The Recruiting Wakeup Call

"Some people think I'm humble, a great kid, a loving father. At the same time people think I'm stuck up, I'm a brat, I'm a thug because I have a tattoo. They think I'm an idiot.”

That quote comes from a recent piece ESPN Tide Nation’s Alex Scarborough wrote about the road of a top-flight, five-star prospect and his experience on the recruiting trail.

The source: Reuben Foster.

I have heard individuals say the same things and then some. I have heard Alabama fans that gushed over Foster’s highlight reel when he committed to the Crimson Tide after his sophomore year, voice less than enthusiastic opinions after Foster recommitted to Alabama. It was probably one of the few times fans had mixed emotions about landing the top inside linebacker in the country.

We can blame Foster for his indecisiveness and attempt to pass judgment on the decisions he made or didn’t make. While Foster is certainly responsible for some of the chaos he created, just remember when you point your finger three more are pointing right back at you.

Recruiting has become bigger than ever as it is no longer just an interest on national signing day, but rather a year-long event. Recruits are chronicled in almost every aspect of their lives for four seasons from production on the field, campus visits, and camp performances. TMZ doesn’t provide that kind of coverage to most celebrities.

Yet, without a class without an entourage of advisors with experience in the process we expect these prospective student athletes to handle every interview request, get good grades, and perform on the field while ignoring all of the pleas, personal attacks and threats at 14-18 years old. Then their senior year we expect them to pick the best school for them while making sure mom and dad are happy.

At that age I had trouble figuring out who I was going to take to the homecoming dance. My senior year I was thankful I had a girlfriend so I didn't have to worry about a prom date.

Call me crazy, but I empathize with these kids. On the surface it looks all well and good that they are getting a tremendous amount of attention and exposure, but at the same time they are under such an intense microscope that even the biggest NFL stars might be effected by.

If Tom Brady turns down an interview it’s no big deal, but I’ve seen a recruiting writer put out on his twitter a message saying it’s not good for recruits to turn down interviews during national all-star games because they (writers) do rankings and talk with college coaches every day about character, etc.

Maybe a kid doesn't want to give interviews because he’s nervous talking to the media, afraid to say something wrong. Perhaps, these recruits don't want to give people the wrong perception that they are leading schools on and playing to fan bases. Perhaps, they feel the best way to quiet the storm is to stop feeding the fire.

Instead, some are pressured to answer the calls over fears they might be mislabeled or get overlooked.

Unfortunately, the chaos is not slowing down anytime soon and I, just like many others, will continue to consume the recruiting information put out for public consumption. There are certainly some bad eggs out there, but they’re not all bad. They are kids in the bodies of grown adults that are just teenagers-teenagers, thrust head first into the crazy world of recruiting.