AUSTIN, Texas — Playing college football has always been the plan for Lucas Coley.
“Ever since kindergarten I have it written down I want to play football and that’s still what I do,” said Coley.
The Cornerstone Christian quarterback is a major college prospect and has over 30 scholarship offers. Many of those offers came in while the country has been on lockdown, which has changed the world of recruiting.
“It’s been crazy, everything is through the phone or Zoom or FaceTime,” Coley says.
This would normally be the time when he could go to the different campuses and see which one fits best for him, but right now that’s not a possibility.
“It’s hard because you have to go off what you trust and what the coaches say,” Coley added. “You go through virtual Zoom meetings and take visits that way.”
Lucas Coley gets ready to throw a football. (Travis Recek/Spectrum News)
Virtual visits are becoming more popular and college coaches are getting more creative as the pandemic continues. Coley did a virtual tour of Washington State recently, where head coach Nick Rolovich strapped a phone to his hat with the camera on and rode his bike around town to show Coley what Pullman, Washington, is like. Washington State is one of the many programs Coley is considering. He was scheduled to make his commitment on May 5 but has decided to push that decision back.
“I’m looking for a family environment, somewhere I can go and feel great on my worst day knowing I have guys backing me,” Coley said. “Go to a place where I can compete and get some championships rolling because I love to win.”
Coley tells me that along with Washington State, he’s interested in other schools like Arkansas and UCF. Both of those programs have offered him a scholarship. Clemson has not, but they have started contacting him recently and they are a program he’s definitely interested in as well.
While Coley has his list of offers, Seth Ford is trying to get that type of attention. The Round Rock quarterback is coming off his first season as the Dragons starter last year and was expecting this spring to be big for him in terms of getting looked at by colleges.
“I was really looking forward to spring ball and all the coaches coming out to watch us,” said Ford. “It’s been tough but keep hope and got to keep pushing through this tough time.”
Not only is Ford missing spring practice because of the shutdown, but he also can’t go to college camps and recruiting camps that would normally be going on. Both would give him the chance to get looked at and raise his recruiting attention. He’s adjusted his plan and is now becoming his own self-marketer.
“I’ve been getting some throwing clips and sending them to all the coaches who were planning on coming out,” says Ford. “I’m advertising myself almost every day so it’s been crazy.”
Ford has been in touch with colleges looking at him and has also done some of the virtual recruiting visits. He’s hopeful that college coaches might be able to come to Round Rock this summer and get to scout him in person, if some of the restrictions loosen up by then.