• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

JT Recruiting Style

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes

leek

Senior
I see lots of concern on message boards about Jim Tressel's recruiting style. People say he can't close the deal on OOS kids. They say he is boring. They say he doesn't "sell" OSU. I believe there are a number of people here who have experienced JT's recruiting up close and personal. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Also, I've seen people criticize the Assistant Coaches for not recruiting well. Care to comment?
 
leek said:
I see lots of concern on message boards about Jim Tressel's recruiting style. People say he can't close the deal on OOS kids. They say he is boring. They say he doesn't "sell" OSU.
Click to expand...
I think that each criticism has some merit, and if you are looking for a class full of five-star, blue-chip, Rivals-100 type players who bask in the limelight for an entire year and then commit at the Army AA game (after the obligatory "hat trick") or at an ESPN press conference on Signing Day, then you will forever be disappointed with JT. However, if you look at results on the field, the ability to spot "hidden" talent, to identify players who will "fit" the Buckeye system, to target players who want to come to Ohio State, to sign players who will not bust out due to academic issues, then JT is tough to beat. Granted, JT has made some mistakes this year (I can think of three, possibly four, players who might be Buckeyes now if the staff had played their cards a bit differently), but the class should be solid, if not spectacular. As always, a top-5 class on Signing Day means nothing - ask me three years from now, and I'll let you know whether JT succeeded or failed with respect to the class of 2006.
 
Upvote 0
Recruiting is unfortunately not a science that can be measured with stars because you are dealing with individuals. It is just like the NFL draft. I do believe that JT has learned a quick lesson on attitudes do to Mo C and probably a reason why they may have past on certain kids that obviously have strong measurables. As an alum and fan I would rather read the sports section not police reports. Ohio State is an excellent product to sell and JT will get the opportunity to recruit the best talent. I feel very comfortable with him and the coaching staff to judge the character and will they work in the system. Hawk/Troy Smith/Pittman are excellent example. In addition JT has now got two MVP (Wells, Ginn) of the Army AA game which I believe sets him apart from other coaches as well.
 
Upvote 0
I think way too much stock is put into the "rankings". Mack Brown finally got his title this year after years of recruiting "titles". Tressel recruits to fill the needs of the team, he doesn't simply offer a kid just because. I'm sure that some get irked when they don't see mass verbals during the A.A. game on TV, or on signing day. As long as the Buckeyes continue to win ballgames, and BCS games....I couldn't care less what the rankings are.
 
Upvote 0
daddyphatsacs said:
I think way too much stock is put into the "rankings". Mack Brown finally got his title this year after years of recruiting "titles". Tressel recruits to fill the needs of the team, he doesn't simply offer a kid just because. I'm sure that some get irked when they don't see mass verbals during the A.A. game on TV, or on signing day. As long as the Buckeyes continue to win ballgames, and BCS games....I couldn't care less what the rankings are.
Click to expand...

I understand all that and pretty much agree with you. Recruiting is nothing but a step in putting a (hopefully) winning team on the field. I am well aware of the many "can't miss" busts, and the "under the radar" greats (Archie Griffin comes to mind).

I honestly don't know much about the style and messages around recruiting by the top programs. I would be curious to know: Is Tressel a good/great/poor salesman? What kind of job do the assistants do? How do they do it?

I get the feeling (don't know why), that Tressel is charismatic, but also very matter of fact. Sort of, tells it like it is, doesn't blow smoke up a kids rear, and if you like that, come be a Buckeye.

I get the feeling that a Pete Carroll is the ultimate charismatic salesman, as in charming guy who tells you what you want to hear. He may not be. I understand Lllloyd is big on high pressure and negative recruiting; is this true?

Do most successful recruiters talk mainly football? Do some take the "Woody" approach, selling the opportunity for a great education and tools for a great life?

I hear so many criticisms of Tressel, and in fact don't believe most of it. I just look at his coaching record, as in: W-L record, championships, # of players playing on Sundays, etc. and he clearly is about as effective as anyone.

I could be all wrong. I'd love to hear from people who have observed this in person.
 
Upvote 0
I think since JT replaced Cooper's recruiting coordinator he has shrunk the no. of recruits tOSU looks at. Certain players will not fit Tressels mold. I doubt if the Guilfords, Irizzarys or Marcus Vicks would even get a letter from tOSU now. Just watching Wells interviewed at the Army game and comparing it to some of the others, he appeared a little more mature a Tressel guy for sure who just happens to have 5 star talent. I for one willnever lose sleep if some HS SR.chooss not to go to tOSU, JT will have enough talent to get tOSU where we want to go, without having to defentthe MC or Marcus Vicks. Thats why I like JT more and more each year. HE has started to put a positive image om tOSU program.
 
