Today I wanted to reiterate what college football coaches look for when they are recruiting you. Some of you are ready to hear the things that coaches look for. That means that you have already contacted schools by the following methods; questionnaires, email or phone. Now you can throw away that idea of having a film is edited with fancy labels and video effects. Coaches aren’t looking for a game film edited by a movie director. They are looking for a player that is playing with a high motor from the beginning to the end of the film. A player that is playing full speed from beginning to end of every play. A player that makes a mistake and next play redeems himself. College football coaches are looking for disciplined players. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying if you get into to trouble you won’t make it. I’m just saying that if that is the type of player you are it’s definitely going to be very hard for you. I have had players on my team like that and they didn’t make it in our program. Actually there are a few players that fit that category, they lost playing time and during their senior speech they cried in front of the team about their bad choices during the college football team and how they regret it because their career is over.

College football coaches are looking for players that can represent their positively represent and contribute to their program.
They aren’t looking for a player that is going to be calling them at 3am because they got into trouble. However don’t take this the wrong way. If you need a college football at 3am about 99% of college football coaches will be there for you. Coaches are looking for players that are honorable even though they know you may make some mistakes. An honorable player is a player with character. Character means to do the right thing even if no one is watching you.
A player with good character will make good decisions on and off of the football field.

Before I get off track I want to talk about sending film in to coaches. Your film should contain 1 full game and a few highlight clips throughout varsity career. I’ll repeat, 1 full game and some highlights throughout your varsity career. This isn’t show and tell please don’t
waste coaches time by putting how good you were in midget football or freshman year or any other stuff besides varsity. If you want to put something that indicates your strength that would be fine as well. I myself have seen players putting clips of their work out on their tape. That would be fine as well. Before I close I just want to say if your going full speed the whole game then you probably shouldn’t send that game. One thing that coaches won’t want to see is you standing around doing nothing while the whistle hasn’t been blown yet. That right there my friends could mean the difference between a scholarship offer and nothing at all.

What college football coaches look for on film:

That last tip is starred because it drives coaches crazy to watch a film and see players running and adjusting their helmets and pads at the same time. Here is why: Can you run full speed while adjust these things? Hell now. So don’t do it!

Train Hard
Coach Lewis

First I would like to start this blog by sending my condolences and prayers to the family of Jasper Howard and the Uconn football program. My thoughts
on the situation are the following: It is definitely a tragedy that another family has lost their son. The football community has lost another great player. On behalf of RMCFE.com we send out our thoughts and our prayers to the family of Jasper Howard and the Uconn community.

Adversity and College Football

Yesterday I went to the University of Rhode Island Homecoming game against Hofstra Pride. Unfortunately URI lost but I wanted to write this post because I spent time at the game with the Daniels family. This is the family of the young man I mentioned that I invited to stay with my and my teammates during our spring season for an unofficial visit. I was already plainning a follow up blog on that topic. But the idea was solidified when I spoke to with and his family after the game.

Football Players helping Football Players

As a captain I told them I felt obligated to help. I wanted Karl to be somewhere where school was free, family could support him at games and they offered the degree that he wanted. Now a senior he is overcoming adversity on the football field, and doing great in the classroom. To say the least, they were very appreciative, they couldn’t thank me enough for taking care of him. His mom said thank you for letting him stay with you before he actually came to this school. And I said it’s no problem I just wanted to Carl Daniels to experience the school, the team, night life (party scene) outside of an official visit. A lot of time an official visit consists of actors, or players who can play a good role and sell the school. But me and I’m sure Carl will co-sign I was 100% real with him, I told him about our record, the last time we were champions in 1984. And he made a choice without any influence from me and I told him that was the best way to do it.

