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S.I.A.P.-How Ja’Juan Seider plans to expand Penn State football’s national recruiting footprint

step.eng69

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Nov 7, 2012
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North East PA, Backmountain area, age 72
How Ja’Juan Seider plans to expand Penn State football’s national recruiting footprint
5a68c8b257c5b.image.jpg


Part of the reason running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider was hired by head coach James Franklin was to expand Penn State’s footprint in the south.

While the Nittany Lions had some success there for the Class of 2018, Franklin wants to shift attention there even more. While there will be some challenges in doing that, hiring Seider, who is from Florida and coached high school football there for a number of years, will be a big asset in those efforts.



The roster won’t be built off of kids from the SEC footprint, but it can certainly be a difference maker against other programs that are struggling to get anyone of worth from it.

“It’ll give us a chance to go down there and compete,” Seider said. “Get a couple of kids here and there that may be difference makers that we don’t have in our backyard for whatever reason that year. That’s what Ohio State is doing, that’s what Michigan is doing, that’s what Notre Dame is doing. The teams that actually compete against us. Why not go to Florida? Especially the way kids can develop down there with spring practice, the extra reps they get.”

One of the first questions many have when moving from southern states to the north is, what about the winter?

“I left Florida to come up here, I think it’s a tradeoff,” Seider said. “Most people use [winter] too much to negative recruit and it hurts you more than it helps you. Kids adjust.”

Seider’s larger point is that almost everyone who is being recruited by a Power Five program has dreams to play in the NFL. So, if they feel like Penn State is the best place for them to achieve that goal, they’ll be able to look past the winter.

However, there are geographic disadvantages to being far away from a recruit and his family. Sometimes parents don’t want them to go far from home, and schools that are closer to home can get them on campus a lot more often.

“I think the biggest thing is you can’t get the kids on campus as much as you can get the local kids,” Seider said. “It’s so hard to always, ‘Okay you can drive up here and be around for spring practice and in the summer,’ because you never want to take a kid’s commitment if you can’t get a kid on campus, at least to see the place, be around the staff, be around the head coach.

“I think that’s the disadvantage. But also when you have a product like we are selling right now, and with the success the program has had, back-to-back BCS level games. And kids see that on TV, and I think every kid’s objective right now is to go to school, play in the NFL and get a great education. Well, Penn State offers that.”

Like with anywhere though, trust can go a long way in recruiting.

If the coaches in the area and people involved with the local football community, speak highly of a college coach because of previous players’ experiences that have played for them, it helps.

Seider has that in South Florida, one of the most talent rich areas of the country.

“The thing about Florida, and just about anywhere you recruit, is about having someone you trust,” Seider said. “And they know you are going to do right about the kids once they are there. And the kids understand that and the coaches and the mentors in the area understand that.”
 
How Ja’Juan Seider plans to expand Penn State football’s national recruiting footprint
5a68c8b257c5b.image.jpg


Part of the reason running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider was hired by head coach James Franklin was to expand Penn State’s footprint in the south.

While the Nittany Lions had some success there for the Class of 2018, Franklin wants to shift attention there even more. While there will be some challenges in doing that, hiring Seider, who is from Florida and coached high school football there for a number of years, will be a big asset in those efforts.



The roster won’t be built off of kids from the SEC footprint, but it can certainly be a difference maker against other programs that are struggling to get anyone of worth from it.

“It’ll give us a chance to go down there and compete,” Seider said. “Get a couple of kids here and there that may be difference makers that we don’t have in our backyard for whatever reason that year. That’s what Ohio State is doing, that’s what Michigan is doing, that’s what Notre Dame is doing. The teams that actually compete against us. Why not go to Florida? Especially the way kids can develop down there with spring practice, the extra reps they get.”

One of the first questions many have when moving from southern states to the north is, what about the winter?

“I left Florida to come up here, I think it’s a tradeoff,” Seider said. “Most people use [winter] too much to negative recruit and it hurts you more than it helps you. Kids adjust.”

Seider’s larger point is that almost everyone who is being recruited by a Power Five program has dreams to play in the NFL. So, if they feel like Penn State is the best place for them to achieve that goal, they’ll be able to look past the winter.

However, there are geographic disadvantages to being far away from a recruit and his family. Sometimes parents don’t want them to go far from home, and schools that are closer to home can get them on campus a lot more often.

“I think the biggest thing is you can’t get the kids on campus as much as you can get the local kids,” Seider said. “It’s so hard to always, ‘Okay you can drive up here and be around for spring practice and in the summer,’ because you never want to take a kid’s commitment if you can’t get a kid on campus, at least to see the place, be around the staff, be around the head coach.

“I think that’s the disadvantage. But also when you have a product like we are selling right now, and with the success the program has had, back-to-back BCS level games. And kids see that on TV, and I think every kid’s objective right now is to go to school, play in the NFL and get a great education. Well, Penn State offers that.”

Like with anywhere though, trust can go a long way in recruiting.

If the coaches in the area and people involved with the local football community, speak highly of a college coach because of previous players’ experiences that have played for them, it helps.

Seider has that in South Florida, one of the most talent rich areas of the country.

“The thing about Florida, and just about anywhere you recruit, is about having someone you trust,” Seider said. “And they know you are going to do right about the kids once they are there. And the kids understand that and the coaches and the mentors in the area understand that.”
My concern about trying to recruit kids from Florida is that it might not align with the "family atmosphere" mantra. Yes, kids from FL go to OSU, ND, and UM, but those may not be the same kids who see that atmosphere as a large factor. It will be tougher for families to travel to see their kids play at PSU, so those type of kids may prefer to stay local.
 
