High school players work toward dream

For every prizedDivision I recruit, there are dozens of talented players overlooked.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Ah, recruiting season. A time when high school standouts can reach for the stars, and high school coaches can reach for the Tylenol.
"Sometimes you have to deal with parents whose expectations for their son are not realistic, and the whole experience becomes difficult," said Warren Harding High football coach Thom McDaniels.
"Fortunately, this year has been less stressful than last year."
Five Div. I recruits
McDaniels will have five players sign letters-of-intent to play Division I college football on Wednesday -- by far the most in the area. But, like every coach, he wishes he had more.
For every prized Division I recruit, there are always dozens of talented football players who get overlooked by major colleges because of factors such as size, speed, grades and performance.
Sometimes it's fair. Sometimes it isn't.
"Some kids get lost in the numbers game," said Chaney coach Ron Berdis. "You can focus too much on the bigger, faster, stronger part as opposed to getting a kid who works his tail off. That's a shame."
More than 25,000 high school seniors play football every year. Less than one percent earn Div. I scholarships. Another two to three percent will get scholarships at a Division II or III school.
Those aren't good odds, which is why McDaniels, Berdis -- and countless other area coaches -- work so hard to make sure their players have a chance.
Begin process early
"We really try to start the process in the ninth grade," said Howland coach Dick Angle. "We'll stress academics because we want to make sure a player stays eligible and has the grades to make it in college.
"Next we try to get them in the weight room, so they can get bigger and stronger."
Some elite athletes start getting letters as freshmen, but things don't really heat up for most players until their junior season. Coaches start sending game film, players attend more camps, recruiting services pinpoint the best athletes and college recruiters start narrowing their choices.
"With your big time guys, you don't have to do too much," said Poland coach Paul Hulea, who has two players headed to Div. I colleges this year. "I bet Thom didn't sent out a whole lot of tape on Maurice. You can just walk in the school and say, 'Yeah, I want him on my football team.' "
Strong reputation
McDaniels, who has five Div. I recruits this season, sent game film to 49 different colleges and had 29 colleges visit this year.
After 16 years at Canton McKinley and four at Harding, he knows a lot about the process, and he's developed a good reputation with coaches and recruiters across the country. "I think have I credibility coast to coast," McDaniels said. "I think I have a reputation as being a guy who knows what a Division I player looks like. And coaches know that when I give them a height and weight, it's legit."
That's not true of all coaches, McDaniels said.
"High school coaches are notorious liars, and you can quote me on that," he said. "I'm not and college recruiters know it.
"There are a whole lot of 5-10 guys out there who are listed at 6-1. I'm the guy that weighs and measures on our team. We still think 4.8s and 4.9s [in the 40-yard dash] are fast. It's amazing how many 4.4s and 4.5s from other schools can't catch our 4.9s."
McDaniels said he tries to do as much as he can to help recruits -- faxing transcripts, arranging meetings, educating parents -- but he can't do everything.
"There's still a lot that a parent needs to do," McDaniels said. "And there's still a lot that the player needs to do. He needs to be coachable. He needs to have a good attitude. And he needs to play really good football."
Being realistic
Seek second opinion
No matter what a coach says -- even a coach with a good reputation -- recruiters will seek a second opinion. Often, they'll turn to opposing coaches.
"Obviously, the best players in the Valley are all at Poland," said Hulea with a chuckle. "I'll tell anybody that. But obviously, that's not completely true, so you're going to be more objective about somebody else's players."
And there's plenty to choose from. This area has a strong reputation across the country for having talented football players.
"I always tell my players, If you stay in the recruiting process, college coaches will put you in the level that you can play at," said Hulea. "They don't make many mistakes. Then you gotta decide if you want to play there."
Of course, mistakes do happen.
"The toughest thing for me as a coach is when someone gets recruited for awhile, then all the sudden they quit sending them letters and quit pursuing them," Hulea said.
List narrows quickly
Major colleges such as Ohio State usually have a list of about 2,000 players they're interested in. By late spring, the list is narrowed to about 150. Of those, only 20-25 will get scholarships.
"We meet with the kids and the parents during their sophomore year and give them an overview of the procedure," said Chaney coach Ron Berdis. "We let them know what colleges are looking for size-wise and ability-wise at each level, and we make resources available.
"In spite of all that, you're still going to have parents and players who are wondering why Ohio State isn't calling and why Michigan isn't calling. I really try to emphasize that letters don't mean a whole bunch except that you're on a mailing list. We let our kids know their chances of getting an academic scholarship are a lot better than getting an athletic scholarship."
Being honest
The key is honesty. In 30 years at Howland, Ursuline and Warren JFK, Angle said he has sent close to 100 players to Div. I colleges, so he has a good idea of what to look for.
"We just try to be realistic," Angle, who has four Div. I recruits this year, said. "Everyone wants to shoot for the stars, but there's not too many 5-10, 180-pound guys running around in the Big Ten anymore."
A place for everyone
"The thing we try to stress is that there's a place for everyone if you want to play college football. The D-Is usually take care of themselves. I work a lot harder on the D-IIs and D-IIIs."
And, for many coaches, the real work begins after signing day. Schools in Div. I-AA, II, III or even the NAIA pay more attention to who hasn't signed than who has.
"After the signing date, that's when you really have to roll up your sleeves," Berdis said. "The IIs and I-AAs are waiting for the water to clear to see what's left.
"I don't have a D-I this year, but I have probably four or five kids that I'm trying to match up with colleges. That will get a little more intense after Wednesday."
And while the lower division prospects don't get as much attention, it doesn't make their commitment any less meaningful.
"It's nerve-wracking, but it's also a very exciting time as well," Hulea said. "It's always neat for me as a coach to watch when a player achieves his dreams."
scalzo@vindy.com