2012
Hayden Bell - Rome, Shorter University (Georgia High School All-Star)
Evan Black - Southside, University of Alabama-Huntsville
Gavilan Brown - Homeschooled, Uncommitted (Talladega College, Wallace State, UAB)
Evan Echols - Darlington, Berry College
Myles Englis - Darlington, Creighton University
Wes Jones, Rome - Berry College (Georgia High School All-Star)
Kenneth McPhereson - Cass, University of Alabama-Huntsville
Freddy Ruiz - Ft. Payne, University of Alabama-Birmingham
Christian Vitale - Jacksonville, Falkner University
Ali Danee Collins - Westbrook, Columbia College
Jesse Gregerson - Southside/Westbrook, Oglethorpe
2011
John "Snoopy" Davidson - Rome, University of South Carolina & Chattanooga FC (Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year)
Kellen Roberts - Oxford, Meridian College
Jesus Olivares - Oxford, Meridian College
Nate Owens - Jacksonville, Suwanee
Swahib Shubair - Jacksonville, Wallace State
Taylor Whyte - Gadsden, Delta State
Grace Ellis - Southside, University of West Alabama
Ashleigh Manuel - Jacksonville, University of West Alabama
2010
Ryan Brown, HomeSchooled, Talladega College
Jonathon "Nation" Clark - Calhoun, Truett McConnell (Georgia High School Defender of the Year)
Tyler Cunningham, Jacksonville, Itawamba, University of Alabama-Huntsville & Rocket City FC
Chaz Guerra, Oxford, Holmes College
Jean Martinez, Oxford, Faulkner University, Point University
Palaash Sahai, Oxford, Talladega College
2009
Kyle Acker - Cherokee County, Waldorf College
Julio Hererra - Southside, Faulkner University
Stokes Laird - Faith Christian, Point University
Clinton Patterson - Southside, Wallace State
2008
Tyler Buttram - Woodland, Piedmont College
Paul Sewell, Cherokee County, East Central CC
Pre-2008
Paul Adkins - Calhoun, Reinhardt
Renee Anderson: Western Carolina University
Sean Baker (GK): Coastal Carolina Community College
Ryan Black (GK) - Calhoun, Coastal Carolina, Southern Polytechnic State University
Scott Blair - Calhoun, Georgia Tech (Football)
Josh Bragg (GK) - Sonoraville, Reinhardt
Kirby Calloway - Salem College
Jason Cree - Hoover, Oglethorpe
Todd Grisham - Announcer for Fox Soccer Channel, ESPN, WWE
Joel Hawbaker - Faith Christian, Covenant College, Oxford University (England, U.K.)
Alicia Higgins: Mt. Olive College (Freshman All-Conference)
Will Ickes - Calhoun, Gainesville State (Baseball)
Bryce McCorkle - Jacksonville, Wallace State
Chad McCorkle - Jacksonville, Wallace State
Arlin McCauley - Oxford, Methodist College
Chad Milewicz (GK) - Jacksonville, University of South Alabama
Rusty McIntosh - Jacksonville, Huntingdon College
Noeun Non - Faith Christian, University of Montevallo
Brian Riise - Jacksonville, Brescia
Daniel Sherman - Jacksonville, Montevallo
Halldor Steffanson: Auburn-Montgomery University
Chad Wilson - Calhoun, Kennesaw State (Golf)
Cody Worley - Calhoun, Furman (Football)
Hopefully you have already read, in past newsletters, the steps to take in the recruiting process. If you missed any of these, click here to access archived issues of Whats A Blaze.
It is never too late to be recruited. But many colleges have been talking to recruits and starting to make decisions. If you have not begun the recruiting process, then you need to be proactive and get going NOW!
It is never too late to be recruited. But many colleges have been talking to recruits and starting to make decisions. If you have not begun the recruiting process, then you need to be proactive and get going NOW!
.... And yes you should have started this during your Sophomore or Junior year but here is what you can do now...
1. Send emails to colleges that you might be interested in. Start with schools close to home and then spread out. There are over 1,000 college soccer programs, so start with the ones you are most interested in and then add to the list.
2. If you have a video from one of your games or a highlight video, then send that to the schools you are interested in. Youtube is an easy and inexpensive way to send your video.
