[Rob Van Winkle]

Now that the '09 season is over and recruiting will pick up, a question arises: why don't big colleges and universities recruit Northern KY more.

I'll give a few examples of my point:

Dixie Heights, Boone County, and Ryle churn out monster offensive linemen that flat out dominate games and very rarely do those young men go to the next level. I can specifically remember Dixie having three or four linemen that were easily over 6'3 and I think only one went play at Morehead.

Vince Murray plays FB and dominates games at Navy and he's getting ready to play in a bowl game, but he couldn't play at an 0-12 WKU?

Mercier Doucett, a dominant WR from Boone County a few years ago, is now playing at Thomas More College. That young man was the MVP of the East-West All Star Game two years ago, you can't tell me that he could't be a WR/Return Man for EKU or Georgetown.

NCC's Rob Kues was a great quarterback, especially with his decision making abilities, and he's playing at Thomas More. I know TMC did great this year and that also proves my point because they've recrutied tons of tri-state kids and it's helped them to be very successful.

Bellevue somehow has MONSTER offensive linemen and I never hear about them going anywhere.

Chris Pryzienski(sp?), a defensive linemen from Ryle a year ago dominated games and I haven't heard of him going anywhere.

The only player from Holmes high school that's anywhere is Rashad Palmer and he's at UK, but I think he had to walk-on or gray shirt. He was amazing.

There's a ton of examples I'm leaving out, but that even furthers my point. I also recognize that this year will be vastly different w/ Simpson, Collinsworth, Hanzel, Nichols, etc. going D-1, but I'm referring to more than one year.

With this being said, I know that kids may not be academically ineligible, change thier mind, or can't afford school, but that doesn't change the fact that Northern KY players aren't getting the recruting respect they deserve. If coaches statewide acknowlege how tough it is to play up here, why aren't these players filling up rosters throughout the commonwealth.

[nky]

Because Northern Kentucky doesn't have many D1 players. This year is unique. Most of the players you mention are D2 or lower but most are NAIA type players. Then again only a few Seniors in high school ever get the chance to play at then next level for various reasons including grades,desire, or $

[Monty Python]

How would you define an NAIA type player? Just curious

[nky]

How would you define an NAIA type player? Just curious

someone who doesn't met the NCAA clearinghouse could/would play NAIA. There are so many other factors. For some they can't met the requirments to get into certain schools. Thomas More/Georgetown other NAIA schools have cost and grade issues that might make it hard for a kid to play.
Remember most players who play at the next level was all something in high school. Just because they were a "stud" player for the local high school team doesn't mean colleges are going to recruit him.

[Monty Python]

So what you are saying is that N. Ky players are mostly NAIA type players because they do not make the NCAA clearinghouse standards?

[Rob Van Winkle]

someone who doesn't met the NCAA clearinghouse could/would play NAIA. There are so many other factors. For some they can't met the requirments to get into certain schools. Thomas More/Georgetown other NAIA schools have cost and grade issues that might make it hard for a kid to play.
Remember most players who play at the next level was all something in high school. Just because they were a "stud" player for the local high school team doesn't mean colleges are going to recruit him.

I get what you're saying because there are plenty of stud players who were really good high school players and that's all they were meant to be, but my question deals with the fact that players in Northern KY aren't recruited very well at all. At times I've looked at rosters of universitites and colleges in KY, because I like to go to these games and have someone to watch/root for and there aren't very many Northern KY playes on any these rosters, save Thomas More and Georgetown. By the way, both teams are usually very succesfull, as is Mt. St. Joe in OH. All three recruit heavily in NKY.

[monster_energy]

So what you are saying is that N. Ky players are mostly NAIA type players because they do not make the NCAA clearinghouse standards?

umm no a naia player is somebody who is undersized but with really good quickness, or very big and slow, or a perfect athlete that dont understand concepts well, or somebody that has been in trouble or not good grades. i mean i can go on forever because it takes not only a good athlete that is the right size and has the 4.5 speed and benches 300 + or Squats 500 + depending your Postion but it takes a smart athlete too not only booksmart but game smart. Have you seen a Major D1 playbook or a scouting report for a major football team? i have i have been around football all my life and i have idea how a freshman could come in and learn all this in 2 months. theres not a D1 football player at every school in eastern kentucky and if there was we would know because a D1 program would be waiting at everybodys door saying come to my school.

[nky]

So what you are saying is that N. Ky players are mostly NAIA type players because they do not make the NCAA clearinghouse standards?

That's part of it but not always the case. NAIA schools have "different " standards for admission than the NCAA schools.

But D1(FBS), Old D 1AA(FCS), DII players are not at every school nor in every region. The top tier players in FBS and FCS have a combination of speed, strenght,size, and work ethic that the top tier schools are looking for. DII kids maybe a step behind each of these.
The reality is not many DII schools activily recuit this NKY because there's not many within a days drive. They recuit around their regions to save money.
Again just because a kid is a "stud" at the local high school doesn't mean he's a college player.
But if a kid wants to play at the next level he may have to sell himself.
Send out player information to various schools. Let them know about you

[Monty Python]

There are many NKY kids who are having great success on DIII rosters as well, looking specifically at Mount St. Joe and at Wittenberg University, which was a first round matchup in the DIII tournament.

