January is coming to a close. Hopefully 2018 started with plenty of motivation and hard-work. If not, you still have time to prepare for the following:
1. The football recruiting contact period is in full swing. Quiet and Dead periods start February 4th and will extend to April 15th.
The Contact Period
A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospective student-athlete (PSA) or the PSA’s parents, relatives or legal guardian(s) and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. Any such face-to-face encounter that is prearranged (e.g., staff member positions himself/herself in a location where contact is possible) or that takes place on the grounds of the PSA’s educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice involving the PSA or the PSA’s high school, preparatory school, two-year college or all-star team shall be considered a contact, regardless of whether any conversation occurs.
During this time, uncommitted/unsigned athletes should “stay away” from wearing college attire to school. No matter the affiliation with the school. College coaches will be popping in and out of high schools daily to eye-ball prospects, view film and pick up grade summary reports. It is not very tasteful to have Georgia gear on when Georgia Tech pops in to visit.
2. The Small School Recruiting fair will take place in February 17th and 18th at Jefferson High School. The National Football Foundation Tampa Chapter will host the annual lower division college football recruiting fair. This is an opportunity for graduating seniors to catch the eye of lower division college coaches with their academic performance, film evaluation and character.
The colleges attending will not be providing full athletic scholarships but will have the ability to put together financial packages which will decrease the amount of out of pocket money for the athlete to attend college and play college football. Please ask your coach how it all works! Click HERE for more tips.
3. Currently Hillsborough High School has had the most players drafted to the NFL (13). Lakewood could pass the Terriers this year as the Spartans have had 12 players drafted. With Isaiah Wynn (Georgia), Shaquem Griffin (Central Florida) and Marquez Valdez-Scantling (South Florida) all eligible, Lakewood could take the lead. Lakeland, Chamberlain and Hernando High School have had 10 players drafted each. Not too shabby.
4. Wharton’s Chase Litton declared for the NFL draft a few weeks back. If Litton is drafted, he will be only the 5th quarterback from Hillsborough County drafted in any round.
1972 John Reaves, Robinson (Florida) 1st rd
1973 Gary Huff, Leto (Florida State) 2nd rd
1984 Dean May, Chamberlain (Louisville) 5th rd
2014 Aaron Murray, Plant (Georgia) 5th rd
5. Spring official visits begin this season: April 1 of the junior year and ends the Sunday before the last Wednesday in June of that year. Official visits can’t occur in conjunction with a prospect’s participation in a school’s camp or clinic (effective Aug. 1). Prospects and parents should take advantage of this. Schools are wanting prospects to commit earlier which means prospects/parents need to do their homework earlier.
During an official visit the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for the student-athlete, lodging and three meals per day for the student-athlete and his or her parents or guardians, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses including three tickets to a home sports event.