You never really know how well they do until they are the field against the BIG12 teams. But I hope he plays up to at least half the hype he is getting.
The other thing, it is nice to see kids who come from moderate to good high school teams (like Kearns) get a shot at playing at the D4 level and more importantly succeed.
Kearns is a low to middle class area, the football program overall is about average. A couple of years they competed at the top, but nothing to boast about lately.
Not disparaging the schools like Bingham and Corner Canyons, they have produced some NFL caliber players. But at the same time, they also have a boat load of money being donated to them. The parents can afford to send their kids to special camps.
Not so much at schools like Kearns, Cyprus, etc…
I think that is why I routed for the Utah backup QB last year Bryson Barnes, this kid came from a very small southern Utah town of Milford. I love to see all the kids from all walks of life being able to go the next level. BTW, Barnes also came from my dad’s hometown, so there is that as well.
I hope he tears it up. Why was he at Weber State instead of BYU to start off? Is it because he is from Kearns? BYU has always been guilty of nepotism, favoritism and recruiting players that come from money. I’ve never understood that.
He was one of those kids that developed into a good player under Hill tutelage, the fact that he came from Kearns also played a factor.
Sorry to say, many colleges including BYU do not notice kids from lesser-known schools. Kearns has not produced many D1 players over the past decade. Most of the time kids from schools like Kearns only get noticed if someone talks to the college coaches about them, otherwise they go under the radar.
As an example of this, Bryson Barnes was a walk-on at Utah and beat out two 4-star players to be Cam Rising backup. Now he is at USU and looks to be competing for the starting position.
Hope that helps, I had a friend who kid was really good at Kearns, she had to do all the work getting video of her son playing, sending the tapes to all the local colleges, etc. The school helped very little, and she also did not have the money to get some recruiter expert to help her.
Are there? Can you back this up with references and statistics?
Floyd and another friend thing. A man of many stories…
Do you watch BYUSN? They have highlights of athletes and coaches that have great human interest stories called “Deep Blew.” From what I’ve observed during games around the country there are many human interest stories of athletes. Even like this one.
She was my co-worker…
But being involved in sports as I was (25+ years), I talked to a lot of parents about the high school recruiting, training, etc.
So, your choice to believe or not, but I am relaying what many parents who kids played at schools like Kearns, Cyprus, etc. told me.
Yes, I watched those players on “Deep Blue”, but they don’t say “how they were recruited”, does it? Not say they don’t have an inspiring life story, but most of those people were recruited because someone made the coaches aware of them.
Do you find it necessary to be argumentative on every post? I can certainly back that up with references and statistics. It’s a fact that is perceived and known by most of us. You have to sell a kid to a lot of schools and if you are selling something it is costing you money to do it.
I remember my own kid thinking that scholarships (academic in this case) were for kids that couldn’t afford to go to college and so that is why he thought he would defer even though we were one of those that couldn’t “afford college”. Well, thanks to an admission counselor he got tuition scholarships his second year and then after he returned from his mission as well.
Unfortunately, those with time and money can sell their kid to a university and it is often the wealthy that are getting the scholarships more often than not. How many kids get athletic scholarships because the family or parents donate to the school or athletic fund. Tell us it doesn’t happen…
It has devolved into a lot of things. You don’t think Wilson got a scholarship to play football at BYU? Do you think Jack Kelly did? There are a lot of pieces to a puzzle and it is okay to bring in stuff from other threads if it might apply to this one and vice versa…
Kelly did not. He was playing at Weber State! Maybe they gave him a scholarship because they took the time to see what kind of player he was and now BYU comes in to give him an opportunity, albeit after the fact, to perhaps play at the next level.
Look at the big picture and try to relate what is being discussed throughout the thread, and the entire board for that matter, instead of nit picking and criticizing each separate post… much like you did mine.
There are a lot of talented kids out there that could go on to be great, but because they don’t have money to go to these camps to develop these talents; when they get to high school they are way behind and if they don’t make this time all about football (what teenage kid only thinks about football) they most likely wont make it. Or they could be a talented kid and may have gone to some of those camps, but because the school they go to doesn’t have money they aren’t coached up to be ready for D1, or the supporting cast is no good so they never get to prove themselves.
True this is how it has works and the internet has made it even easier, but because it is easier it means the noise lever has gone way up. Now they get email and links to videos from every Tom ■■■■ and Harry. this means it’s more important to get that manager/agent to help you navigate this mess. Now that kids can get paid. everyone is going to have an agent/manager and if you don’t have one well then you’re even further behind.
everyone has an interesting story, but not all are created equal. Grasshopper, if have heard a story from Deep Blew that talks about one of the players coming from nothing to become what they are today I would love to listen to it. And please don’t say there all the time or so many just go watch it and you will find one. give me one that meets my criteria above, because I would love to root for that kid.
Pretty much agree with what you have here. It does start with a coach letting people know or directing parents on how to get him/her out there for people to see. A lot still happens with alumni getting kids to be noticed by their former schools. I have no idea why scholarships came up in this conversation because this is about kids getting recognized.
There is a whole section of Deep Blue on BYUSN. They usually do pieces on athletes who had struggles growing up of many different tough situations. Click on a few. They really are good and eye opening.
If I were “King” for a day,
I would make one rule change in High School sports in Utah.
That all donations for any sport in High school goes into a general fund, that all high schools can request to use some of it.
Now some of the wealthy schools and their parents would complain, but I am looking for equity and fairness for all.
I know, a pipe dream at best.
There was a kid that played for Cyprus High School in Magna named Isaiah Gracia. One of the best O-lineman in the state. He got hardly noticed while playing for Cyprus, but when he transferred to Corner Canyon, all of sudden he is a 4-star recruit, who got a scholarship to Utah.
Don’t get me started about the transfer rule here in Utah, I may not say nice things!
That is kind of garbage that I hate, kids has to transfer to better known schools to get any interest, while the program they left continues to suffer because they don’t have the money or recognition.
What is the reason Isaiah wasn’t getting noticed? Was the coach, fans, parents contacting schools Isaiah could play for? Or are Corner Canyon coaches, fans and parents taught how to do this and your school isn’t?
He played for Cyprus that has not had a good football team for decades! second, he was usually 2nd or 3rd All-state for lineman.
But because Cyprus is not very good, most college coaches did not see him. Then when he went to CC and played in two consecutive State Championships, all of sudden colleges noticed him.
Was it Cyprus coaching? Not sure because he still made all state lists
Was it parents? Well, they live in Magna area for a reason (low-income area).
Was it CC Coaches? The HC for CC is one of the best in the state. He won State Championships for two different high schools. He also has probably more contact with the college coaches than Cyprus did.
This is the same coach that coached Zac Wilson, and the Hagen brothers. So yea, he might have had a big influence.
I really do wish they would have more information for parents that comes from some of these smaller schools to know what to do to help their kids. Not sure what resources are currently available.
I know coaches make a big difference and always have. Connections and directions for parents is important. Also, finding a sports agent that is hungry and willing to find investors to help promote high school kids is important as well. Even from small schools like the one I taught at. We had kids go and play at Stanford, Florida St. and many others. The coach was aggressive with helping kids getting contacts from schools and sports agents.