A few weeks ago, I wrote a column about the thrill ride that is the college recruiting process. In it, I also alluded to some not-so-fun elements of the process.
But there was one big thing that I missed.
Unfortunately for hopeful high school athletes everywhere, there are coaches and recruiters out there that will talk a big game and then deliver… to someone else. Perhaps the only thing worse than having a school you’ve been interested in barely give you the time of day is being strung along for a while, only to have the rug pulled out from under you.
Or, in this case, to have an offer you thought was yours pulled out from under you and given to someone else. It’s a bummer, it happens all the time and it generally has to do with the recruiting game functioning like a business.
Sometimes, it has to do with grades. I’ve seen my fair share of athletes forced to switch programs because they couldn’t keep their grades up. Those that I’ve spoken to about it have regretted slacking, even if their dreams of going D-1 weren’t totally dashed — instead just delayed a few years.
But there are times when the kids don’t get a fair shake. For recruiters, an opportunity may surface to sign a kid they didn’t think they had a chance on, and working for programs that want to win games, you generally want to get the best rated prospects you can. That means someone who may have heard talk of getting a roster spot — maybe even someone who got the offer — will have to be sacrificed.
It’s the nature of the beast. When this happens to the kids, you can only hope they use it as game fuel.
When I interviewed Durant running back Cam Myers for this week’s recruiting feature, we did cover this topic. Myers has seen coaches deliver on promises and others change their tone. Even as one of the area’s hottest prospects, with several solid offers in his pocket, I could tell that he’s felt the emotional lows already. Exactly who did what is off the record, but I can say that Myers has the right idea about how to handle those disappointments — keeping a “live and learn” attitude and moving on to the next interested program.
I know that not all athletes are going to catch a spotlight in their sports like Myers has, but I think it’s important for those who want to play college sports to know that good things come to those who wait.
Patience, Myers told me, was the biggest thing he’s learned from the process. Attention and offers will come to those who can wait patiently (and work hard, of course).