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In 2011 we published a series of articles titled "Recruiting Wisconsin", where we explored different aspects and perspectives of the college recruiting process for Wisconsin's high school football players. At that time we focused on the perspective of college coaches, with input from coaches at Winona (MN) State (Division 2), UW-Whitewater (D3 public), and St. Norbert (D3 private). The purpose of this series is to explore and explain what can be a complicated and at times confusing process while also educating athletes, coaches, parents, and fans about ways to improve the chances of earning college scholarships or interest, what needs to be done to compete in college, and what things to expect along the way.

Previous Recruiting Wisconsin features:
Division 1 - North Dakota State
Division 2 - Winona State
Division 3, Public School - UW-Whitewater
Division 3, Private School - St. Norbert
High School Coach Clay Iverson of Mukwonago

In this installment of Recruiting Wisconsin we take a look at the recruiting process from the players themselves. Rice Lake linebacker Austin Roberts received more than a dozen D1 offers after an All-State campaign, giving a verbal commitment to Illinois. Gaelin Elmore of Somerset is the state's top tight end, receiving offers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Iowa State amongst others, eventually picking the Gophers. Arrowhead offensive lineman George Panos helped the Warhawks to a state title last year, earning All-State honors, and gave a quick commitment to Wisconsin after receiving an offer from the Badgers last summer.

Below is a question and answer session with Roberts (AR), Elmore (GE), and Panos (GP).

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WSN:  When did you first think that getting a Division 1 scholarship was a realistic possibility?

Austin Roberts:  I knew this was a realistic possibility after my sophomore year. This was my first year starting varsity and I led the team in tackles.

Gaelin Elmore:  I first thought getting a Division 1 scholarship was a real possibility after I camped at North Dakota State following my sophomore season. After their camp, they talked to my coach. He said they felt I was B1G type of player but they were going to recruit me anyway. That's when I realized I had a legitimate chance.

George Panos:  It was always my goal to become a D1 athlete. I really thought it was possible my freshman season when I was on varsity and saw lots of playing time, I even started in a few games. However, I thought that that goal was derailed a little bit when I tore my MCL my sophomore year and missed the majority of the season. Colleges didn’t seem to care however because I began receiving offers soon after the season ended. 

WSN:  When did you first start getting college recruiting attention?

AR:  After my sophomore season I started receiving camp brochures and general letters about schools. It was not until the beginning of my junior year that I started getting more and more letters. After my junior season, however, is when things really took off.

GE:  I started getting B1G attention following our State Championship. More people and sites started to reach out to me, asking for interviews, game tape, and information.

GP:  During my freshman season I took my first visit to Wisconsin, and for a while it was the only team showing interest, but then after my sophomore season interest really took off.

WSN:  When did you or what made you feel like the interest you were getting was more than just standard, generic interest and actual legitimate interest from schools?

AR:  I felt like I was getting legitimate interest once I got invited to fall games, junior days, etc. This made me feel much more wanted than just a letter that was mailed out to thousands of kids.

GE:  To begin my recruiting process, I had no idea what real or generic interest was. I was content at that point, getting any interest at all. But what made me finally realize I was receiving real interest and going to be down the road, was my first Junior Day at Minnesota. I went into the situation optimistic and hoping for the best but expecting the worse. As soon as I got there I was surrounded by coaches introducing themselves. That's when they told me the were at my basketball game the night before to watch me. I had no idea they came. When the tour started, they pulled me aside and I spent most of the day talking with Coach Kill. I left that day thinking schools are very interested.

GP:  My recruitment started off pretty hot right out of the gate. I got a few letters here and there from schools and then visited Minnesota unofficially. They were the first school, that I thought, showed really big interest besides Wisconsin. It was just those two schools for a while who showed major interest. Then after my sophomore year Nebraska offered me and from then on most schools that I talked to showed legitimate interest. You can really tell if a school is interested if they invite you to games, Junior Days, and stuff like that. Also hand written letters are a great indicator as well as Facebook messages. The coaches asking you to give them a call is a huge deal, then they really want you. Along with the obvious indicator being a scholarship offer. 

WSN:  Who did you and your family consult for advice during the recruiting process?

AR:  My family and I did it all on our own. Not many kids from my area ever go on to play Division 1 football. We had to figure it all out on our own each step of the way.

GE:  I have a really informed group of people as it is, filled with family, friends, and coaches. We reached out to people that have gone through this process already, like former players from our school or just coaches from different collegiate staffs.

GP:  I looked to my dad (former Badger and NFL player Joe Panos) a lot. He didn’t go through this process himself but he has coached and trained numerous NFL and college football players so he is very knowledgeable with the process. After a while though you get a good feel for it and I started to handle mostly everything on my own.

WSN:  Did you put together a plan on how you would handle the process? What was that plan?

AR:  Yes. Our process was to contact as many schools as possible that would be a good fit for me, all over the country. I had no problem leaving home, so I contacted anyone in the nation that seemed to be a fit. I took any interest or offers as a blessing, and did not count any schools out of the race just because they weren’t an FBS or “name brand” school.

GE:  Just one rule we has was to listen to all schools that called and treat all of them with respect. You never know what can happen so we made sure that was a priority. From DII schools to FCS schools and then BCS schools.