3. Ask your Club or High School coach to call or send an email to the schools you are interested in.
4. Find a way to play in front of the coach you want to play for. Play in a showcase tournament or register for a College ID or Prep camp. Most big schools host a camp and other college coaches will attend these camps as well. You can ask the college coaches what events they will attend.
Even schools that think they are finished recruiting may find out late that one of their prospects has changed his mind or didn't get admitted. Be persistent, stay in touch, don't give up.
So get to work and good luck!
Check out our Winter Elite Camp (for boys ages 15 & up) where you will get a chance to work with all of my Coaching Staff as well as the Soccer Coaches from several other colleges. If those dates don't work for you, then check out our Summer Camps.
Check out our Winter Elite Camp (for boys ages 15 & up) where you will get a chance to work with all of my Coaching Staff as well as the Soccer Coaches from several other colleges. If those dates don't work for you, then check out our Summer Camps.
Sign up to read my step by step guide in future newsletters and send in your questions. I will answer your questions and more in each edition.Click here to access past newsletters with articles about the recruiting process.
FINDING YOUR PLACE By Coach Getman
RECRUITING - WHAT TO EXPECT By Coach Mike Getman
I firmly believe there is a place in college soccer for anyone who wants it badly enough. There are over 1,000 college soccer programs. But the key is to find the right one for you. Luckily even if you are not the next Messi, there are all levels of soccer out there. Division I, II, III, NAIA & Junior College.
I get asked often about the different divisions in the NCAA and what that means to a soccer player. First, it is important to know that the different Divisions only tell you about the size of the Athletic Department. Div. I gives more scholarships than Div. II. Div. III gives no Athletic Scholarships. That doesn't mean a better team, just more money within the entire Athletic Dept. There tend to be more good teams in Div. I but that is only a generalization. There are many teams in Div. II that can beat teams in Div. I. That's why each student should research schools at all levels before making their final choice.
The NAIA has completely different rules from the NCAA but are mostly smaller colleges. Some have great soccer teams and others are not so good. Junior Colleges offer a second chance to students who were not so successful academically. Again there are all levels of play so you have to check each school out individually. Most of the top teams in Division I have some players that started their college career at the Junior College level.
Google is a great way to find Colleges in your area. All soccer programs have websites that will give you useful information. Soccer America, College Soccer News, and TopDrawerSoccer all provide insight into college soccer.
Once you have identified what you are looking for, send an email to the Coaches and give them some information about yourself and ask for information on their program. The more detail you give on yourself the more detail you are likely to get back. Academic, Soccer, and family are all important details to give to the college coaches.
Does attending camp improve my chances of playing at UAB?
Attending camp will not ensure you of making our team. Having the academic ability and the soccer ability are both needed to play at UAB.
Camp does allow us to get to know each other and help us both figure out if we would be a good fit.
This season, 17 of our 24 players were past campers. Some had been to our winter Elite Players Camp, and others have been to our summer camp.
Participating in a College Camp is a great way to get to know college coaches. They can work with you on the field and see how you handle yourself off the field as well. You will also get to know the coaches much better when you are spending that much time together. How do you fit with the personality of the coach? Is this someone you want to spend the next 4 years of your life with? Camp is a great way to find out.
I get asked often about the different divisions in the NCAA and what that means to a soccer player. First, it is important to know that the different Divisions only tell you about the size of the Athletic Department. Div. I gives more scholarships than Div. II. Div. III gives no Athletic Scholarships. That doesn't mean a better team, just more money within the entire Athletic Dept. There tend to be more good teams in Div. I but that is only a generalization. There are many teams in Div. II that can beat teams in Div. I. That's why each student should research schools at all levels before making their final choice.
The NAIA has completely different rules from the NCAA but are mostly smaller colleges. Some have great soccer teams and others are not so good. Junior Colleges offer a second chance to students who were not so successful academically. Again there are all levels of play so you have to check each school out individually. Most of the top teams in Division I have some players that started their college career at the Junior College level.
Google is a great way to find Colleges in your area. All soccer programs have websites that will give you useful information. Soccer America, College Soccer News, and TopDrawerSoccer all provide insight into college soccer.
Once you have identified what you are looking for, send an email to the Coaches and give them some information about yourself and ask for information on their program. The more detail you give on yourself the more detail you are likely to get back. Academic, Soccer, and family are all important details to give to the college coaches.
Does attending camp improve my chances of playing at UAB?
Attending camp will not ensure you of making our team. Having the academic ability and the soccer ability are both needed to play at UAB.
