds. His doctor, through charting and measurements, has told us that by the time he is a senior in high school he should be 6’-6” or 6’-7”. He is taking after my side of the family. I am 6’-5” 300 pounds and I’m one of the small males in my family.

    I bring this up because last fall he and I had a long conversation regarding the future. Without me prompting him he told me that he wanted to play D1 football. Right then I pledged to him that if he was willing to work hard I would do everything within my power to help him. He has been working hard and has put on about 10 pounds of muscle and is trying to put on another 10 pounds before the football season starts. Though he was the second fastest player on the freshman team we are also would on his speed and I recently purchased a weigh sled.

    He has proven to me that he is willing to put in the work to reach his goal so now it is my turn to do my part. This is where I need your help. I know his chances to get recruited rely mostly on his ability but I also know that exposure plays an import part of it. What can I do to help him reach his goal? I have enrolled him in “Position Camp” as a DE this summer at Penn State. I also have a friend who was a DE for Virginia Tech and was signed by the Seattle Seahawks who is also going to work with him this summer. I have also hired a person to video tape his football games this fall for future use. I know this will only be his sophomore season but I figured it was never too early to start.

    Is there more I can do? Other camps?

    signature image signature image signature image

    PSUFAN63

  • Good luck with the process. I listen to Bill King most mornings on my commute to work and one of his sponsors seems to be what you are looking for. No personal experience, but here is the link...

    National Underclassmen | Football Combines | Football Recruiting | Football Camp & High School Football Showcase

    National Underclassmen Combine for High school Football Players looking to get recruited for college football. The largest football combine camp in the USA.

    nationalunderclassmen.com

    PSUGrad91

  • Video tape workouts. Not every workout, but especially when he gets to JR year and starts sending out film, start getting some workout video, both on the field drills and strength and conditioning training drills. This is often overlooked by many, but if he is a tweener in terms of big time D1 or lower tier D1 to D1-AA, this tape can be quite as valuable as the highlight tape.

    Make sure he is doing speed/strength training with a strength coach (the DE from Virginia Tech is prob good for position coaching, but a solid S&C coach will help a ton). Make sure he understands nutrition, now, not tomorrow or after college. Get him in touch with someone who understands sports nutrition and can help him towards developing into a big time D1 football athlete. Nutrition is almost always overlooked by HS kids, but if you are not eating right and training hard, then you are basically putting water into a VW turbodiesel. Not only will S&C/Nutrition help him today, but having that knowledge will help him all throughout college and his life.

    Make sure his coach is doing everything possible to get his name out there, especially if he has connections.

    Send him to train at gyms for athletes, like Defrancos in Jersey. http://defrancostraining.com/ Obviously he cant train there year round, but send him and have him learn and take notes from a couple days learning/training with those guys. He will come out a different person from a few training sessions at a gym like Defrancos.

    This all seems like a lot, but every little thing helps. However, the most important thing to always keep in mind while helping your son, is to make sure he is having fun. If he is not having fun, he will go nowhere. Don't become one of those Todd Marinovich dad's, but have his back and help him like you plan on doing.

    This post has been edited 2 times, most recently by tmaluchnik on 4/29/2012 at 8:09 PM

    You find out life's this game of inches, so is football. Because in either game, life or football-the margin for error is so small. -Pacino

    tmaluchnik

  • I would continue to work on his speed. Obviously alot of it is going to depend on how good of a football player he is but coaches care more about speed than how strong he is. It seems like he will have the size and whatever program he goes to will put the muscle on him. He needs to work on getting as fast as possible and becoming a good football player.

    PSUJT0409

  • I am not sure if they make them anymore, as i have not seen them in awhile, but i used a pair of those "strength" shoes in highschool. The ones with the big disc under the toes. They are great. Teaches you to run on the balls of your feet and literally shaved .2 off my forty time in one offseason.

    This post was edited by arch1102 on 4/29/2012 at 8:21 PM

    signature image

    "People ask me why I stayed here so long, Look around, Look around, I stay here because I love you all" R.I.P. Joe - 12/21/1926-01/22/2012

    arch1102

  • With speed training, buy Freelap timing system (or split a set with the strength or speed coach, or get the school to buy a set as they could use it for all athletes). Basically what this is, is precision timed 40s (and other combine like drills). See the video for the demonstration. Not many people (even strength and speed coaches) know of this. They are really fun and can give you the most accurate speed training timing.

