Charlie Adams, Senior National Speaker for the NCSA Recruiting Network, conducted a college recruiting informational seminar on October 25 at Heritage and shared invaluable information with many Heritage athletes and their parents. Mr. Adams talked about specific athletes and their personal stories of triumphs and disappointments. He also emphasized the importance of pre planning and realistic athlete evaluation.
In a follow up e-mail, Mr. Adams offers further insight and analysis on two college athletes who recently shared a panel discussion with him at Warren Central High School. Current Butler University soccer player, Cara Burchett, and recently graduated Northern Illinois University football player, Jason Onyebuagu, convey information that families with athletes in all sports can learn from.
Cara Burchett is a senior defender for the Butler soccer team. She has started every game this season, and except for a stress fracture her junior season, has played a lot during her college career. Here's what Cara had to say about recruiting: "I have played soccer since I was 3 years old. I have always wanted to be a college soccer player. My sister played Division 3 soccer. I was fortunate to play for a great Club Soccer team (Carmel Crossfire). Club is very important. We went to big Showcases in Las Vegas and Walt Disney World. There were a lot of college coaches there, but I wasn't getting letters from them after going to those events. I learned that you have to have ways to put yourself out there so they know to look for you. I really wanted to play Division 1 soccer. There were schools like Indiana University and Mid American Conference (MAC) schools recruiting me. IU was too big. I do well with more personalized instruction, where a Professor could sit down with me after a class. Ball State was not a fit. There was just something about Butler University that was right. My parents always said pick a school that if you can't play your sport you will still love. It is important to ask a lot of questions on your visits. You can sit in on classes. Those things are important."
CHRALIE ADAMS’ ANALYSIS: Cara was a 2 time All State Soccer player, 4 year varsity letter winner, played on a state championship Club team, and yet she didn't get much response after going to Vegas and Orlando. College coaches, although open to 'discovering' kids if someone does something amazing right in front of them when they walk by, were primarily there to evaluate prospects on their lists. Cara learned that she had to be more proactive in the game of recruiting. An athlete that has a profile with all their accomplishments can contact college coaches, let them know their playing schedule, and get them access to their online profile. Cara became much more proactive in getting her information out to college coaches before Showcase events, so they made sure to spend time watching her play in person at those events.
In today's world of recruiting, many coaches use NCSA to build their recruiting lists. Having an online profile there also enables athletes to reach out to specific coaches, let them know their schedule, and then send them a link to all their athletic and academic accomplishments on their profile.
Like Cara, Jason Onyebuagu had been a standout athlete at Warren Central High School. He was named team football captain, first team Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, first team Indianapolis Star Super Team and 2005 Mr. Football Position Award (O-line), and first team Associated Press Class 5A All-State on 14-1 league and state champions as a senior. He was a 4 year Honor Roll student. Here is what he had to say:
"I didn't realize what the recruiting process was all about; I landed in it. Young athletes ask me about recruiting. I say 'enjoy it,’ the fact that someone wants you. A lot of people get frustrated. I was a football-everything kid! Academics, though, came first. I always looked at it that if I wanted to play football, I had to have good grades. However, for the ACT and SAT, I went in unprepared. Thankfully my core GPA was high. I got into Northern Illinois with a 19 ACT. As far as my decision making process, I was good at football. However, I was the good football player that didn't look good on paper. I never had that height that looked good on paper (he would grow to be 6'1" and 308 pounds). I never let that get me down. I had a lot of offers. Going to Northern Illinois University was the best decision of my life. I enjoyed every second of it. Before going, my father sat me down and talked about the importance of getting a degree. I graduated early, in 3 1/2 years. I remember when I took my visit to Northern Illinois. It was very cold. After conversing with the coaches, I decided to commit. I wanted to go to a place where I would have a chance to play early (Oneyebuagu would go on to be a 4 year starter at Center for NIU and make First Team all Mid American Conference). Even after committing, other schools recruited me. Marshall came after me. I took a visit up there to West Virginia, which I felt bad about because I had told NIU I would come there. Well, they found out about it and the NIU assistant coach that had been recruiting me came right down to school the next Monday. That showed me they really wanted me. It is important to go to a school where they really want you. I had a great time playing college football. I had a chance to make the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL roster, but didn't make it. My college coach talked to me a lot throughout that experience, which showed me again how much he cared about me, and how NIU was a school that really wanted me. Find out who really wants you for WHO you are rather than just what you can do for their program."
CHARLIE ADAMS’ ANALYSIS: Great insights from Jason. At 6' 1" his lack of height hurt him as far as being recruited by major powerhouses at the D1 level, but he said that didn't get him down. A realistic evaluation for him was a D1 program such as Northern Illinois (there are different levels of D1). As a result, he played major minutes all 4 years and said he loved every second of college. Did you notice he got his degree in 3 1/2 years? He didn't let college sports take advantage of him. He worked hard as a player and as a student. His pro aspirations ended quickly, but because he emphasized education while playing college football, he has a degree and a bright future. Sadly, many knuckleheads in college football take classes that keep them eligible, finish without a degree, get cut from the NFL, and go out into the world without a completed degree.
His point about finding the college where they really want you is big as well. When I speak, I emphasize finding the "right fit." A school that really wants you for who you are as a person, and not just an athlete, is a right fit.
Jason is now in coaching and has the credentials to build a successful coaching career. Don't be surprised to see this young man go on to accomplish significant things in life.
Another important point about Cara and Jason is that Division 1 was right for them. We often focus on the major time commitment of D1 and the pressures and all, but there are plenty of D1 kids that are fine with all of that, and have a remarkable experience. To be a D1 athlete is a major commitment, no doubt, but Jason said he loved every second of it and Cara is having unforgettable experiences at Butler. Their young Butler team just won the conference regular season soccer championship and they will host the conference tournament - memories she will have for a lifetime. This season they upset Milwaukee on the road, something no Horizon League team had been able to do in over 12 years. In that game Cara was given the challenge of defending Milwaukee's Sarah Hagen the entire game. Hagen is the 2-time Horizon Conference Player of the Year. Cara did her job as Butler won 1-0.
20 years from now, Cara will have the gratifying feeling of knowing she was a college athlete. She will be able to reflect on the incredible pressure of defending a big time college star, and succeeding! Cara had one crack at the recruiting process, and she found the right fit.
If you have any questions about recruiting, Charlie Adams can be reached at the email below.
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