During recruiting trips and in-home visits, and in emails and phone calls, college coaches and recruiters will paint a picture-perfect scenario of what your next four years could look like. But at the end of every recitation, the coach will turn to you and say, “So, do you have any questions for me?”
If you’re not sure what to ask, take a cue from the following list of questions, which seven pros asked during their own recruiting process. And since all seven starred on their respective college teams, they obviously asked the right questions.
Michael Oher, Former Ole Miss Rebel
Question: What sort of resources are available? Oher advises asking, “What can you offer me as a person on and off the field, and will you be there if I need you.”
Paul Rabil, Former Johns Hopkins Blue Jay
Question: What majors does your school offer, and are the programs nationally ranked? Rabil says, “Evaluate what you want to do or where you see yourself going. What was most important for me was being at a great academic school.”
Darren McFadden, Former Arkansas Razorback
Question: Where do you see my abilities fitting in your scheme? “Talk to coaches and see how you’d fit in their style of (play),” McFadden advises.
Aqib Talib, Former Kansas Jayhawk
Question: How strong is your academic focus, and does the university provide tutorial and other assistance? “My parents were focused on what the coaches said about going to class and attendance records,” Talib says.
Mark Gangloff, Former Auburn Tiger
Question: What does game day feel like, and how active is campus life? Says Gangloff, “The main thing I was looking for in (a) school was what the team and the school atmosphere were [like].”
Phillip Buchanon, Former Miami ‘Cane
Question: How many other players are being recruiting for my position? Buchanon says, “[A coach] told me about a situation with another recruit, where if he didn’t come, they would offer me [the position]. I just said, ‘I am going to play defensive back and go to Miami.'”
Tony Gonzalez, Former Cal Golden Bear
Question: I’m a multi-sport athlete. What is the possibility of playing more than one sport at your school? “One thing I made clear from the beginning [was] that I wanted to play both sports [football and basketball] in college,” Gonzalez says.
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