Recent Recruiting Trend?

Submitted by jb5O4 on

Is it just me or did you notice alot more kids this year talking about their decisioms being largely influenced by academics. Big time players like Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Seantrel Henderson made big points about it. And the recent surge in talent that has gone to Stanford might be a sign as well.

Don

February 4th, 2010 at 8:03 AM ^

For ten years I've heard recruits talk about how important academics are to them and then they sign with Florida State or Alabama. If Henderson's decision was largely influenced by academics, he would have given greater consideration to Michigan.

pz

February 4th, 2010 at 8:13 AM ^

"Academics are extremely important to me" - I don't care about academics in the slightest.

"No, seriously, the academic reputation of a school is critical in my decision making." - My mom is in the room.

...

I think this has been going on for a while. Tough to say whether its meaningfulness has changed, but I would personally lean towards no. Recruits talk and we parse everything in ways that are totally irrational.

Flying Dutchman

February 4th, 2010 at 8:30 AM ^

Gholston at MSU also spoke of academics. Yet there is another Big Ten school closer to his home in Detroit that is far greater academically than the one he chose. So, that's fluff from him, as I imagine it is for 90%+ of these kids.

Tater

February 4th, 2010 at 8:56 AM ^

It's great to see that everyone here has very functional BS meters. When I read Gholston's quote on academics, I would have vomited if I had anything in my stomach at the time. "I chose school XYZ because of the academics" has become even more umbiquitous than "I'd like to thank my Momma because I wouldn't be here without her."

michelin

February 4th, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^

When Gholston says that academics were most important to him in making his choice, he may mean that schools with high academic standards were eliminated.