Help in Deciphering Recruit Speak

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.  

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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. 

He is an SEC Guy and you do whatever you can to get a player
If Hoke said this as well maybe they see him as a WR?

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.

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.  

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.

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." 

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."

Anybody teaching an online course in this discipline?  I could also use a course in who-are-the-last-five-recruits-on-the-board gonna sign with?