Question by Matt M: How important is a college coaching staff in getting athletes to the NFL?
I’m looking at NFL and NBA rosters lately and I’m noticing that certain NCAA programs are putting a strangely high number of their guys into the pro ranks. Some of these programs, i.e. Maryland Football don’t seem to warrant their inflated number of NFL pros. You could say the same about Nevada recently in the NBA. The only way I can explain it is maybe a really well connected coach on a college staff who’s spreading buzz about his players? Either that or the talented, but mere mortal type players sign with a big agent who signed with a blue chip recruit on their team and get to reap those benefits. So really, do pro connections on a college coaching staff have anything to do with maybe not the blue chip pro prospects but the number of late round picks and especially undrafted free agents that come from that team? Thanks.
Best answer:
Answer by bob s
The networking between college coaches and NFL teams is heavily involved in who gets drafted. A lot of pro sports roster spots are political in nature. The NFL and NBA are exactly how you deduced, college staffs helping the mid to low level players get picked up. The NHL and MLB actually have a lot more to do with star players and their former teammates in minor/junior levels. You could take a look at that and see some interesting patterns.
There is really not much wrong with it. We all take the word of our friends and trusted associates. If a person you respected, and who you also worked with a few years back, recommended someone for a position that you had open, it would carry some weight. Thats pretty much what it is. A bunch of guys are on the staff of the New York Jets for example, the HC gets fired and they all go their separated ways. Five years later one guy is a college HC, the others are coordinators and position coaches in the NFL. When draft time comes, these guys think a lot of the guy who is the college HC and take his word on the work ethic and ability of his players.
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