Upvote 0
just like previously said but, one of the only ways to tell how good a kid is if he goes to the camps .Tressel gets all the kids that no one was thinking about because, of how that kid performed at the camp. Thats the top one he uses .

Tressel has alot of high schools coaches to train and teach at the camps with other type of coaches from OSU. Thats huge in showing respect to any kind of coaching in the beginning or a well known one.

Some of those coaches tell college coaches the truth about a kid good or bad


Some guys that coach around Akron are really nice guys and do what they can to help some young kid get into college

People that bad mouth Tressel as A recruiter really have no clue what goes on in recuiting a kid out of school and believe all recruiting rankings as the way ithey see it as
.

Tressel gets along and shows respect to all High school coaches and thats onething COOPER did not do as history showed
 
Upvote 0
I think that a team full of five-star recruits would be a disaster. No doubt his recruiting, and every other element of his job, could be improved. You could say that about every coach. Jim Tressel seems to be able to spot the A J Hawk's of the world and to knit a team of kids who will play together. The only mistake he has made in my estimation was Maurice Clarett, who cried team early on, but was never for anyone but himself. Just listen to the way those linebackers talked about each other, look at the way the offensive team looked after the Fiesta Bowl win.

Recruiting is about getting recruits with jaw dropping strength and wheels, but it is also about getting recruits with the right values who can fit into your system and make a team. I think Jim Tressel does that pretty well.
 
Upvote 0
akronbuck said:
just like previously said but, one of the only ways to tell how good a kid is if he goes to the camps .Tressel gets all the kids that no one was thinking about because, of how that kid performed at the camp. Thats the top one he uses .

Tressel has alot of high schools coaches to train and teach at the camps with other type of coaches from OSU. Thats huge in showing respect to any kind of coaching in the beginning or a well known one.

Some of those coaches tell college coaches the truth about a kid good or bad


Some guys that coach around Akron are really nice guys and do what they can to help some young kid get into college

People that bad mouth Tressel as A recruiter really have no clue what goes on in recuiting a kid out of school and believe all recruiting rankings as the way ithey see it as
.

Tressel gets along and shows respect to all High school coaches and thats onething COOPER did not do as history showed
Click to expand...


Wow..am I just waiting for posters who have been there?

I understand what you're saying, but it says nothing about how he interacts, what the assistants do, his message etc.

This just tells what we can see on Rivals or Scout. What does Phat Phil do? Lllloyd? Carroll? How is Tressel different in DEALING with recruits, if at all?
 
Upvote 0
from what I've read, when Tressel arrives in someone's home he tells the recruit and parents how the kid will be prepared for life in school/etc...

recruits are also surprised when he encourages them to attend all of their visits so they find the school that is right for them. That is not a typical practice (ie Carr, Meyer ask players to cancel visits)
 
Upvote 0
I see what you are asking...

Prime example: A player who recently committed elsewhere wanted to commit to tOSU months ago. JT told him to make sure of his decision before doing anything rash...tOSU was one of only a few teams showing the kid major attention at the time. In the end, the kid found what he considered a better fit and tOSU lost out on a prime recruit.

How many other coaches in America would do that? It is aggravating at times until you realize the overall plan and that JT is ahead of the game as we see it.

As NevadaBuck said, "JT is playing chess while other coaches are thinking checkers."

Perfect quote for Jim Tressel.
 
Upvote 0
osugrad21 said:
I see what you are asking...

Prime example: A player who recently committed elsewhere wanted to commit to tOSU months ago. JT told him to make sure of his decision before doing anything rash...tOSU was one of only a few teams showing the kid major attention at the time. In the end, the kid found what he considered a better fit and tOSU lost out on a prime recruit.



Perfect quote for Jim Tressel.
Click to expand...

Did he want this kid? Was this someone the staff felt was a Plan "B" recruit? Did he suggest the same to Chris Wells?
 
Upvote 0
leek said:
Did he want this kid? Was this someone the staff felt was a Plan "B" recruit? Did he suggest the same to Chris Wells?
Click to expand...

Of course he wanted him, but the kid was OOS and brand new to the recruiting game...in all reality, JT probably avoided drama down the road as the kid gained more attention. FWIW, he told Henton the same thing when AH wanted to commit...the difference is Henton called back soon after and said he was sure.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top