Video: Karnell Leavell's highlights vs. South View Jack Britt recruiting coordinator Justin Grandenetti uses film like this to get his players recruited.
There is so much that goes in to helping our kids with recruiting. It seems like the job has become even more difficult, even with all of the different avenues of technology we have these days.
I had the opportunity to speak with Justin Grandenetti, he is the recruiting coordinator, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at
Jack Britt (Fayetteville, N.C.).
What do you think about the current landscape of recruiting?With over 1 million kids playing high school football, the recruiting is tremendously competitive. Seeing talented football players left on the table is frustrating to say the least. We've all heard that "there's a school out there for everyone," and I truly believe that, but what good is that school if the student athlete never gets in front it? I've been fortunate to become the recruiting coordinator at a high school in North Carolina, so I'm constantly thinking of ways to increase a student athlete's chance of signing.
What do you think is the most important thing for you to do as the recruiting coordinator?Be proactive! As coaches, we must promote our guys. Do not sit back and wait for the schools to come knocking. You may miss a chance to get a guy noticed early. There's nothing wrong with reaching out to schools yourself.
How do you go about doing this?
Personally, I'll start to contact colleges usually after our non-conference games. This gives our guys four games to get some highlights together, and the schools can see their most up to date work. Wherever your school is located, you will get a handful of schools to contact and visit you. If you sit back and let the schools do everything, your kids (unless they reach out on their own) are only subjected to those schools. There are over 770 colleges and universities (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII, NAIA) in the country offering football, which doesn't even include the JUCO and prep schools. There is plenty opportunity out there to find a school that would be interested in one of your players.
I first contact everyone in my state, and then the surrounding states. Living in North Carolina, we are very fortunate to have a ton of schools at all different levels; but I can't stop there. I err on the side of audacity. Let your actions be the $29,000 email story you tell other coaches.
Justin Grandenetti has coached at Jack Britt in North Carolina and works to get his players recruited to play collegiately.
File photo by Fabian Radulescu
One of our players was getting a good amount of attention because of his abilities on the field, yet still had no offers. I could've easily let this play out. He would've eventually found a spot, but I wanted to do more for this young man, as well as the rest. I put together an email that introduced who I was, and listed all of our seniors with their necessary information (position, height/weight, post season honors). The link to their highlight films were also included.
Finally, I attached their most recent high school transcript to show how they were academically. My "sent" box was filled with emails to coaches. Schools who would've never even knew our kids existed, were now showing interest!
This player received a lot of high praise from a coach at a university in West Virginia. He loved what he saw on tape, and said he was just what they were looking for. We got the ball rolling in a hurry so we could get him up on an official visit. It went extremely well and a few days later he was offered,
The joy on this player's face, as well as his parent's was worth every single last email typed and sent. This is why we do what we do. If you're wondering, the answer is yes; he committed and will attending this school in the fall.
What is the best method you've found for contacting coaches? Social media? Phone? Email?I personally utilize email mostly because, working in the school all day, I don't have the time to make a ton of calls. I highly recommend incorporating both. Be persistent for your guys. These coaches are receiving hundreds of emails a day so it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. Stay at the top of the inbox. The same coach I referred to earlier, offered some great insight on recruiting. He would much rather the personal touch of a call or email over the national recruiting services. It shows the coach the time and effort you put into your guys and they appreciate it a lot more.
Chris Fore is a veteran head football coach and Athletic Director
from Southern California. He consults coaches and programs nationwide
through his business Eight Laces Consulting.