    This post was edited by tmaluchnik on 4/29/2012 at 8:36 PM

    Play

    Freelap Touch and Release Demonstration

    Demonstration of the Freelap Timing System. The sprint belt is recommended for best accuracy. The touch-and-release module automatically starts the watch, and the TX Junior transmitters accurately time the split and finish. http://www.freelaptrackandfield.com

    http://www.youtube.com/v/WmkZB1Zgqak

    You find out life's this game of inches, so is football. Because in either game, life or football-the margin for error is so small. -Pacino

    tmaluchnik

  • arch1102 said...

    I am not sure if they make them anymore, as i have not seen them in awhile, but i used a pair of those "strength" shoes in highschool. The ones with the big disc under the toes. They are great. Teaches you to run on the balls of your feet and literally shaved .2 off my forty time.

    They still make them. There are workouts that will yield similar results (minus teaching you to run on the balls of your feet, which is not necessarily a great thing for a future 300 pounder). Did one in college since I was a sprinter/long jumper, made a huge difference, wish I had started it before my senior year.

    This post was edited by gemrich on 4/29/2012 at 8:18 PM

    gemrich

  • 1) Have fun
    2) Go to as many camps in the area, or that you can afford, as possible.
    3) Coordinate with your head HS coach. People forget how much this matters. One he is the guy that will allow him to play on the varsity squad. College coaches do not care what you are doing on JV really. Two, all college coaches contact the HS coach to check in on everything. He controls a lot of the future recruiting prospects your son has. He can also make calls and get camps for him.
    4) Sounds like you have the video thing down. Remember, game tapes as well as a highlight tape. Highlight tapes are nice, coaches want to see game tape though.
    5) Whatever happens, don't be "that" dad. Let the coaches and trainers do their job. Don't call the HS coach about plays or playing time. Don't get on here and pump him up. Don't show up with a tshirt at a camp that has your sons name or face on it. Let him succeed and fail on his own, as much as possible. And for God's sake when he gets to college playing ball if you ever call the college coach, prepare for his time to decrease. Nothing pisses them off more.

    MTayl72

  • Don't let his fifth recruiting star stop his motivation

    signature image signature image signature image

    Roaringlion

  • Keep your grades up!

    helpdesk

  • There is already some great advice on here, and don't overlook Helpdesk's idea, grades should matter and will make recruiting easier to the better educational schools.

    I would add that training to succeed on the field is the most important, but training to succeed at camp testing is also very important and sometimes very different. There is a reason all of these college kids go to trainers specifically for the combine, they look better if the test high.

    The other thing I would add is get him into a school with a good football program, I am not saying go to somewhere like Red Lion or the like, make sure his education is solid, but if there is a school that is consistently in the top tier in your state that he can get into and academics wont suffer, get him into it. The coaches can obviously develop talent, he will be pushed harder by the kids he is competing for a spot with and other teams will not be able to focus on him when there is more talent around him. Scouts coming to see others will see him, and the coaches already have the connections mentioned in another post. Beyond that, it is easier to get noticed at a top school than one in single a in the middle of no where.

    Good luck.

    signature image signature image signature image

    PSUfaninOnt

  • helpdesk said...

    Keep your grades up!

    Yes we have had this conversation already many times.....

    signature image signature image signature image

    PSUFAN63

  • PSUfaninOnt said...

    There is already some great advice on here, and don't overlook Helpdesk's idea, grades should matter and will make recruiting easier to the better educational schools.

    I would add that training to succeed on the field is the most important, but training to succeed at camp testing is also very important and sometimes very different. There is a reason all of these college kids go to trainers specifically for the combine, they look better if the test high.

    The other thing I would add is get him into a school with a good football program, I am not saying go to somewhere like Red Lion or the like, make sure his education is solid, but if there is a school that is consistently in the top tier in your state that he can get into and academics wont suffer, get him into it. The coaches can obviously develop talent, he will be pushed harder by the kids he is competing for a spot with and other teams will not be able to focus on him when there is more talent around him. Scouts coming to see others will see him, and the coaches already have the connections mentioned in another post. Beyond that, it is easier to get noticed at a top school than one in single a in the middle of no where.

    Good luck.

    We have discussed this (moving) but have tabled the idea until after his soph year. I live about 30 miles south of State College in a small AA school now. My job and things are such that I have the ability move to State College if need be. But as I stated we want to watch and see where his ability level will be first.

    signature image signature image signature image

    PSUFAN63

  • MTayl72 said...

