Pandemic alters how programs evaluate
With seasons, camps canceled, coaches less certain about players
The personal touch that helps coaches sell their programs to bluechip prospects is missing this year.
Restrictions brought about by the pandemic prevent face-to-face communication. Staffs can’t visit high schools. Plenty of states didn’t even play high school football.
“It’s just weird,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.
It all creates uncertainty as high school seniors finalize their college selections during the early signing period, which begins Wednesday.
“Almost half of our players that are going to sign, we haven’t met face to face or shook hands,” Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said.
There are various opinions over the pandemic’s short-term impact.
About 80 percent of last year’s Football Bowl Subdivision recruits signed in December rather than waiting until February. Mike Farrell, the director of recruiting for Rivals, doesn’t expect that percentage to change, while Barton Simmons, the 247Sports director of scouting, believes fewer prospects will sign early.
The pandemic didn’t necessarily hinder elite recruits who already were being heavily pursued. But it caused headaches for other prospects.
“I’ve had several high school coaches here in Florida call me about some 2021 guys that they had who are really, really good players that had FBS offers,” South Florida recruiting coordinator Jules Montinar said. “And all of a sudden, now they’ve got nothing.”
College staffs feel hamstrung because they couldn’t evaluate players in the usual manner.
“We’ve been really dependent upon camps,” Duke coach David Cutcliffe said.
The lack of official visits under pandemic-imposed NCAA restrictions also has caused problems. Coaches liked seeing how each recruit interacted with prospective teammates during those visits.
“You get a better feel for kids and their families when you’re face to face,” Florida State recruiting coordinator David Johnson said. “It’s a little different on Zoom.”
Those restrictions also have prevented coaches from touring high schools or attending games. Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs said he likes to talk to the janitor and lunch lady to learn more about the player away from football. Not this year.
“You can’t Zoom the janitor,” Coombs said.
It has been even tougher in the 16 states, including California, that didn’t have a fall high school football season.
Jason Negro coaches St. John Bosco, a national prep power in Bellflower, California. He has been sending out tapes of combine-style workouts showing the height, weights, wingspans and speed of players.
He also mailed out tapes matching his cornerbacks up with Clemson-bound wide receiver and St. John Bosco senior Beaux Collins to show college staffs how those defensive backs would fare against Power Five talent. Of course, most schools without fall seasons don’t have top100 recruits on campus to give their prospects similar showcases.
“For the West Coast states, I think there’s going to be a lot more kids who may sign in February or post-february because there’s just not going to be a lot of evidence for them to show they’re college-level athletes,” Negro said. “California. Oregon. Washington. Nevada. Those are some pretty good football areas in terms of having kids who can play at the next level who aren’t having any kind of experience.”