We always get flack when we drop rankings. Whether rankings are 140 characters long and only allow us to post three names on Twitter or full website rankings where only a given number of slots are available. Kids want to be recognized. HECK, adults want to be recognized. So we don’t hammer the kids when they get at us about rankings. It’s human. Kids will always want to see their name or name of a buddy/teammate in black and white. However, kids and followers alike sometimes find it hard to differentiate statistical leaders and college prospects.
Rankings are never personal and in a perfect world, every player would be able to play college football at some level. That is not the reality though. As we try to educate on the recruiting process, many times it turns into locker room material for motivation or the center of inner circle joke. We have the ability to see a rather large number of players and prospects in any given calendar year.
We would like to reiterate that size is a big factor for college football recruiting. IT IS NOT A FACTOR for high school football production or stats. Usually when we post a PROSPECT RANKING (basically, the players we feel will attract a significant amount of college football recruiting attention), those with a different opinion defend their selection with stats and accolades. Even though we would love for our stat leaders to be the best college prospects, many times it does not happen like that.
Size matters. Speed matters and talent matters more that stats. Contrary to popular belief, We did not make this up. The prototype recruit at each position is indirectly passed down to talent evaluators such as BCP by the dimensions and talent of the prospects being recruited.
There are tons of examples we could use to try to attempt to help our readers understand the difference between stats and prospects. It may frustrate area athletes that their names are not mentioned amongst the best college prospects in the area. But it is not personal and our goal is not to sleep on (Definition varies. Sleep usually refers to not paying attention to or given the appropriate credit to) area athletes. Measurable baselines are from the trends college coaches set. Not BCP. Many times undersized players will not get the looks from college coaches they feel they deserve for one simple reason; They are “Undersized” and Florida is saturated with really good undersized players.
Naturally, the bigger the player is for his position, the more attention he will attract. Along with his speed, quickness, explosiveness and ability. Read the tweets below.
@BigCountyPreps1 6’1 not enough huh? 3years first team goin on 4th nt enough huh? Film and all jus nt enough huh? Only 3inch stop me huh..?
— iam_Justin (@iam_justin14) July 23, 2015
This athlete makes a great point. He produces on the field, has some accolades to support it and feels like he is a baller. We agree! He questioned his #3 BCP ranking behind two 6-4 athletes at the defensive tackle position.
Nope. That’s not what I’m saying. If u were 6-4 & your film shows like it does, you would be PAC12, SEC, etc recruit https://t.co/z6rryGb1tg
— BIG COUNTY PREPS (@BigCountyPreps1) July 23, 2015
He would like us to recognize him for what he does on the field! We know that and understand that. That is where football is played, on the field. Not on paper. But, when college recruiting is involved the bigger you are with the same skill set, drives up your value. Never would be slight an athletes’ production. We do attempt to help athletes look at this crazy recruiting stuff as a college football staff would. And realities and varying opinions are not always “music to the ears.”
Now here is the good stuff. Take a look at theses 2012 articles we found with some very good info. We linked it to inform, NOT DISCOURAGE. Take a look and give us your feedback.