I am not going to make excuses like some and say we are looking for bigger fish in other states than in state guys. Let’s be honest we just get beat on them predictably over and over in our state. They have so much more influence on these kids than we do. I think I maybe being conservative when I say this. At least 8 out of every ten coaches in this State in the coaching ranks are MSU alums. They have a strangle hold on these kids. They push those kids to them. They make sure they see MSU first hand as much as they can. I am not going to get in specifics but I was there two weeks ago working that camp during the 7 on 7 camp a couple of weeks back. I saw Jimothy Lewis that Friday morning while there on a visit. We had a quick officials meeting and the coaches were there as well in the meeting. Toward the end Arnett came in the room and greeted all of the officials working and the coaches. As the officials left the room they kept the coaches in the room for more of a conversation. Arnett spoke to them as we left the room. I could hear him as I walked out the door emphasize to those coaches that we build our program with in state kids first and foremost unlike another program in this state. He pointed it out to them. We all know the score and so do they but he continued to emphasize it. If you really understood this you would understand why we have to target a certain group of young men in this state and make sure we close the ones we have influence on. They pretty much have the lay of the land In this State on the rest of the kids. If they didn’t we would bury them because the Ole Miss brand is more noticed in National circles than theirs. Ole Miss struggles to connect in the State though. MSU can not recruit in other areas of the country as well as we can. They don’t want to admit this as much as we don’t want to admit our in state struggles. We begin to connect better in this State we can take away the only advantage they have. It is what keeps them relevant in this race. We need to recruit more guys in my opinion for the defensive side of the ball from Mississippi. There are great athletes here in this State and most of the guys they get for their defense come from this State. I think we are better suited to get our offensive players from outside of Mississippi with the exception being probably receivers and running backs. Maybe Neal is right when he says the coaches don’t care where they get a player from as long as he can play. I am not certain that kids from your own state will be a little more invested than kids from other states though. I think it is the one thing our program is lacking from taking the next step. I am a sales person and have been for almost 30 years. To be successful you have to make bank on the low hanging fruit first. The big fish just enhance to the low hanging fruit when you close them but your core and sustainability is the low hanging fruit. We have to do better in my opinion in our state to make the next step.
In State Recruiting
- Thread starter Pontreb
- Start date
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