Penn State Football: What do recruits value?

4. Relationships

Building relationships with recruits is arguably the most vital part of recruiting.

Getting to know a coaching staff is very important for a recruit and his family because they are practically entrusting their son’s safety to this staff for the next three to five years. Trust is a hard thing to earn in the real world, it’s even harder to earn in the recruiting world.

Thanks to James Franklin’s long-term contract, recruits know that he will be sticking around for their entire college careers. They don’t have to worry about him leaving and then strangers coming in and being not only their coach, but also a parental figure in a sense.

Look at a school like Maryland. Every cycle they seem to get one big-time recruit from Maryland to stay home. Why? Because despite poor on-field results and an average at best draft record they hit home on the family aspect. Mike Locksley comes off as the ‘cool uncle’ to some recruits and he emphasizes the ‘stay home’ movement. It works with some recruits.

Penn State has also built a family like atmosphere under Franklin and for the most part, it’s worked. A lot of recruits will talk about the love they get from the Penn State staff whether it be on visits or over the phone.

Making a recruit comfortable is an underrated aspect of recruiting.