My concern about trying to recruit kids from Florida is that it might not align with the "family atmosphere" mantra. Yes, kids from FL go to OSU, ND, and UM, but those may not be the same kids who see that atmosphere as a large factor. It will be tougher for families to travel to see their kids play at PSU, so those type of kids may prefer to stay local.
Those concerns are valid, along with the academics expected/required once enrolled.
 
How Ja’Juan Seider plans to expand Penn State football’s national recruiting footprint
5a68c8b257c5b.image.jpg


Part of the reason running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider was hired by head coach James Franklin was to expand Penn State’s footprint in the south.

While the Nittany Lions had some success there for the Class of 2018, Franklin wants to shift attention there even more. While there will be some challenges in doing that, hiring Seider, who is from Florida and coached high school football there for a number of years, will be a big asset in those efforts.



The roster won’t be built off of kids from the SEC footprint, but it can certainly be a difference maker against other programs that are struggling to get anyone of worth from it.

“It’ll give us a chance to go down there and compete,” Seider said. “Get a couple of kids here and there that may be difference makers that we don’t have in our backyard for whatever reason that year. That’s what Ohio State is doing, that’s what Michigan is doing, that’s what Notre Dame is doing. The teams that actually compete against us. Why not go to Florida? Especially the way kids can develop down there with spring practice, the extra reps they get.”

One of the first questions many have when moving from southern states to the north is, what about the winter?

“I left Florida to come up here, I think it’s a tradeoff,” Seider said. “Most people use [winter] too much to negative recruit and it hurts you more than it helps you. Kids adjust.”

Seider’s larger point is that almost everyone who is being recruited by a Power Five program has dreams to play in the NFL. So, if they feel like Penn State is the best place for them to achieve that goal, they’ll be able to look past the winter.

However, there are geographic disadvantages to being far away from a recruit and his family. Sometimes parents don’t want them to go far from home, and schools that are closer to home can get them on campus a lot more often.

“I think the biggest thing is you can’t get the kids on campus as much as you can get the local kids,” Seider said. “It’s so hard to always, ‘Okay you can drive up here and be around for spring practice and in the summer,’ because you never want to take a kid’s commitment if you can’t get a kid on campus, at least to see the place, be around the staff, be around the head coach.

“I think that’s the disadvantage. But also when you have a product like we are selling right now, and with the success the program has had, back-to-back BCS level games. And kids see that on TV, and I think every kid’s objective right now is to go to school, play in the NFL and get a great education. Well, Penn State offers that.”

Like with anywhere though, trust can go a long way in recruiting.

If the coaches in the area and people involved with the local football community, speak highly of a college coach because of previous players’ experiences that have played for them, it helps.

Seider has that in South Florida, one of the most talent rich areas of the country.

“The thing about Florida, and just about anywhere you recruit, is about having someone you trust,” Seider said. “And they know you are going to do right about the kids once they are there. And the kids understand that and the coaches and the mentors in the area understand that.”

You miss 100% of the kids that you don't recruit. If he can get you in the door and give Franklin a chance...why not take a stab at it?
 
My concern about trying to recruit kids from Florida is that it might not align with the "family atmosphere" mantra. Yes, kids from FL go to OSU, ND, and UM, but those may not be the same kids who see that atmosphere as a large factor. It will be tougher for families to travel to see their kids play at PSU, so those type of kids may prefer to stay local.

This makes no sense to me at all.
 
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My concern about trying to recruit kids from Florida is that it might not align with the "family atmosphere" mantra. Yes, kids from FL go to OSU, ND, and UM, but those may not be the same kids who see that atmosphere as a large factor. It will be tougher for families to travel to see their kids play at PSU, so those type of kids may prefer to stay local.

Those concerns are valid, along with the academics expected/required once enrolled.

If you want to see true national recruiting, look at Stanford's roster. If they can get kids from just about everywhere who fit the profile they demand, PSU should have no problem.
 
OSU always seems to pluck a real blue chip prospect or two out of FL, GA, Texas, and even CA almost ever year. Couple that with the mid-west and most of Ohio, and that spell success.
 
OSU always seems to pluck a real blue chip prospect or two out of FL, GA, Texas, and even CA almost ever year. Couple that with the mid-west and most of Ohio, and that spell success.
They are purchasing some of those recruits. Maybe not all, but some of them have been bought.
 
I said some kids not all and that I was a little concerned. Never mind; I will leave it to you board experts to discuss. Jeez.
I agree with your points and would go further to say that what makes it such a great family atmosphere goes away if a larger % of the parents cannot attend which then may impact the recruiting of your regional players that are impressed by the family atmosphere.

Also there is some evidence that some of the local or regional coaches feel slighted or less loyal when your program goes to national recruiting predominantly. I think that we are starting to see this in Ohio now with Franklin moving in nicely on some recruits that would have not even listened to the initial recruiting pitch in the Tressel days.
 
Also there is some evidence that some of the local or regional coaches feel slighted or less loyal when your program goes to national recruiting predominantly. I think that we are starting to see this in Ohio now with Franklin moving in nicely on some recruits that would have not even listened to the initial recruiting pitch in the Tressel days.

The same OSU that had the top recruiting class in the country?
 
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