The adversity that Carl like many other football players has to deal with, is a new coaching staff coming in his Junior year. I used to go against Carl Daniel in practice when I was a senior Shamel Lewis. I played offensive line and he played defensive line. We were like brothers off the field but on the field we gave it to each other. And I’m going to tell you as a 2 time all conference player, 2005 All New England player, 2006 best offensive lineman and 2006 captain that Carl Daniel shouldn’t be on the side line. He is to good of an athlete, he has great feet at a near 300lbs and great work ethics. But you do have to overcome adversity and sometimes it comes in the form of playing time. I told Carl like I tell other readers, other football players keep your head up. It’s hard to not just want to quit when your faced with adversity like this. But I’m behind Carl 100%. And on that note I will write a post in the near future about the impact of bringing in a new coaching staff.

Unofficial College Football Visits

Now I understand it may be difficult for some of you high school football players to go on an unofficial overnight visit at a college. But if you could it is definitely worth it. If you want to get a raw picture of how it would be to be a college football player at a particular College or University. You have to observe it unofficially. Somewhat catch them off gaurd so you can see how it really is.

I have been giving experienced based advice for 2 years. So I do have plans and approaches that families can take to go on unofficial visits:

The advantages of most of the suggestions above is that you will see the school in a natural setting. Not a stage that is setup to lure future college football players and their parents into commiting to their school. If you register for a campus tour you will get a guided tour of the campus as a student and not a football player. At the end of your tour go stop by the football office. Now you can catch the coaching staff off gaurd and see them in their nature state. They may be coaching, having meetings or anything but expecting you. Get to the game early and watch the team warm up, see how they appear to be getting ready pre-game. Is there something that stands out. For example Uconn huskies have a fan section called the dog pound. The fans are very intense in this section and I am speaking from playing on that field against Uconn and observing from the stands and their sideline. Something like that may appeal to you. And just so I don’t keep it Division 1a I’ll mention University of Delaware Blue Hens have a great fan base section in their stands as well, for a Division 1aa program.

Secrets the Pros use for fast 40 yard dash times!!

Recruits that need advice

If your a junior or a senior you should start looking at College asap especially if you haven’t spoken with any coaches or scouts. Some high school football coaches will with hold information from their players, in hopes of keeping them focused and humble. I’m not going to say this is necessarily a bad thing. But on that note I’m definately not saying this is a good thing. My take on the situation is opportunity knocks but it doesn’t necessarily knock more than once. I recently spoke to a player who said one day during practice his coach nonchalantly said “Hey guess who called for you? UNC! but you can’t talk to them until the end of the season” What is that all about…? I think many of my supporters will agree with the fact that by the end of the season UNC will have found at least 20 other skilled athletes for the same position. To some extent I told this player to use his own judgement, use the provided resources the College football Coaches Directory and College Football Questionnaires.

Coaches that don’t help

Atleast 10 times a month I speak with players or families of players who have a coach that gives them the run around about making films for them to send to colleges. Boy have I got a few solutions:

Recording your own game footage means you own it. Your in control and you don’t have to wait for any coaches. And with youtube and all these video websites forget about it, a recruiting coordinator is very likely to find you. Even if you don’t pay $100 to some promising football recruiting agency (Save your $100 bucks Youtube is free)!!! Also if you have that game footage on your hard drive you can edit it and do so many things to ensure your give the football recruiting coaches what they want to see.

The reason you can pay someone is because when there is money involved or you take a business approach things are more likely to get done. You could actually pay someone who does photography to record your game footage. Now you will have a professionally recorded game film to send off to coaches. But back to the title of this section, what good is a coach that don’t help. He shouldn’t be called coach. For the love of god coaches support your players whether you think they are good enough or not, they want game film sent to USC atleast give them that much. What does it cost like $4 to ship a vhs or dvd. If the player isn’t good enough let the school decide not you as a high school coach. The doctor told me I’d never run again when I was 14 after a car accident. Man I ran like hell and got me a full scholarship and played on TV a bunch of times. Don’t let No one stop your dreams. And before I close players do your part and get into the best shape of your life!
Train hard
Coach Lewis

Increase your 40 time-Adrian Peterson used this!!