My Thoughts: New Mexico QB story

Anon1754760634

All-American
May 29, 2001
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Linked is a story that I'm sure many of you have seen already floating out there.

In short this is a kid who had a terrific senior year and seems to have the tools etc. but has no D1 scholarship offers.
So many things I have questions about in this story and hopefully a lesson here for any parents going thru the recruiting process?

Here we go:

Did the kid/family/coach have any FCS/D2/NAIA interest? Did they pursue any FCS/D2/NAIA level schools?- kid and family waited how long before the figured out that maybe the D1 schools aren't calling?

Did anyone offer this kid a visit? Did they make any unofficial visits?

Biggest mistake many make in this process is not communicating with potential schools/coaches and also not exploring all options.

Also if you don't have a major D1 offer by the end of your junior year of high school (especially for QB) odds are you won't get one. Scholarships for those positions are being offered and grabbed up earlier and earlier. Heck schools are offering a handful of potential QB's as early as freshmen year.

Trust me this is the greatest time of the year and also the hardest time of the year for kids/parents etc. I spend a ton of my time on the phones/email/texting with FCS/D2/NAIA/D3 schools trying to help Illinois kids find a home/some help with recruiting etc. and I'm happy to help but kids/parents need to also be more proactive and more involved in the right way.

Do kids get overlooked and "missed" in recruiting? Yes all the time. Yet if your serious about playing in college you need to have an open mind, pursue all options and do your homework.

It just gets harder and harder to see so many kids/parents who have literally no idea about the recruiting process.

The NMPreps publisher Kyle Henderson is one of the best we have on this network and I'm trying to find out more from him. Would love your thoughts/questions/comments here.

This post was edited on 1/29 5:38 AM by edgytim

New Mexico QB recruiting story
 

mc140

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
8,744
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Another question is did the kid take right classes that make him eligible for D1/D2?

My guess is smaller schools have shown interest but he has not shown interest in them.
 

guerinfbfan

Senior
Sep 25, 2005
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I would think states have stigmas on not producing top tier talent year in and year out so the big schools aren't looking there.

I can't see people like Ohio State, Alabama, Florida State, etc. searching for the best kids from Montana, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont etc. for example.

I am sure people have him on their list, but like mc140 I want to know what FCS schools have offered him.
 

illini14

Sophomore
Jun 12, 2014
468
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I read the story last night.

I'm guessing either something happened with the kid or there is some baggage with the kid or the family.

There is no way that a UNLV, UTEP, New Mexico, Utah State, Texas State, Tulsa, etc. type of mid-level school in the southwest doesn't take a flyer on this kid with those numbers and measurable.
 

i011763

Freshman
Nov 12, 2001
755
80
28
Seems very odd that not 1 FBS school has any interest. Has be been working the phones at the FCS level or does he only deem himself a FBS player.

Very interested in the feedback that you may get from the NM guy.
 

kyle h_rivals

Heisman
Feb 3, 2005
33,882
16,328
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He is NCAA clearinghouse ready. Ranked among the top in his class. What hurts in New Mexico is that even our own in-state D-1 programs don't offer our players knowing that no one else will recruit New Mexico, therefore guys who might be D-1 in a larger Metroplex are now walk-on guys. New Mexico offered a walk on spot to a 6-foot-6 receiver a few years ago, the kid ended up getting a late scholarship from Colorado after signing day and started 4-straight years.
 

mc140

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
8,744
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Originally posted by Kyle H:
He is NCAA clearinghouse ready. Ranked among the top in his class. What hurts in New Mexico is that even our own in-state D-1 programs don't offer our players knowing that no one else will recruit New Mexico, therefore guys who might be D-1 in a larger Metroplex are now walk-on guys. New Mexico offered a walk on spot to a 6-foot-6 receiver a few years ago, the kid ended up getting a late scholarship from Colorado after signing day and started 4-straight years.
No NAIA offers or D2?
 

Jiggs

Senior
May 18, 2009
891
646
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Based on your post I took a look at the rosters of New Mexico and New Mexico State. I found two kids from his high school on the New Mexico roster and one kid from his high school on the New Mexico State roster. In addition both schools had several kids from various New Mexico High Schools.

I have no idea why this kid does not have offers but I don't think its because New Mexico schools aren't recruiting or offering New Mexico Kids.

http://www.golobos.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=87101&SPSID=616865


http://www.nmstatesports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1900&SPID=583&SPSID=9523&DB_OEM_ID=1900
 

jwarigaku

All-Conference
Jan 30, 2006
4,199
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First off I think what this young man has achieved so far in life is fantastic. In his interviews he seems grounded and sincere. Winning a state title in any state is a big achievement so kudos to him, throwing for about 4500yds in 13 games and 49 TDs with 6 ints any HS coach would kill for even if it's a system thing. I am very sensitive to QB recruiting at all the levels and the way kids are crowned or dismissed in a flash. Once they achieve the crown or the cast off it's very difficult to change the coaches mind but he will always have very kind things to say about the kid. Been through this and very happy to say mine found a home even though it started as and continues to be as a walkon, academic scholarship is making his life and experience very pleasant. I also feel very blessed that my remaining 3 all play positions other than QB.

Now for the tough analysis I see in watching every piece of film I see out there on the kid, as well as a comment about size. He claims 6'3" and 200# but Rivals has him tagged from the Rivals camp this past spring and summer @6'1" and 200#. Personally I think the 6' vs 6'5" argument is a load of crap if the player is a player see Drew Breese claims 6' but 5'10" on a good day or Russel Wilson etc. if you can play you can play.

Regarding his play it's not easy to find fault with the results because of what I said above, but when you look at the fine details it's a little bit different. Let's start with his release, some will describe it as long, I would not say so much long as Slow, which is caused by internal rotation and footwork(yeah I know how do feet slow the throw will explain in a minute). I timed his average release north of 0.55sec where college coach are looking for sub 0.45 and prefer sub 0.4sec, that said Tim Tebow entering the NFL draft was 0.6sec so not a hard rule but an eliminator. Second I probably watched about and hour of his highlights and in the few hundred throws I saw, every throw incorporated a hitch prior to the throw, this hitch step or gather step tells the defenders he is throwing and allows them to catch up yielding a "slow" or "extended" release turning the 4.7 CB into a 4.4 CB and closing throwing windows, this will fail at the next level. His ball velocity is average making the previous two problems worse. Finally, ball placement, between the hashes he is pretty darn good putting the ball on the numbers, but when throwing outside the hashes he has a tendency to leave the ball inside which will create interceptions at the next level, I also did not see one 12-18 yard out, but that could be systematic. Would love to watch full game film to see how his defense reads are as well but with the results they had he's probably pretty good unless it's overwhelmingly quick game.

Please know I think this kid is pretty darn good and would probably out play a number of kids currently holding offers. I also think that he should have a shot after Wednesday shakes out at a minimum in the FCS ranks. I say good luck to the young man in finding a home, he's got a great base and I believe all of his mechanical issues can be fixed with time and the right coach.
 

Anon1754760634

All-American
May 29, 2001
76,845
9,141
113
JWar great stuff and you now know my take id the same when it comes to QB recruiting...very difficult to say the least and gets more frustrating by the day.
 

illini14

Sophomore
Jun 12, 2014
468
117
0
Aaron Rodgers also grew about 3-4 inches in college. Was a much different player at 20 years old than at 18 years old.