Tom Brady is arguably one of the greatest professional quarterbacks of all time, but what many people don’t know is he wasn’t a well sought after football recruit out of high school. Brady graduated from Junipero Serra High School in 1995 and he didn’t set any national records or win any national awards. There was some college interest but not what you’d imagine from one of the all-time greats. During Brady’s era, the high school recruiting process was vastly different from where it is today, when most colleges would wait to evaluate prospects well into their senior seasons.
The key to Brady’s recruitment, who eventually chose the Michigan Wolverines, had mostly to do with highlight videos, advocates and last minute marketing and exposure.
Fast forward to today and it seems natural with all of the technology, social media and access that college coaches could easily find recruits that fit into their programs but that’s not necessarily the case. The facts of the matter college coaches still have to take the time to research athletes, watch film and see them play live.