GAME PLAN — Recruiter helps parents, student athletes prepare for playing on college level

When it comes to getting a scholarship to play ball, George Henshaw has a plan.

Henshaw, former NFL coach and recruiter for the National Collegiate Scouting Association, shared a step-by-step plan with more than a dozen athletes at South Walton High School Monday evening.

He said there are five things athletes need to know and five things they need to do in order to be recruited by a college.

“I’m here to educate, then you do what you want to,” Henshaw said.

Forty-eight years ago, Henshaw said he was being recruited by Bobby Bowden.

“He wanted to be a difference maker, that’s what I want to be,” Henshaw said.

Henshaw, who was the first in his family to go to college, said he wouldn’t have been able to, if someone else hadn’t paid for it.

First, students and parents need to understand that the recruiting process starts early, Henshaw said. Get started now, he said. “It all counts” — grades, clubs and sporting activities.

“But it’s not up to your father or mother, it is up to you,” Henshaw told the students. “You’ve got to care more than your parents. You’re the one that has to play.”

Secondly, recruiting starts with verified information.

“You’ve got to have a third party” to verify the academic and athletic performance, Henshaw said. “And tell the truth.”

Thirdly, college coaches evaluate athletes online.

“You’ve got to get yourself a highlight tape,” Henshaw said. “You’ve got to get yourself online. You’ve got to make it easy for recruiters to get your information … that’s just the way it is.”

Fourth, be realistic about college programs you can qualify to play for. He said less than 1 percent of athletes get a full ride to a Division I school.

“There is plenty of aid out there,” Henshaw said. “Most of the money is outside Division I schools.”

Lastly, he said don’t blame your coach if you’re not recruited.

“It’s not your coach’s fault,” Henshaw said. However, “You won’t get one without your coach’s blessing.

“You determine what your coach is going to say about you,” he added.

Henshaw encouraged the students to be workers, dependable leaders, and team players.

“The coaches want to know about your character” as well, he said.

As for the five things he said that players need to do, the first is to develop a game plan.

“You’ve got separate yourself from the masses,” he said.

Second, “get everything online so colleges can see it.”

Thirdly, create a highlight video. “You need some kind of highlight video to get that coach interested in you … and it needs to be professionally done,” he said.

Fourth, “You need to contact at least 100 or more schools,” Henshaw said. “And you need to find schools that fit you.

 “But the key is to get that one scholarship, then you hold the cards,” he said.

Lastly, he told the crowd it’s not a four-year decision but a 40-year one.

“This is a big decision … not an event” where you just sign a piece a paper in the school library, he said.

“If you don’t invest in yourself, why should anyone else invest in you?” he asked the students. “Anything you do, you’re investing in yourself.

 “And if you can play here, you’re good enough to play in college,” he said.