Recruiting: Coaches say freshmen can play
Posted on 24. Jul, 2009 by Brian Porter in '09 7-on-7
Recruits have always based at least part of their decision on National Signing Day upon their belief that one place will afford them playing time quicker than the other.
And college coaches now seem willing to give true freshmen the opportunity to earn playing time.
“Players today want to play and want to get on the field,” said Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman. “I think that is one reason we’ve attracted some guys.”
Coaches from some of the state’s major college football programs seem to believe freshmen can step on campus and contribute. The leaders of several of those programs met this week with the media during the Texas High School Coaches Association’s Coaching School in Austin.
Recruiting: College coaches comment on programs, recruits
“I don’t think you rule any freshman out anymore,” said Texas coach Mack Brown.
Take, for example, Blake McJunkin. The center on the Plano Wildcats’ 2007 state semifinalist football team started 10 games as a true freshman last year at SMU.
Rex Burkhead could be that player this year. Nebraska has never ruled out the true freshman from a starting or contributing role. Following a career in which he played in 51 high school varsity games, he could be ready to contribute immediately.
Sam McGuffie did at Michigan and now has transferred to Rice.
Recruits can go to places like SMU and Rice University and get playing time, along with a top-notch degree.
“If you are an NFL talent they will find you,” said Rice coach David Bailiff. “After you’re done, you’ll be the boss. We’re recruiting kids with great character. The purpose of college is supposed to be to prepare you for life.
“I think Sam chose us because we won 10 games and a bowl game,” Bailiff said. “But you really can get a world-class degree.”
But, at Texas, there always seems to be a chance for a national title.
“What I thought was pressure when I came to Texas was really pride and passion,” Brown said. “People want to win. I think the thing that stays the same the most is passion for football.”
Texas A&M won just four games last season and, in the Big 12 South, has not competed at the level of Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech in recent years.
“It’s not good enough to say you have a scholarship at Texas A&M,” Sherman said. “It’s not good enough to say you’re a Texas A&M football player.”
But, at Baylor, coaches believe they’ve closed the gap some in the Big 12.
“The natural progression is to be a bowl-bound team, but we have higher expectations than that,” said Baylor coach Art Briles.
Briles, a former high school coach in Texas, sees quite a difference between the high school and college game from one facet.
“In high school, you play with who walks in the door,” he said.
As coaches begin to focus mostly on the 2011 recruiting class, they say keeping recruits in state is a must. But the recruits must also be a good fit.
“We needed to work on our defensive speed,” Sherman said. “The players we recruited in this class, over half of them ran track in high school.”
