Senior Spencer Garneau uses his website to advertise himself to potential recruiters. CCHS students use websites to get recruited by colleges.
BY BEATRICE DUPUY
Nowadays typing the name of a popular high school athlete on the Internet leads to several recruiting websites and profiles. However, not long ago athletes simply relied on word of mouth and scout visits to get recruited for top college sports teams. Through innovative media and social networking sites, recruiting has transformed into an evolving online business. Thus, many players have taken to the Internet to promote their athletic careers and draw in the schools of their choice.
CCHS athletes are featured on recruiting websites such as berecruited.com , which is designed to connect players with college coaches. The inside linebacker for the CCHS football team senior Spencer Garneau created his own website to provide information for possible college recruiters. Not only does Garneau have a website but he also has a YouTube Channel to provide footage of his plays for recruiters. Garneu has even been shown on an ESPN online ranking system for high school athletes.
“I was advised by all the scouts that I should make a website and get onto the Internet,” Garneau said. “It puts you out there.”
College coaches have also taken advantage of social networking sites to communicate to potential recruiters and promote their programs. The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) has had to create new guidelines geared towards college recruiters moving online. These guidelines state that college coaches can message their recruits on facebook but cannot write on the recruit’s facebook wall.
“There’s still a limitation on coaches and what they can say about prospects,” Tricia Turley, Ohio University associate athletics director for Compliance and Student Services said in an interview for NEWSOK.”They can’t talk about a prospect or Tweet an article about a junior that (verbally) commits.”
Even though there are regulations, the internet has made it much easier for scouts to coordinate game visits with players. However, for athletes using these social media are some pitfalls. Players can post information on these sites that hurts the chances of them being recruited. This situation often arises when a high school player been injured and posts on a site that they’re playing season is over. When a college recruiter views this information online, they may remove this player from they’re list of possibilities simply because of a misunderstanding. Also, players can state their devotion for one college and then change their minds later on, causing much controversy for the player and the college team.
“Sometimes the kids don’t understand what college coaches look for,” Coach Art Taylor ‘said. “They might put plays on there that aren’t good and don’t show what the colleges want.”
CCHS senior and defensive tackle Nick Allen has been recruited for college football and boasts many online profiles for recruiters.
“All lot of coaches have called me and told me they have viewed my profiles on these websites,”Allen said. “It’s easier for colleges to see you since they can’t really come to all the games.”
Taylor is one of the main reasons seven of his senior players are being recruited for college football. Taylor sends film of his players to colleges along with their transcripts. Taylor also attends conventions and other events to promote his players to scouts. Taylor said that scouts often look for many factors when recruiting players.
“Students have to have the grades, test scores, film and athletic ability,” Taylor said. “The first thing they [the scouts] always ask me is what type of person he [the player] is.”
Football players are not the only athletes at CCHS getting attention from scouts. Senior Chanlir Segarra is being recruited for her basketball skills and has been recruited by six or seven colleges.
“Once they see you play, they want to see more,” Segarra said. “The website allows them to do that. On the website I had my accomplishments, a resume of everything basketball, and game films broken down.”
One of Segarra’s basketball coaches created a website for Segarra during her junior year of high school.
“My parents think it’s amazing that because I’m getting recruited, they don’t have to pay for my college,” Segerra said.
As more CCHS athletes create profiles online, more recruiters will begin to take notice. Taylor even has plans to get all of his football players online by creating a website that will promote football games and highlights for college coaches. With the business of recruiting moving online it is now easier to not only connect CCHS athletes with more recruiters but also their dream teams.
