Wacky World of Recruiting

As national signing day for college football approaches the world of recruiting again proves to be a fickle mistress that is as easy to predict as Texas weather. Several recruits who remain open in their commitments seem to flirt with any and every school who will listen. Still others, who have already committed, seem to change their minds concerning the school they wish to play for about as often as Brittany Spears changes her image. Eric Ward (5-10, 190lb WR; Wichita Falls, Tx) was committed to Oklahoma since his junior season but has just recently switched his commitment to Texas Tech and to top it off enrolled for classes a week ago so he could go through spring practice with the Red Raiders. Darius Jones (6-0, 185lb ATH; Marshall, Tx), another defection for the Sooners, recently changed his commitment from OU to Baylor. Electing to play a little closer to home and was also enticed by a chance for early playing time.

I have to admit, making a potentially life altering decision when you are 17 or 18 isn’t something that many are equipped to do. In this world of text messaging, email, Wi-Fi, and DVR (by the way the best invention of all time) we want results now and don’t want to wait for opportunities down the road. I can’t say that I blame an athlete for wanting to go to a school where he would have the opportunity to succeed right away. I also see the point in going to a program that is a national power and contends for a national title year in and year out. Recruiting is a strange beast and it is always hard to know what will swing a young person’s opinion from one moment to the next.

Don’t feel too bad for the Sooners; however, they did get commitments from four very highly touted prospects just last week. They are some names that maybe most are familiar with: Trent Williams, Jermaine Gresham, Gerald McCoy, and oh yeah some guy named Sam Bradford. That’s right, recruiting isn’t always about the next blue chip high school recruit, sometimes it’s as much about keeping great players from jumping for millions of dollars in the NFL. What can I say? It’s a very nice problem to have for the top 10-12 teams in the country. They have their pick of the litter from top high school seniors and they have really good talent that coaches have to somehow talk into staying around to win another title……the rich get richer.

The Reynolds Rap