I keep hearing how relationships, facilities, fan base, etc matter so much to recruits. But is that really true?
A few days ago I went through the rivals database for 2016 and picked out a few of the key recruiting states (I didn't have time to go through every state) to see where recruits landed.
Here's what I found:
Georgia: 29 of 32 four star prospects stayed in region
The recruits who left the region went to : USC (2) and Mich (1)
Ohio: 13 of 14 four star prospects stayed in region
The recruits who left the region went to : Aub (1)
Texas: 39 of 43 four star prospects stayed in region
The recruits who left the region went to : FSU (1), Ore St (1), Ala (1), Stan(1)
Florida: 41 of 46 four star prospects stayed in region
The recruits who left the region went to : Ohio St (3), Mich (2)
California: 35 of 50 four star prospects stayed in region
The recruits who left the region went to : Neb (3), Oklahoma (3), Notre Dame (2),
Alabama (1), Mich (2), BYU (1), Col (1), Louisville (1)
Louisiana: 17 of 17 four star prospects stayed in region
165 of 188 recruits stayed in region (88%)
Relationship with coaches normally serve as a tiebreaker for recruits when deciding between local football programs. For example, if a Georgie prospect is recruited by Alabama, Florida St, Auburn, Clemson, and Georgia, none of these locations will be particularly far from home. Therefore relationships will probably play a big role. For a prospect to choose a school outside their region, they must have an amazing/unique relationship to the coaches or have some other extraordinary reason. Maybe a chance to play for a team with National Title aspirations.
A few days ago I went through the rivals database for 2016 and picked out a few of the key recruiting states (I didn't have time to go through every state) to see where recruits landed.
Here's what I found:
Georgia: 29 of 32 four star prospects stayed in region
The recruits who left the region went to : USC (2) and Mich (1)
Ohio: 13 of 14 four star prospects stayed in region
The recruits who left the region went to : Aub (1)
Texas: 39 of 43 four star prospects stayed in region
The recruits who left the region went to : FSU (1), Ore St (1), Ala (1), Stan(1)
Florida: 41 of 46 four star prospects stayed in region
The recruits who left the region went to : Ohio St (3), Mich (2)
California: 35 of 50 four star prospects stayed in region
The recruits who left the region went to : Neb (3), Oklahoma (3), Notre Dame (2),
Alabama (1), Mich (2), BYU (1), Col (1), Louisville (1)
Louisiana: 17 of 17 four star prospects stayed in region
165 of 188 recruits stayed in region (88%)
Relationship with coaches normally serve as a tiebreaker for recruits when deciding between local football programs. For example, if a Georgie prospect is recruited by Alabama, Florida St, Auburn, Clemson, and Georgia, none of these locations will be particularly far from home. Therefore relationships will probably play a big role. For a prospect to choose a school outside their region, they must have an amazing/unique relationship to the coaches or have some other extraordinary reason. Maybe a chance to play for a team with National Title aspirations.
