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Post by iowaelonfan on Nov 3, 2013 19:49:30 GMT -5
I read the article in the Burlington news regarding Elon looking to the JR Colleges in Places such as Kansas and Texas. If you look at my screen name, (iowaelonfan) its not hard to figure out who I am since there is only one elon player from Iowa. I have said, Elon is missing the boat by not recruiting the Midwest. (meaning west of the Mississippi) Here is why.
13 D 1 schools in North Carolina playing football (didn't include Campbell since they're non scholarship
14 D 1 schools in all of Missouri,Iowa, Minnesota, South and North Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. ( Didn't count Drake for same reason as Campbell)
(2012 census estimates)
Population in North Carolina Just under 10 million
Population in 6 states listed above. over 21 million.
The point is there are many D 1 schools on the east coast. Not as many in Midwest. there are a lot of D 2 school so the kids that don't get the good offers from the D 1 schools go to the D 2 schools. Some of the kids that go to schools like Minnesota State currently ranked #1 and Northwest Missouri State currently ranked #2. are the same kids that would consider Elon (because it's D 1)and would help Elon win games. I'm speaking from experience. If my son hadn't gone to Elon, he mostly likely would be playing for the number one ranked team in D 2 but he chose Elon because of the desire to play D1.
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Post by fightingchristianlb on Nov 4, 2013 20:42:41 GMT -5
I hear the point that you are making and it got me to looking into your claims of recruiting the Midwest. I checked out each state that was listed for any prospect that has an interest in Elon. I couldn't find one that had Elon interest. Now I did notice a lot of prospects listed with no interest in a school listed. What that tends to mean is the prospect has good size and potential but hasn't made any interest public to any school. Here is the dilemma, a school heading into an area where prospects have shown no interest. Fla, Ga, NC, SC, Va, Penn, are a car ride away and prospects are listing Elon on their interest list.
Elon has to ask some questions about prospects. Did they come to camp? Has Tape been sent? How much interest is being showed? Elon coaches can keep in touch and watch grades on prospects they want. Coaches can go watch them play in games that have their recruit against other top recruits. It all starts with interest. Right now Elon has to see the interest, before they head into an area that doesn't regularly produce prospects for them.
Maybe this helps.
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Post by whoanellie on Nov 4, 2013 23:30:18 GMT -5
it sure would be nice to have the resources to go after some early bird commits. Only We have to take some or most projects that BCS schools overlook. We can offer the preferred walk-on from to get a better quality of athlete and will always be in a fight to get the needs taken care of. Way Way back in the day Elon was transfer central as so many players came to us as transfers. I mean a lot!!!
good luck in our efforts
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Post by iowaelonfan on Nov 7, 2013 18:08:00 GMT -5
Not sure what site you were looking at. I assume rivals. regardless, the reason they don't indicate an interest in Elon or most schools multiple states away from home is because they don't know about the school. Thomas has been at Elon for three years and I've met 2 people in Iowa who have heard of Elon. Thomas was recruited by other east coast schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Penn and Leigh. There were probably others but those are the ones he considered. All are non scholarship so that is why they were not in the mix at the end. The way they found out that Thomas had interest was by sending a recruiting questionnaire. I don't know how they got his name. I assume it was because he was a top 50 player in the state. regardless, how hard would it be for Elon to get the same information on kids and send them an Elon recruiting questionnaire. Unless you're a very highly rated recruit, you are interested in the schools that are interested in you.
In addition to the very successfully D2 schools in the Midwest the National Champion JR College is located in Iowa as well. Go to the Iowa Western Community College website and click on former players. You will see 20 kids from 2012 who signed with D1 schools and about the same from 2011. Most were BCS schools but some FCS. Many of those kids were qualifiers but went to a top notch JR College because they wanted to play D1 and didn't get the offer they were looking for out of high school. Do you think you might get a hand full if you're Elon and show some interest by putting a stamp on a recruiting questionnaire and put it in the mail? I guarantee you would.
I don't want anyone to think Elon doesn't have high quality kids because I know they do. I'm simply saying if your looking for Gold are you going to look in old gold mines that have been heavily mined or are you going to go prospecting in new areas.
In the end, the coaches will go where they think is best and what I think is not very relevant.
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Post by bornthrilla on Nov 18, 2013 12:16:32 GMT -5
Good info.
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Post by oldfan on Nov 18, 2013 13:31:30 GMT -5
FWIW, if this is true ( searching JC's etc) it's just another negative sign as to the competency of this staff. Ask any coach and they will tell you that recuiting starts in state. We all know about the depth of players in NC and the Southeast. IMO these guys are having trouble getting quality regional HS players and/or are looking for a quick fix. The above message re: midwest schools forgot to mention the MAC. Many players in the CAA or SC are MAC capable as well. Most players attending JC's are looking for BCS/FBS opportunities, not FCS.
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