GP:  I never really got to that point. Most recruitment was generic until Nebraska offered, that day we started to sort of put together a plan of attack. I was going to listen to all schools that talked to me for a good year, then narrow my list down to 5, but then the next day Wisconsin offered me and we sort of just trashed whatever plan we had and I committed. 

WSN:  Was there anything any schools/colleges did that gave you a negative impression?

AR:  Some schools made it seem like school came second to football. Academics are extremely important to me, so this was a huge turn-off. On one of my visits the academic counselors spoke only about how they will keep you eligible no matter what, instead of how they were going to help you succeed and prepare you for your future. Another thing that really bothered me is when schools waited for an athlete to get offers from other schools before they would pull the trigger and offer. If a guy is good enough to play, he deserves an offer, not just because so-and-so offered first.

GE:  The number one thing I disliked when it came to different schools was when they initially gave me a deadline or told me they needed an answer when after offered me a scholarship. That's the most negative thing a school could do to me.

GP:  There were some schools that used some recruiting tactics that I didn’t agree with, badmouthing other schools and coaches, that sort of thing. Then some schools just weren’t good fits at all and I could tell this right off the bat, for some it was how the program was run, and others how the coaches handled things.

WSN:  What was something that a school/coach did that made a significant positive impression on you?

AR:  The only coaching staff that made a significant positive impression on me was the staff at the University of Illinois. Spending the day with them was like spending the day with my parents. Everything that they said was almost an exact quote of all of the things that my parents have been preaching to me since I was a child. This really made me feel comfortable with them, because I knew I was in good hands.

GE:  One thing that left a really positive impression on me was when the school treated my family and friends well. When I went on visits, there was always someone from my family with me. And seeing that they treated them as if they were as equal or more importance than me, made me feel good. And you could tell who was genuine and who wasn't. I'd say Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa State did the best job of that!

GP:  What some schools do that I like a lot and think everyone should do more is getting me and other recruits who are committed to the school together. I have a great relationship with all the guys who are committed to Wisconsin who are from around here. I think getting recruits to do the recruiting is huge. Also getting the recruits to hang out with current players on the team and talk with them is a really good thing that I liked a lot.

WSN:  How did you handle media attention? How many media outlets/recruiting services contacted you during the process?

AR:  I took in all of the media attention that I could. This was huge in getting my name out there, so I took any calls and made sure to contact all of the recruiting services that I could whenever anything in the process happened. I am not quite sure the exact number of services that contacted me; it was quite a few.

GE:  I couldn't even keep track of how many services contacted me. But I treated them like I would colleges. Treat all of them with respect. I never once turned down an interview. I knew they had a job to do and if they felt I was someone they needed to interview, I'd do it.

GP:  Every recruiting service contacted me. I try and be courteous with it and answer questions, but when someone asks me about a topic I don’t wanna talk about, I don’t. Its good to remember that you are the news story with these people and to make sure you do everything on your own terms. 

WSN:  Was there any negative experiences dealing with the media/recruiting services?

AR:  No, everything that came from these services only helped me.

GE:  I wouldn't say I had any negative experiences with the media. Well, before my commitment. But one time, my words did get portrayed one way, in a way I did not intend. But that was it.

GP:  There are just some reporters who have badgered me and other recruits too much and get annoying, I ignore those people. 

WSN:  What advice would you have for upcoming athletes about what to watch for, how to increase exposure, and how to handle the recruiting process?

AR:  The best way to go about the whole process is to take in every letter, every little bit of interest as a positive thing. The percentage of student-athletes who make it to the next level is so small that any type of interest from any size school should make you feel great. To get an offer is even better. Who cares what the size of the school is? You have a university who wants to pay for your education to play a game that you love!

GE:  I'd say just watch out for fake people. People with their own agenda. Take your time and remember that the process is about you so do what's best for you. That's not always the popular decision and no matter what school you choose, the schools you say no to will turn on you. Take your time and stick to the timeline you mapped out. And most importantly be a kid and have fun.

GP:  For upcoming athletes I would say enjoy the process and do what is best for you, not for other people. Recruiting can come easy for some people, like myself. But I have plenty of friends and know a lot of players that had to work to get their name out there. The best thing to do is email coaches your film (you can find coaches emails online) and to respond to every lead, fill out every questionnaire, call every coach who gives you his card to see where you stand. Also be realistic, some players won’t be able to go to the Wisconsin's and Alabama's of college football; know what you can do and pursue opportunities at that level, high school coaches help out a ton with that part of it.

WSN:  Feel free to add anything you think may be of interest to readers or beneficial to athletes or parents reading.

AR:  1. This process is for you. Don’t worry about what everyone else thinks about each school. Go where you are happy and where you feel comfortable. Don’t let someone who has never been through this process before tell you what you should do.

2. A good friend of mine once told me, “Go where you are the man.” You don’t want to go to a place where the only reason they offered you is because the three guys ahead of you decided to go somewhere else. You want to be in a program where the coaches are excited about you and want to put you out on the field.

3. You will get a gut feeling when you know where you belong. People told me this throughout the entire process and I didn’t believe any of them until it actually happened to me. Everything happens for a reason, and if a school doesn’t offer you it’s because it just wasn’t meant to be. You will know when you’re at the right place.

GE:  If you want to do camps to gain exposure, attend college camps, camps put on by universities.
 

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter at Twitter.com/travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.