That article about Academy Recruiting is not bad - a bit biased in a few different ways, but relatively informative.
That said, it completely omits 1 HUGE aspect of Academy Recruiting - Academy-affiliated Prep Schools. It wasn’t ‘wrong” for them to omit those because, technically, Athletes at the Prep Schools can be recruited by & can sign with any college (even a different Service Academy - well, they technically wouldn’t “sign,” but they can go to USAFA Prep School & then on to the Naval Academy, for example, if they choose to) after their Prep Year - just like a kid at Fork Union or St. Whatever’s...but...the REALITY is a very high % of the kids at the Prep Schools (of those that continue playing) move on to their affiliated Academy the following year. So...not only do the Academies have 50+ Direct Admit kids coming in with a Recruitment Class, they also have 50+ coming ‘up’ from the Prep School.
So...again..the Academies’ & the Ivies’ Football/Recruiting ecosystems are SO different from the ecosystems of FCS & G5 schools, it’s almost useless to make any inferences about a kid from his actual / claimed recruiting activity with any of those 11 schools.
That said, it completely omits 1 HUGE aspect of Academy Recruiting - Academy-affiliated Prep Schools. It wasn’t ‘wrong” for them to omit those because, technically, Athletes at the Prep Schools can be recruited by & can sign with any college (even a different Service Academy - well, they technically wouldn’t “sign,” but they can go to USAFA Prep School & then on to the Naval Academy, for example, if they choose to) after their Prep Year - just like a kid at Fork Union or St. Whatever’s...but...the REALITY is a very high % of the kids at the Prep Schools (of those that continue playing) move on to their affiliated Academy the following year. So...not only do the Academies have 50+ Direct Admit kids coming in with a Recruitment Class, they also have 50+ coming ‘up’ from the Prep School.
So...again..the Academies’ & the Ivies’ Football/Recruiting ecosystems are SO different from the ecosystems of FCS & G5 schools, it’s almost useless to make any inferences about a kid from his actual / claimed recruiting activity with any of those 11 schools.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,
For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother
For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother