There’s something you’re missing about the recruiting process ~ A coach’s point of view(Chris Barnette Guilford College)

[A word from Josh Williams with JANESH:]

There’s something you’re missing about the recruiting process ~ A coach’s point of view

Just wanted to take the time to thank God for this opportunity to inspire and give guidance to my followers.

I won’t speak much. This is to help those that are lost and looking at college from the wrong perspective. Here is my offensive coordinator’s perspective of recruiting: What should you really be looking for in a university? Don’t let ESPN and TV promotion blur your understanding of what college actually is for. Listen up.

“Everyone has dreams and aspirations of playing Division 1 football, as did I. I grew up going to ACC games, so I understand the appeal. The glamour that you see on ESPN, 70,000 plus screaming fans, Jumbo Trons in the end zone, a multitude of cameras filming from every angle. I get it. Since you were kids, I’m sure you’ve heard, “Dream big” and “Shoot for the moon and if you miss you’ll land amongst the stars.” Ideally, it would be great for every hard working student athlete to get a full athletic scholarship to any school of their choice. Unfortunately, that’s impossible, as scholarships are limited. The big misconception is that you can only accomplish your dreams if you attend a big time Division 1 program. My brother played Division 1, and I played and currently coach Division 3 football at Guilford College. I’ve seen both. There have been success stories at every level, whether dreams of the NFL or running a successful business. Everyone has a story. There isn’t one path to get you to your goals. It’s all about the process and your relentless effort to be successful. These days, y’all call it the “Grind.”

With that being said, every year I run into parents or athletes that seem to intentionally overlook smaller colleges based on various misconceptions and I often see student-athletes miss out on good opportunities. I’m all for using sports as a vehicle to get to the next level. However, your collegiate experience goes beyond the football field. So many athletes/parents lose focus that the primary goal of going to college is to earn a degree. Each year athletes miss out on great opportunities on smaller levels because they’re uneducated about the recruiting process and things to consider. Here at Guilford College, we believe athletes and their families’ primary focus should be on Academics, Location, and Football when making a College decision.

Academics

First and foremost, make sure you take care of business in the classroom in high school starting freshman year. The better your grades, the more opportunities will arise for you later on. One of the biggest misconceptions is that Division 3 does not have scholarships. Although Division 3 schools don’t have athletic scholarships, they do provide academic scholarships and other forms of financial aid.

When considering colleges, do your research! Key factors: majors, teach-student ratio, graduation/retention rates, and overall academic reputation. Personally, I wanted to be at a school that had my best interest on and off the field. I valued the small classroom size and the individual attention I received positively affected my grades. Every school is different, so find the best fit for you. The goal is to graduate and ultimately find your “passion .”

Location

Location is vital when looking for a place to call home. My advice is to visit campuses. Check out the atmosphere. I asked myself several questions. Can I proudly call this home? Is the food good? Is the campus safe, friendly, clean? Do I prefer a city or small town? On your visit, it’s all about a feel. You’ll know in your heart if it’s a place that you can call home.

Football

When it comes to football, what factors are important to you? Facilities? Winning program? Coaches? Players? Playing time? Athletic scholarships? Family atmosphere? On your visit, dig deep to evaluate a program. Come up with a list of questions that are important to ask the coaches and players. From a coach’s perspective, we appreciate families that are prepared with questions. It shows that they care.

People ask me all the time why I played Division 3. Unlike some of my family/peers, I wasn’t offered a full scholarship to play football after high school, only walk-on opportunities at the higher levels, so I had decisions to make. Many of you may be in the same situation and have some of the same questions. Do I want to go to a D1 school and walk-on or try the D3 route? Do I want to red-shirt & go to school for 5 years instead of 4 years and, as a result, pay for 5 years instead of 4? Will I have an opportunity to compete and make an impact if I walk-on? That’s just to name a few questions to consider. I don’t think there are right or wrong answers to these questions, but your answers will be geared towards your personal preferences. I felt I could go to a higher level and compete, but, honestly, I felt disrespected no one had the faith to take a chance on me. So I sought to use that as motivation, day in and day out. I’m a competitor and all I wanted was an opportunity to compete. I was confident that I would be successful if given the opportunity. I have no regrets. At the end of the day, football is football. You set goals and you work to accomplish them, you get coached, you play to win, you are taught key life lessons, and you grind hard to be the best that you can possibly be. NFL stars, doctors, lawyers, etc. all come from different schools that range from Division 1 to 3. It all comes down to you. How bad to you want to be successful? Figure out what’s best for you from an Academic, Location and Football perspective, and you will find a home. It doesn’t matter where the opportunity lies, it’s about what you do with that opportunity!”

Excuse me for a bit. I have to rant and get a few things off of my chest about our generation. THIS IS WHY OUR ATHLETES ARE LOST AFTER THEY GRADUATE COLLEGE. I’m tired of seeing athletes getting lost in the sauce after graduation. There is no reason a college All-American should be working a minimum wage job, holiday shifts at Walmart. On the back of a furniture moving truck. Or throwing boxes at Fed-Ex. WAKE UP. We are worth more and I am passionate about seeing us succeed. All athletes are natural leaders. We should take over the work force like we take over the field. Use the system of college and know the final goal of securing your or your child’s future. America uses college degrees like an eligibility check for getting a job. Knowing that, use the education system. You can’t put a value on a degree. Remember the plan and the end goal.

– Janesh

Chris Barnette
Guilford College as a player 07′
266 catches for 2953 yards and 30 touchdowns
2X All American
ODAC Conference Offensive Player of the Year

Guilford College as a Coach
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2012 NCAA/NFL Coaches Academy Participant