Mount St. Joe has 22 Kentucky players and Wittenberg has 13 Kentucky players on their roster.

[that's right]

Thomas more at a d3 was 10-0 reg. season and almost won their 3rd play off game. Whip ole mount st. joe in the reg. season. Great school for learning, mine played football there and is now on his way to med. school.

[Monty Python]

Wittenberg went 12-1 this year, beating Mount St. Joe 42-14 in the first round of the playoffs and losing at Wisconsin Whitewater in the 3rd round had 3 or 4 all conference players who are from KY. Dillion Hollin OL from Trinity, Zach Hurtt LB from Highlands, Taylor Scherer DL from South Oldham, and Brandyn Brown CB from Male.

[Monty Python]

Who is getting recruited by what schools right now?? Whether its D1, DII, DIII or NAIA it's still getting an opportunity to play at the next level.

[RedSeal]

I think the reason that they arent very many D-1 players come out of Eastern Kentucky is because they get labeled as an "Average" athlete, and many D-1 colleges wont recruit Eastern kentucky kids is because they are known for getting homesick, and leaving school early! And as far as them being considered an average athlete thats why ost of them end up at an NAIA school. But as for Northern and Western Kentucky they are labeled as D1 material, this year there just hasnt been many prospects from those areas, but hopefully one day all of the State can be considered at great state to recruit

[LClion4life]

Cole Cooper is being recruited by Pikeville College from what I hear.

[Rob Van Winkle]

I think the reason that they arent very many D-1 players come out of Eastern Kentucky is because they get labeled as an "Average" athlete, and many D-1 colleges wont recruit Eastern kentucky kids is because they are known for getting homesick, and leaving school early! And as far as them being considered an average athlete thats why ost of them end up at an NAIA school. But as for Northern and Western Kentucky they are labeled as D1 material, this year there just hasnt been many prospects from those areas, but hopefully one day all of the State can be considered at great state to recruit

I do believe that football throughout the state has definitely improved. You look at state finals and there were teams from most parts of the state. However, if football is improving here, then it's improving elsewhere, such as Flordia, Georgia, Ohio, and other recruiting hotbeds. I also think that the amount of talent that will be produced will begin to pick up and division I teams will have start paying attention.
To prove my point, when UK played UT, all they talked about was how Randall Cobb was "stolen" right out from under UT's radar, but it was Berea's Luke Stocker (TE) that consistently made great plays for UT. At some point teams will either recruit the talent in state or get burned by them.

This topic could spin off into two other topics: why doesn't NKU have a football team? Why doesn't the state have any Division II teams? NKU could stumble into great football teams that would compete with any other team just by recruiting the tri-county area in NKY and players in Cincy. The D II question stems from the fact that you either play division I, III, or NAIA. I would think that a DII school would do well here.

[nky]

This topic could spin off into two other topics: why doesn't NKU have a football team? Why doesn't the state have any Division II teams? NKU could stumble into great football teams that would compete with any other team just by recruiting the tri-county area in NKY and players in Cincy. The D II question stems from the fact that you either play division I, III, or NAIA. I would think that a DII school would do well here.

NKu could produce a great DII team. The teams in their conference already play football except for the norse. Why don't they play? Money? huge investment of capital would be needed to start a DII team. They have dreams of becoming a DI basketball power. I think this is a silly dream when they could become a national powerhouse in DII in most sports including football

[Rob Van Winkle]

NKu could produce a great DII team. The teams in their conference already play football except for the norse. Why don't they play? Money? huge investment of capital would be needed to start a DII team. They have dreams of becoming a DI basketball power. I think this is a silly dream when they could become a national powerhouse in DII in most sports including football

I agree. NKU is missing out on a golden opportunity. The financial commitment for a football team is huge, not only for the scholarships, but because of the title IX implications, but the NKY area is a football area, not a basketball area. Only 6 of thier 14 basketball players on thier roster are from NKY or Cincy and 6 of the 14 are transfers. NKU is missing out on a great opportunity for thier school and athletic department by not having a football team. They would dominate DII and eventually move up to D-1AA and would do quite well. Then, maybe then, would we finally have the answer to my recruiting question! :Clap:

[nky]

I agree. NKU is missing out on a golden opportunity. The financial commitment for a football team is huge, not only for the scholarships, but because of the title IX implications, but the NKY area is a football area, not a basketball area. Only 6 of thier 14 basketball players on thier roster are from NKY or Cincy and 6 of the 14 are transfers. NKU is missing out on a great opportunity for thier school and athletic department by not having a football team. They would dominate DII and eventually move up to D-1AA and would do quite well. Then, maybe then, would we finally have the answer to my recruiting question! :Clap:

maybe but I doubt you'll see it anytime soon. Schools like Thomas More and Mt St Joe's went with football to increase their male enrollment and in turn hope to increase overall enrollment. NKU doesn't need football to increase enrollment.