Los Angeles, Ca – What is a verbal commit … do you follow a coach? That is a tough question for a high school kid to answer even with the support of a strong family. All student athletes thrive with a #D1Bound mentality to get a verbal offer from a college. It’s really a big deal for a recruit to get a visit from the head coach of a college. That coach is face of the school but no one knows for how long; some get fired, hired or just retire.
Each year the coaching carousel spins with changes and no school is immune to their coach making a change. For this fact each student athlete needs to make a choice for a school that’s going to fit on and off the field. Can’t pick a school just for a coach or just for football only because I haven’t seen anyone with a crystal ball, even Back to Future movie was wrong with the Chicago Cubs winning world series in 2015.
Right now the Georgia Bulldogs just lost their coach Mark Richt to the University of Miami. No one even had a hint at the start of this season that Richt might make a move. Five Star Quarterback recruit Jacob Eason of the Lake Stevens Vikings (6’6, 215 SR.) now has a big decision to make…. to stay a Bulldog, be a Hurricanes, or open the field to everyone. Time will tell was Eason committed to school, coach or opportunity to start as a true freshman. There are so many side stories with the options on the table, the Canes already have young hot shot at QB Brad Kaaya who only sophomore who had the starting job from day one.
Let’s take look at past situations most coaches like their personal recruits verses the previous regime kids. There are always exceptions to the rule because some are the kids their wanted out high school but lost out when selected a different college choice. It is a easier road if you haven’t signed a letter of intent because you can check the temperature of both schools and make a choice. After you sign or already enrolled the choice to leave is a big gamble. Few years back USC previous coach Steve Sarkisian was recruiting local prep star Jalen Greene of Serra High School (Gardena, Ca) to Washington Huskies. Before signing day Sarkisian got the job at USC and Greene followed, was it to play for Sark or USC and get to stay in his backyard to be a student athlete. As it stands now Sark is out and Greens made a position change to wide receiver to increase his playing time sooner verses later.
A riskier move but for Troy Williams wasn’t hard at all because he bet on himself. Williams was a Sophomore QB at University of Washington with a new head coach coming in Chris Petersen from Bosie State. Williams transferred to a Junior College in Santa Monica (SMC) and lead the team to 11-0 record and American Pacific Conference Championship. Along the way he was offered a scholarship back to top Pac-12 school being the Utah Utes. It doesn’t always work out but for Williams it’s going as he dreamed.
Meanwhile back at Washington the first QB recruit Jake Browning played in, and started, 11 of 12 games in 2015 as a true freshman, he was first ever to start a season opener at quarterback, as he took the opening snaps at Boise State. So Petersen got his prize recruit and will continue to run with his guy under center for the next few years.
So what do we know from past behavior it is anybody guess, you have to make a decision that will make you happy in the end not a coach. If you are fortunate enough to have you coach leave or come before signing day you have more options as player. Once you are enrolled in a school you moves a little more risky but Dreams do come true……
