Help in Deciphering Recruit Speak

Submitted by Ziff72 on

In "aquaman's" update he stated that Armani Reeves told him that OSU and Michigan both promised him "Early Playing Time".    Based on both teams depth charts and the fact he is not already enrolled the chances of that happening are slim at best.  

I find it hard to believe knowing their perspective depth charts Meyer or Hoke would promise a kid playing time.  I could see if you had a depth chart issue like we do with OL where you could point out a great opportunity, but this is not the case for either school at DB. 

So my question is do kids just say this stuff to recruiting guys when the coaches didn't say it  or are kids still that innocent where they can get sucked in by the "early pt line"?   It's a minor thing, but it just baffles me every time I see it.

Yonkers

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:15 AM ^

yeah that confused me too, because coaches should never guarntee early playing time, especially when they have some depth a db. Granted if we do pick him up and he doesent get early playing time i hope he stays mature and does not transfer.

mgoDave

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:16 AM ^

That does not mean starting but he could be worked in on some situations and I am sure that he would see playing time on special teams.  Saying early playing time doesn't suggest that he is going to start in his first year it just means that he will get a chance to see the feild every once and a while.  

Lofter4

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:18 AM ^

I'd say it's more likely he was told he'd have every opportunity to get early playing time. With JT Floyd going into his final year, there will be a starting corner spot available or at worst a Nickel spot if Avery were to win that battle next year.

Mr. Yost

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:19 AM ^

Recruits nationwide always feel like they're promised early playing time. It's what they want, and coaches aren't dumb. They know this.

Do some coaches outright promise PT? Sure.

But coaches also know what to say to make a recruit think he's being promised early PT.

"Son, I absolutely THINK you can come in an play here."

"If you come in and play the the level of the position, we feel you can make an early impact."

"If you saw our (enter position here) last year, you know we need some help there...we THINK you can step right in."

"We certainly could see you starting here next season."

 

None of these are flat out "you're going to start" or "the spot is yours to lose" or "you're currently #1 on the depth chart"...

 

Recruits get caught up in all of this and just get the wrong message. They hear "Coach said I'm GOING to start." When he probably didn't...

Hardware Sushi

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:52 AM ^

Coaches don't even have to be that direct about playing time. Coaches will give recruits the "We play the best 11 players on the team" angle to recruits. When you're a top-flight recruit and you've been told you're the best your whole life, it's tough not to believe you'll automatically be the best when you show up unless you have someone to keep you grounded.

It really helps when you start freshmen like Blake Countess as freshman to prove you aren't full of shit, too.

1464

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:31 AM ^

Recruiting is a very inexact science.  However, if any coaches that come into a recruits house and say we THINK you can make a difference because our current (insert position) is not playing well, that is a message that they will sell their current players out if need be. 

The best stance to take is "We give every kid an opportunity to play.  If you are the best at your position you will start, regardless of your age.  We are recruiting you because we see the potential in you to be an excellent (position).  It's up to you to earn that spot."  Let the kid size up the competition himself.

I've always thought I could sell the Michigan brand to recruits in a way that recruits could not say no.  A lot of recruiting seems slimy.  Just be genuine with a kid and their family.  That's how I feel our current staff sees things too, and it has paid off immensely.  So Hoke, you are obviously reading this and are probably easily swayed by random and partially anonymous internet posts.  My resume is in the mail.  I'll expect a lofty pay raise from my current position...

 

Steve T

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:19 AM ^

That wasn't a direct quote.  It is more likely the coaches told him he would compete for early playing time.  I highly doubt they guaranteed him early playing time.

One Inch Woody…

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:23 AM ^

Well, if he's looking for a place to play early, then Ohio State is probably not it with them having both a freshman and sophomore as starters for the cornerback spot. We, on the other hand, have JT Floyd who will unfortunately be graduating next year, perhaps allowing Armani a chance to step in.

EGD

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:23 AM ^

What you normally hear the coaches say, and Hoke especially, are (i) that "the best players are going to play," and (ii) that anyone on the team will "have the opportunity to compete" at their position.  So if the best player is a true freshman, and that freshman proves he is the best through competition in practice, then that's who is going to be on the field.  

If a recruit is saying that the coach promised him early playing time, then what probably happened is the coach said some version of the above, and the recruit's statement is some combination of (i) the recruit paraphrasing what was said, (ii) the recruit having heard what he wanted to, and (iii) the recruit believing that he will prove himself to be worthy of early PT.

ccdevi

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:24 AM ^

Few thoughts

First off who knows what coaches say and kids hear, maybe they said you have an opportunity or there is a chance to play early and he hears a promise.

Second, no idea about osu but why can't he play early at UM? I would certainly say he has a chance to be the 4th corner and I wouldn't consider Avery as having a lock on the 3rd corner spot. "play" doesn't mean start. And of course there are always injuries.

