Dear seniors without a committable Division I offer,
It’s time.
I know how you feel. You’ve gone to college camps and didn’t get an offer. You’ve played hard at 7v7 (and probably spent a ton of money too) and don’t have a Division I offer. You’ve done all the right things, made all the right moves. Yet getting a D1 scholarship at a major or mid-major program hasn’t happened.
It’s time.
You’ve lived in the gym. You’ve conditioned like crazy. You’ve helped your high school team have success, maybe even a state championship. You’d think all that success would bring a Division I offer. But it hasn’t materialized.
It’s time.
You’ve gone to showcases and it hasn’t worked. You’ve traveled here and there and everywhere and nothing is available. Yet all you have to show for it, at least from the big boys, is a preferred walk-on spot.
It’s time.
“But it was my first year playing football and I had a great senior year!” you say. What you have to understand is, as we in southern Indiana say, it just don’t work that way no more. Your junior year is everything in recruiting. You can’t expect a Division I offer if you’ve only played for one season. Division I major college football recruiting was 95% done before the season started.
It’s time.
I get it dad, mom, high school coach, whoever. Your son scored seven touchdowns against a Power 5 recruit. It’s not fair. But a couple things to keep in mind: that recruit is 6’2 with long arms and has a frame that college coaches believe they can shape and mold. Or maybe there just aren’t any more scholarships available for your position.
It’s time.
For what, exactly? It’s time to look at Division II and Division III schools and NAIA schools in your recruiting process. Having a D1 or bust mentality has taken you nowhere. It’s time to reach acceptance, no matter how hard it may be: at this moment, at this place, at this time, Division I college football with a scholarship is not an option.
It sucks. I know it sucks. Believe me: I know what it feels like to do everything right and not have a goal fulfilled.
The good news for you, however, is that just because “D1” isn’t available now doesn’t mean it won’t be available in the future. The transfer portal has allowed strong prospects at lower levels to gain Division I offers. So, if you really are better than that guy who is going to Alabama, you should dominate Division II or Division III football, transfer after a year or two and make your dreams come true.
Or you could stay. If the NFL is your goal, it doesn’t matter where you play. They will find you.
Play and succeed wherever you wind up. If it’s at Grand Valley State, be the best Laker possible. If it’s at Hanover College, be the best Panther.
Either way, treat every coach who is walking through your program right now – even the Division III coaches – like Nick Saban. They can all offer you something. A chance.
The question is: what are you going to offer them?
A poor, bitter attitude, or a humble commitment to be the best player you can be and harvest wherever you are planted?
The choice is yours.