Feb. 3 is “National Signing Day,” the equivalent of Christmas for college football. Every rabid fan from Boston to L.A., Austin to Ann Arbor will study websites to see what gridiron goodies have been stashed under the goal posts.
It’s the day when – according to the recruiting gurus – we will know how Favorite College should fare on Saturdays a couple years hence. For schools ranked in the top 5 nationally, maybe even No. 1, there will dancing and shouting in the streets. However, alumni whose college’s recruits are deemed inferior will be grinding and gnashing teeth, as well as wringing hands. “Oh, why didn’t So-and-So not want to play for the Tomcats? Why’d he choose the Buzzards instead?”
Anyone who follows such things knows recruiting rankings and evaluations are an inexact science, with hardly anything scientific about it. Only time will distinguish a “blue chip” from a cow chip, or which high school “Who’s Who” will become a collegiate “Who’s He?”
Being a fervent Ohio State fan, I think of players like Troy Smith and A.J. Hawk that were hardly a blip on anyone’s recruiting radar coming out of high school, yet they earned a Heisman Trophy, All-American status and other honors before advancing to the NFL. Meanwhile, some “can’t miss” Buckeye recruits, in fact, did miss – and not by just a little.
Recruiting services can’t predict career-ending injuries, poor academic performance, encounters with law enforcement, or most important, heart and determination. Which reminds me of 1 Samuel 16:7, which refers to God’s selection of David as the next king of Israel: “For God sees not as man sees; man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” If only the recruiting analysts could do the same.
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