Playing College

Question
I am a senior im about 5 8 5 9 and around 175 pounds. I would really like to play college football in like Division 2 or 3 just because sports is my life. The position i would like to play is a Wr because i have extremley soft hands and can run my routes pretty well. Only problem is i have never had an opurtunity  to play for a highschool team. I have always played sandlot type football. The potential is there all i need is a postions coach to work with and teach me the advanced stuff and im good to go. I wanted to know is there anybody  who played in football in college and never played in highschool. And what are the chances of me making the team if i give it my all. And my final question is can you reccomend any junior colleges that have a good school and have a football team. Sorta like how chad johnson and steve smith went to comunnity college and deion branch and Javon Walker.

Answer
Ian -

Thanks for the question!  Hopefully, you have read some of my past answers to other people.  If you have, you know that I am a very straight shooter. And your question will have some info you would want to hear, and some you might not.  But I believe in giving those who have asked an honest question an honest response.  So let's get to your info.

First off, before you worry about the actual specifics of the game, I want you to give serious consideration to the lifestyle.  Not having played organized / HS football, you might not (might be) familiar with exactly what goes in to playing at any level, let alone college.  Football games are 1% of what a player actually has to go through.  Practices, most of which are not fun, are a lot of it.  Not to mention weight room time, film study, all of that.  Also, when most go to college as a normal student, they have a lot of freedom.  Wake up whenever, sleep whenever, eat whatever and whenever, take whatever classes and whenever they want them, blah blah blah.  Football makes this all change.  Once you are on a team at that level, they own you.  They tell you when to eat, sleep, wake up, go to sleep, etc.  They also will schedule your classes to go around practices.  You will probably be waking up way earlier than any other students to work out each day before classes as well.  These are just a few basics of what I want you to start thinking about.

Secondly, remember that the # of experienced high school players that play in college is tiny! That means that the most skilled of the skilled don't even make it to college.  What I want you to realize is that playing sandlot and playing organized are two completely different sports.  They have the same basics, but the game is not even close.  So before you really gear up to try and make a lifestyle decision to go for this dream, make sure and get the facts about what you will be getting into.  

NOW.......  Not withstanding the info above, I have more to say.  If you do your research and find that you still are interested in this, AND feel you have a shot (I do not know you, so I am not a good judge) I say absolutely , go for it!  Why not?  You have NOTHING TO LOSE, and will always wonder.  I purposely didn't tell you this before so I could get my point across above, but I walked on an SEC baseball team.  I did however play all my life, through high school, and was a high rated player.  BUT, that doesnt mean you aren't as good if not better at football as I was at baseball, right?  So if you are a go, get all of the info you will need about physically and mentally preparing for your try outs.  This will include serious lifting of weights, major conditioning, and like you said specifics to what position you want to try for.  That will be key.  Like I said, sandlot and regular is a different game, so you have about 10 years of playing ball to catch up on at this point.  You might want to get together with a high school coach and have him start you off.  I am always happy to help you as well, so you can ask me whatever you wish to know.  Also, start reading!! Books, internet, everything.  Also, any learning football DVDs will be helpful.  Just get out there and start pounding the pavement Ian.  Everything you can do, you HAVE to do cause you are way behind at this point.  Watching games can really help too.  Just be careful of what people who haven't played or coached tell you. Most of them have no clue and might steer you in the wrong direction accidentally, with best intentions.

A far as specific colleges, again, that is all you buddy.  I do not know where you are, or what your plans might be.  Also, do not forget to make sure you go to a place that offers a "major" you are interested in.  It wont do a lot of good to play football at a particular school and want to study medicine if they dont have a pre-med program!  Just get on the net, and do search after search.  Keep a folder / binder of them all.  Also, I am sure the library has books listing every D2 and D3 school.  If one suits you, keep it.

Can a player go to college w/out ever playing in HS?  The answer, YES.  It is possible, and has been done before.  In other words, there are no rules saying that a player must have played in HS to qualify for college football.  The only rule is that the athlete must also be a student, period.  However, it is extremely hard to do.  Not impossible, but damn hard..  You will have to walk on the team, which is always difficult even if you are good. They dont know you, and a lot of the time, dont care if you are good or not (This will come into play as you start choosing schools.  Find out the walk on policies at each school before deciding).  But it can, and has happened before.  I will say that players who have done this have been outstanding athletes in general, usually excelling in a different sport in HS.  The football coach notices them in a different sport, and says "wow, he could play football".  But walk-on try outs are for this very reason.  Its all about the performance there, not what you did in HS.

Basically Ian, you have a long road ahead.  Do the research first, see what you discover.  If all looks good and you want to make a SERIOUS run at it, then get right to it.  I am here for you man.  You are more than welcome to write me as many times as you need, for any of the specifics you need.  Personally, I am rooting for you buddy.  I hope I see you someday in a game on ESPN.  The most important thing to remember is this:  If you want to do it, you can.  You are the only person that can stop you!  Thats no
bull#^&$.....  I have seen stranger things believe me.  Keep me updated on your progress, and please ask me for help when you need it!

Best wishes my friend

Coach Perl