    1) Have fun 2) Go to as many camps in the area, or that you can afford, as possible. 3) Coordinate with your head HS coach. People forget how much this matters. One he is the guy that will allow him to play on the varsity squad. College coaches do not care what you are doing on JV really. Two, all college coaches contact the HS coach to check in on everything. He controls a lot of the future recruiting prospects your son has. He can also make calls and get camps for him. 4) Sounds like you have the video thing down. Remember, game tapes as well as a highlight tape. Highlight tapes are nice, coaches want to see game tape though. 5) Whatever happens, don't be "that" dad. Let the coaches and trainers do their job. Don't call the HS coach about plays or playing time. Don't get on here and pump him up. Don't show up with a tshirt at a camp that has your sons name or face on it. Let him succeed and fail on his own, as much as possible. And for God's sake when he gets to college playing ball if you ever call the college coach, prepare for his time to decrease. Nothing pisses them off more.

    I am not going to be "THAT" dad. I coached youth baseball for 14 years and I also was the Defensive Coord. on his youth football teams while he was coming up. I know "THAT" dad and I know how they are. I intend on not being one of them. I want to guild him but its going to be him and his abilities that are going to get him to where he wants to be.

    signature image signature image signature image

    PSUFAN63

  • PSUJT$ said...

    I would continue to work on his speed. Obviously alot of it is going to depend on how good of a football player he is but coaches care more about speed than how strong he is. It seems like he will have the size and whatever program he goes to will put the muscle on him. He needs to work on getting as fast as possible and becoming a good football player.

    We sat with Mike Hull at last December's Senior Baquette. Mike spent a lot of time talking to my son and Mike repeated over and over "Speed, Speed, Speed"

    signature image signature image signature image

    PSUFAN63

  • PSUFAN63

  • Him ringing the "Victory Bell"......... Told me we wants to ring it for real in 2015. biggrin

    attachment
    signature image signature image signature image

    PSUFAN63

  • PSUFAN63 said...

    During the short time I have been on this site I have seen that a lot of the posters here know a lot about recruiting. This has prompted me to ask this question.

    My son is 15 years old and is completing is freshman year in high school. On the freshman football team last fall he was a dominate player and helped lead his team to their league championship. He played TE and DE and every special team thus never came off the field. He is currently 6’-1” or 6’-2” about 190 pounds. His doctor, through charting and measurements, has told us that by the time he is a senior in high school he should be 6’-6” or 6’-7”. He is taking after my side of the family. I am 6’-5” 300 pounds and I’m one of the small males in my family.

    I bring this up because last fall he and I had a long conversation regarding the future. Without me prompting him he told me that he wanted to play D1 football. Right then I pledged to him that if he was willing to work hard I would do everything within my power to help him. He has been working hard and has put on about 10 pounds of muscle and is trying to put on another 10 pounds before the football season starts. Though he was the second fastest player on the freshman team we are also would on his speed and I recently purchased a weigh sled.

    He has proven to me that he is willing to put in the work to reach his goal so now it is my turn to do my part. This is where I need your help. I know his chances to get recruited rely mostly on his ability but I also know that exposure plays an import part of it. What can I do to help him reach his goal? I have enrolled him in “Position Camp” as a DE this summer at Penn State. I also have a friend who was a DE for Virginia Tech and was signed by the Seattle Seahawks who is also going to work with him this summer. I have also hired a person to video tape his football games this fall for future use. I know this will only be his sophomore season but I figured it was never too early to start.

    Is there more I can do? Other camps?

    Don't waste your money on fancy video taping. Just get video of his games and make a 4+ minute video of highlights and keep it simple. Good coaches will recognize talent when they see it and don't need fancy hollywood movies.

    md154

  • Taking him on recruiting trips in that van of yours should be interesting.

    FrankyLs

  • md154 said...

    Don't waste your money on fancy video taping. Just get video of his games and make a 4+ minute video of highlights and keep it simple. Good coaches will recognize talent when they see it and don't need fancy hollywood movies.

    Or if you are looking for a tax ride-off buy your school hudl for a few seasons. He can work on breaking down film, create his own highlight film over the next few seasons, become familiar with web based coaching tools and discuss them with coaches at camps so they know he is serious, and learn a few extra skills along the way.

    This post was edited by helpdesk on 4/30/2012 at 9:37 AM

    helpdesk

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