Camp does allow us to get to know each other and help us both figure out if we would be a good fit.
This season, 17 of our 24 players were past campers. Some had been to our winter Elite Players Camp, and others have been to our summer camp.
Participating in a College Camp is a great way to get to know college coaches. They can work with you on the field and see how you handle yourself off the field as well. You will also get to know the coaches much better when you are spending that much time together. How do you fit with the personality of the coach? Is this someone you want to spend the next 4 years of your life with? Camp is a great way to find out.
RECRUITING - WHAT TO EXPECT By Coach Mike Getman
The information in this article is intended for those who are interested in playing college soccer and are unsure of how or when to contact college coaches. The rules can be complicated and they change from year to year. This is a basic guide, but you can find all the details at http://www.ncaa.com/. If you have sent out your resume as I spoke about in the May 2009 Newsletter and made other attempts to let the College Coaches know of your interest, then what are the NCAA rules Coaches must follow about contacting prospects?
Coaches may not call you or return your phone calls until after July 1 before your Senior year of High School. After that date, they can call you once per week. Before this time, they can answer your calls and speak with you on the phone, but only if you placed the call.
Coaches can send you a letter or email after Sept. 1 of your Junior year. Before that, they can only send you a recruiting questionnaire and information on their camps. They cannot send you any recruiting information before September 1 of your Junior year, even if you sent them something first. They are never allowed to send you a Text Message.
Coaches cannot have direct contact with you off their college campus before July 1 proceeding your Senior year. If you bump in to a coach at one of your games, he can say hello and be polite, but he is not allowed to have any recruiting conversation with you or your parents.
College coaches can speak with your Club or High School coach almost anytime. Most college coaches will call your coaches to learn about your interests and to follow up on any communication you may have sent them. This is typically one of the first steps a college coach will take.
Contact on the college campus is a different thing. Once you step foot on the college campus, the coach is allowed to speak with you or your parents. Full blown recruiting conversations are acceptable once you are on campus. These "unofficial" visits are a great way to get to know the coach and the school. The coaches can show you around campus and answer all of your questions. This is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the recruiting process. These visits can happen at any age and any time during your High School career.
Participating in a College Camp is another great way to get to know college coaches. They can work with you on the field and see how you handle yourself off the field as well. You will also get to know the coaches much better when you are spending that much time together. How do you fit with the personality of the coach? Is this someone you want to spend the next 4 years of your life with? Camp is a great way to find out.
Coach Mike Getman is the men's Head Soccer Coach and the University of Alabama-Birmingham. This article was posted from his UAB newsletter. For more college recruiting tips from Coach Getman, go to the UAB archived newsletters.
Coaches may not call you or return your phone calls until after July 1 before your Senior year of High School. After that date, they can call you once per week. Before this time, they can answer your calls and speak with you on the phone, but only if you placed the call.
Coaches can send you a letter or email after Sept. 1 of your Junior year. Before that, they can only send you a recruiting questionnaire and information on their camps. They cannot send you any recruiting information before September 1 of your Junior year, even if you sent them something first. They are never allowed to send you a Text Message.
Coaches cannot have direct contact with you off their college campus before July 1 proceeding your Senior year. If you bump in to a coach at one of your games, he can say hello and be polite, but he is not allowed to have any recruiting conversation with you or your parents.
College coaches can speak with your Club or High School coach almost anytime. Most college coaches will call your coaches to learn about your interests and to follow up on any communication you may have sent them. This is typically one of the first steps a college coach will take.
Contact on the college campus is a different thing. Once you step foot on the college campus, the coach is allowed to speak with you or your parents. Full blown recruiting conversations are acceptable once you are on campus. These "unofficial" visits are a great way to get to know the coach and the school. The coaches can show you around campus and answer all of your questions. This is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the recruiting process. These visits can happen at any age and any time during your High School career.
Participating in a College Camp is another great way to get to know college coaches. They can work with you on the field and see how you handle yourself off the field as well. You will also get to know the coaches much better when you are spending that much time together. How do you fit with the personality of the coach? Is this someone you want to spend the next 4 years of your life with? Camp is a great way to find out.
Coach Mike Getman is the men's Head Soccer Coach and the University of Alabama-Birmingham. This article was posted from his UAB newsletter. For more college recruiting tips from Coach Getman, go to the UAB archived newsletters.
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