Make us an offer
A Recruiting Trail reader who apparently follows college football recruiting quite closely took issue with a blog item last week in which University of Utah recruiting coordinator Dave Schramm said Utah is ultra-cautious about recruiting.
Utah is “probably one of the most cautious programs in the country when it comes to making early offers, and doing that whole thing,” Schramm said, noting that Utah had made far fewer early offers than, say, programs such as BYU.
Why then, the reader wondered, is the recruiting Web site scout.com reporting that Utah has made at least 41 offers? That does not include the offers to the nine players that have reportedly given oral commitments to the Utes.
Either the site has its facts wrong, or Schramm is way off target. BYU, according to the site, has made only 14 offers to players who have not yet committed. The Cougars have 19 committments, at last count.
The guess here is that the truth about the Utes is somewhere inbetween. Utah has probably issued offers to more players than Schramm is letting on. But 41 by mid-September? That number might be a little high.
In scout.com's defense, it is extremely difficult, almost impossible, to know if a young man is telling the truth when he says
he received an offer from a particular school. Why? Because coaches are not allowed, by NCAA rules, to discuss recruits until they have signed.
Hence, Schramm (or any other coach), is not supposed to refute or confirm a claim made by a prep prospect -- at least not on the record, anyway.
Interestingly, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall was asked on his coach’s show Sunday night on KSL TV about BYU’s emphasis on giving out so many early offers. Thank goodness for TiVo. Here’s his reply:
“The reasons are pretty simple. We have a very clear idea of what we are after. I think the type of student-athlete we are looking for is different than any other in the country regarding a foundation of faith and strong academics as well as being a Division I football player.
And when we do find them, we act, and we don’t intend to wait around for others to choose first, or to offer first, which I think shows a different level of competency, professionalism and efficiency. So, our stance, quite frankly, is to do it best and first, and I think that’s what we are doing.”
Utes Lose Battle for Battle
One of the recruits who has said he received an offer from Utah, wide receiver Allante Battle of Desert Vista High in Phoenix, orally committed to Arizona State over the weekend. Battle said he was also offered by Washington State, Washington, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Nevada, San Diego State, Arizona, Colorado State and Oregon State.
Sounds like a recruit the Utes really could have used.
However, Battle, who scored two second-half touchdowns on Friday to help his team beat Mesa 29-15, said his favorite for months now has been Arizona State. He said the desire to be able to play close to home was a big factor in his decision, and his father is a former ASU linebacker, Greg Battle.
Allante Battle caught 18 passes for 496 yards and four touchdowns last year as a junior and rushed for 313 yards and five TDs.
Cougars Still Like Castillo
After his first two games, interest is picking up for Greg Castillo, a defensive back and receiver at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. Castillo, whose father is on the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff under head coach Andy Reid, a former BYU assistant, was offered early by BYU on the recommendation of Reid. Castillo has also been offered by Ohio, Delaware, Villanova and Bowling Green. The 5-foot-10 athlete with explosive speed told scout.com that he has received interest of late from Purdue, Iowa, Boston College, Rutgers and Northwestern.
Utah is “probably one of the most cautious programs in the country when it comes to making early offers, and doing that whole thing,” Schramm said, noting that Utah had made far fewer early offers than, say, programs such as BYU.
Why then, the reader wondered, is the recruiting Web site scout.com reporting that Utah has made at least 41 offers? That does not include the offers to the nine players that have reportedly given oral commitments to the Utes.
Either the site has its facts wrong, or Schramm is way off target. BYU, according to the site, has made only 14 offers to players who have not yet committed. The Cougars have 19 committments, at last count.
The guess here is that the truth about the Utes is somewhere inbetween. Utah has probably issued offers to more players than Schramm is letting on. But 41 by mid-September? That number might be a little high.
In scout.com's defense, it is extremely difficult, almost impossible, to know if a young man is telling the truth when he says
he received an offer from a particular school. Why? Because coaches are not allowed, by NCAA rules, to discuss recruits until they have signed.
Hence, Schramm (or any other coach), is not supposed to refute or confirm a claim made by a prep prospect -- at least not on the record, anyway.
Interestingly, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall was asked on his coach’s show Sunday night on KSL TV about BYU’s emphasis on giving out so many early offers. Thank goodness for TiVo. Here’s his reply:
“The reasons are pretty simple. We have a very clear idea of what we are after. I think the type of student-athlete we are looking for is different than any other in the country regarding a foundation of faith and strong academics as well as being a Division I football player.
And when we do find them, we act, and we don’t intend to wait around for others to choose first, or to offer first, which I think shows a different level of competency, professionalism and efficiency. So, our stance, quite frankly, is to do it best and first, and I think that’s what we are doing.”
Utes Lose Battle for Battle
One of the recruits who has said he received an offer from Utah, wide receiver Allante Battle of Desert Vista High in Phoenix, orally committed to Arizona State over the weekend. Battle said he was also offered by Washington State, Washington, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Nevada, San Diego State, Arizona, Colorado State and Oregon State.
Sounds like a recruit the Utes really could have used.
However, Battle, who scored two second-half touchdowns on Friday to help his team beat Mesa 29-15, said his favorite for months now has been Arizona State. He said the desire to be able to play close to home was a big factor in his decision, and his father is a former ASU linebacker, Greg Battle.
Allante Battle caught 18 passes for 496 yards and four touchdowns last year as a junior and rushed for 313 yards and five TDs.
Cougars Still Like Castillo
After his first two games, interest is picking up for Greg Castillo, a defensive back and receiver at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. Castillo, whose father is on the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff under head coach Andy Reid, a former BYU assistant, was offered early by BYU on the recommendation of Reid. Castillo has also been offered by Ohio, Delaware, Villanova and Bowling Green. The 5-foot-10 athlete with explosive speed told scout.com that he has received interest of late from Purdue, Iowa, Boston College, Rutgers and Northwestern.
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