Recruiting for college football is a complicated but important process. Many aspire to its benefits, but only a few will move onto the next level. Like anything in sports and life, those who prepare the best will succeed the most. So how do you prepare, aside from dominating on the field? Larry Hart’s guide is a great way to start. An ex-NFL player and current college coach, he shows aspiring players what they should be doing each step along the way. This can reduce anxiety while increasing the chances of ultimate success.
I mentor a high-school student with ambitions in football. To keep up with his desires, I read this book as a way to introduce myself to this process. I have been a longtime football fan (Clemson) and knew some of the process from news clippings. However, reading this book gives me the confidence to guide my mentee along with knowledge and wisdom.
Potential readers should note that Hart’s future did not look promising out of high school. His grades were low, and with only one offer, he went the Junior College route. Even after that, he moved to an FCS school, not from a Power 5 conference. Nonetheless, he won All-American honors and made his way to the League. He supports getting your academic house in better order than he did to enhance your chances, but having lived through hardships, he remains sympathetic to those whose forecasts may be a bit more complicated.
This book checked every box that I had, except one: NIL. That’s because it was published in 2021, and NIL protocols emerged after that. And frankly, no one still (in 2023) has it figured out. When things settle down – which I suspect they will by regulations in coming years – Hart needs to update this book with guidance on this topic.
This guide is written for high-school students with football ambitions. Its language is on a high-school level with a coach’s tone. Even parents and mentors of high schoolers can benefit from reading it and being able to guide their student-athlete better. For a long time, I have observed the positive difference school sports done right can have upon young people. Concepts around character, physical and emotional strength, and education spring to mind. This book makes those benefits more accessible, and that benefits us all.
The Recruit’s Playbook: A 4-Year Guide to College Football Recruitment for High School Athletes
By Larry Hart
Copyright (c) 2021
Mango
ISBN13 9781642506105
Page Count: 188
Genre: Sports
www.amazon.com