After the commitment, things are supposed to slow down right? College coaches will start to back off. The media calls will begin to dwindle and recruiting focus should start to die out. Not exactly correct in all cases.
Even after a high school prospect verbally commits, the game is not over. There is lots of time for college coaches to present their case and promote their universities. Now, more than ever, prospects are making verbal commitments and still keeping options open. Watching the landscape, keeping a beat on what’s going on at specific universities. Because as we hear often, things change and high school recruits can flip their commitment to competing schools.
…and college coaches know it. So, in order to stay fresh in the minds’ of prospects, coaches will keep in contact and media will pay attention to the buzz. We asked some of our verbal commitments, what happened after they made their pledge. Specifically, I ask:
1 How has the recruiting process changed since your commitment?
2 What are your expectations for the year?
3 What do you want to improve on before you get to the next level?
Mason Cole, East Lake 2014 OL – Michigan
1. Less reporters and more focus on my team instead of what I’m doing.
2. I have the highest expectations for our team and that’s to win a state championship.
3. I want to improve my game in every aspect, hand placement, footwork, pass sets, run blocking, but also improve my knowledge of the game of football.
Justus Reed, Clearwater Central Catholic 2014 DE – Florida
1. I don’t get lots of Facebook messages anymore but I still get mail from a few schools.
2. To win a state championship. Anything less would be a disappointment.
3. My hands and technique and of course to get bigger.
Tajee Fullwood, Tampa Bay Tech 2014 CB – South Florida
1. Uhm, it changed a little. Few colleges have stopped talking to me but some still are, such as Iowa State, Syracuse, And Rutgers.
2. My expectations for this year is just like everyone else’s, to get the state title and come home with an undefeated regular season.
3. What I want to improve on before I go to the next level would be size, get bigger, better footwork, and my leadership skills because I plan on coming in with a bang and making a statement the first day I get in there.
Corey Martinez, Tampa Catholic 2014 OL – Florida State
1. Ever since I’ve committed to FSU, the recruiting process has slowed down a little. There are still teams trying to recruit me and hope to sway my decision.
2. All offseason me and my team have worked very hard to be the best we can be. We are striving for the ultimate goal, to make it to the state finals!
3. Before I go to the next level, I want to improve the little things that are over looked by many players.
Sedrick King, Plant City 2014 DE – Central Florida
1. Ever since my commitment, a few schools have stop showing interest but there are some schools still recruiting me pretty hard like Wisconsin and Nebraska.
2. For this year, my expectations are for my team to make it to playoffs and then a state championship.
3. Before I go to the next level, I plan on improving my hand skills and becoming a bigger faster and all around defensive end.
Keith Harrington, Northeast 2014 ATH – Washington State
1. The process did not change that much.
2. I’m going to try to get 2,000 rushing this year and help my team go to playoffs.
3. I want to lean how to play everything on offense and defense
Montel Mcbride, Plant City 2014 OL – Alabama
1. Recruiting hasn’t changed much for me actually. I still get all the mail and hand written letters that I have been getting all year. But the one thing that stands out most is how much less I talk to different coaches. When I first committed, I had schools tell me just come take a look at what we got before you get serious about committing. Some schools still want me to take an official visit and see what it’s like, then to be on campus and being around the life of the school.
2. My exceptions are to have as much fun as possible but take every game one at a time.
3. I would like to improve my weight and speed before I get to college. I’ll need to work on my pad level also.
Kendall Gant, Lake Gibson 2014 S – Georgia
1. Umm it calm down a lot.
2. I expect us to make a run for that ring.
3. My strength and speed.
Derrick Ingram, Jefferson 2014 WR – Ohio
1. Once you commit a lot changes. Some schools stop recruiting you but you see more schools show up out of no where. You really see what coaches and teams really wanted you.
2. To be a leader and keep the team in high spirits. We got down on ourselves a lot last year. My role as usual, is to make big plays which I say I do pretty well.
3. My speed!!! And I need more explosion, but mostly my speed.
Devin Abraham, East Lake 2014 S – South Florida
1. The Process has slowed down. Not too many schools still keep in contact.
2. Expectations for this year, I expect to have another good season as a team. Have a lot of work to do but we will be back in the playoffs.
3. I want to improve on my coverage. Footwork and stuff, I am confident in but putting it all into one. I feel like I can put more work into that before college.