Steve Lorenz

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:25 AM ^

Me: Is the fact that Carmen committed to Ohio State one of the big reasons you like them? 

Armani: No, because they're a good school and the opportunity for me to play early and often is there. 

Me: Did Michigan make that same promise? 

Armani: Yes. 

Ziff72

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:30 AM ^

The follow up question could be.  

Y: OSU told you you had a good opportunity to play early?  

A: Yes

Y: Are you aware they return 5 of their top 6 CB's from a top10 defense last year?

Possible answers from AR

1. Uhhhhhhh......

2. Yes I do they all suck and I'll beat them out (paraphrasing)  /s

 

 

Ziff72

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:49 AM ^

You are not a fan of Michigan?

I was using OSU as an example not as a way to sway him.  My point was it would be interesting if you asked him a question like that to see if he had any knowlege of the teams current depth chart to see if he had any understanding of what he said or was just reeling off recruiting phrases that made him seem like more of a superstar and feed his ego.

I could see a question like that agitating the kid so I could see why maybe you wouldn't ask it and risk losing access to the kid, but I would find it very interesting.

 

 

 

elaydin

January 23rd, 2012 at 10:06 AM ^

Aquaman can't advocate for a school, or act in any way other than being an unbiased member of the media.

I also don't see anything wrong with what OSU said.  They just lost their #3 CB and one of their starters is a senior.  CB is one of the easier positions to come in and contribute right away, so it wouldn't surprise me about a coach from OSU or UM telling Reeves this.

Mr. Yost

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:34 AM ^

Once again. No one said he was going to start.

There's an opportunity.

If he comes in and his Charles Woodson, well yeah, he's going to start. That would be nice, but I'm not banking on that...or Reeves starting next year.

turd ferguson

January 23rd, 2012 at 10:38 AM ^

Did you just edit that on your blog?  Like the OP, I remember being surprised to hear that Reeves was promised playing time, but the language in your blog post now seems much less surprising - and a much better representation of the exact quotes that you've posted here. 

Maybe I'm mis-remembering that?

MasonBilderberg

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:27 AM ^

"early playing time" doesn't necessarily mean starting from day 1. These kids will be starters on ST, be 2nd or 3rd string as Freshman, play in certain situations (nickel, blowouts, injuries etc) & probably start by their 2nd or 3rd year.
<br>OSU & UM both have opportunities for Reeves to see the field early.

MH20

January 23rd, 2012 at 10:11 AM ^

I know Rivals is in the business of making money, but holy jeez does that guy fluff up everything he writes. Just give me the facts without all this dressed up bullshit on the side. It's annoying as hell.

96goblue00

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:58 AM ^

I mean, you come in and kill it in practive, outplay the projected starters at the position, and you're it. Now, the likelihood of that actually happening depends on the playmaking ability of the actual players. With Reeves, well, unless he can outplay J.T. and Countess, starting is likely not going to happen, but it can if he can outperform J.T. in practice, or if one of our starting corners goes down and he is the best replacement, he could see the field early.

JohnCorbin

January 23rd, 2012 at 9:49 AM ^

Hoke tells all the recruits the best eleven will see the field, and there's no doubt when a freshman comes in, and works hard, they can work their way onto the field to be one of the eleven.  Look at Countess, Morgan, Clark, and Beyer from last year, just to name a few.  So, Reeves could believe he's going to see the field because he knows he's going to come in and work hard.  

elaydin

January 23rd, 2012 at 10:02 AM ^

Do you yourself a favor and don't listen to 95% of the things recruits say.  It'll just drive you crazy.  They'll cater their response to the interviewer and they're not going to open up to total strangers.

 

Tater

January 23rd, 2012 at 10:26 AM ^

Coach says: "You will get every opportunity to earn playing time as a freshman.  I always put the best players on the field."

Recruit's interpretation: "Coach says I'm gonna get early playing time." 

ThWard

January 23rd, 2012 at 10:30 AM ^

The question isn't whether a kid is guaranteed playing time or not.  No kid - no matter how naive - thinks playing time is guaranteed without working hard and beating out his competition

 

The question is, if, as a true frosh, he beats out competition, will he play?  Some coaches are truly loathe to play (or start) true freshman.  

 

Both Meyer and Hoke have shown a willingness to play the best players available, class level be damned, so telling a kid he is promised playing time really just means, "promised playing time if you earn it, despite being a true freshman."

Incredible Hoke

January 23rd, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^

I don't forsee it being that difficult for Armani Reeves to see the field early. JT, Countess, and Avery are only ahead of him. All that needs to happen is somebody to tweak something, or rotating in occasionally, playing nickel, or special teams. Could rotate in, or be next years Delonte Hollowell on special teams. Armani is obviously immensely talented.