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By Mike Pucci, Register Staff
mpucci@nhregister.com / Twitter:
@MikePucciNHR
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Decisions, decisions.
A standout football player, especially an incoming senior, will likely soon decide where to spend the next four years after high school.
Some have already made their choice.
Ansonia running back Arkeel Newsome recently verbally committed to play at UConn. Early this year, St. Paul quarterback Logan Marchi also picked UConn, while Norwich Free Academy running back Marcus Outlow gave his verbal commitment to Boston College.
The recruiting process, though, can often be confusing and overwhelming.
“A little (overwhelming),” West Haven running back Ervin Philips said. “It’s all new. It just takes some time to get used to.”
Philips and Hillhouse running back Harold Cooper are arguably two of the state’s more sought-after players who have yet to commit.
Philips has already taken unofficial visits to Syracuse and Temple, which he lists as his top choices. Both schools have made offers. Philips said he also received interest from Boston College, Maine, Rutgers, UConn, UMass and Villanova.
According to the NCAA rules for football, a student-athlete cannot make an official visit until the start of classes of their senior year, which for West Haven is on Aug. 29.
“As of right now, I want to wait until my senior year actually starts so I can take my official visits to really get the school experience,” Philips said. “From there, that’s when I think I’ll make my decision, so maybe late August into September.”
Athletes can have off-campus contact with schools starting on July 1 after their junior year.
An athlete is allowed one official visit per college and a maximum of five visits at the D-1 level.
Cooper went to camps at Old Dominion, Syracuse, UConn and UMass and will attend one at Temple later this summer.
“Those schools all have an interest in him, as well as schools like Coastal Carolina and Villanova,” Hillhouse coach Tom Dyer said. “Right now, it’s still an open book. It’s a process we’re going through with him. He’s not looking to end his recruiting process yet. He’s still looking at all schools, exploring schools that have shown an interest in him, and just giving everybody due diligence.”
Cooper has received offers from Coastal Carolina and Central Connecticut State. Dyer noted that the running back position is an extremely competitive one as far as recruiting goes.
“He’s run some phenomenal times at some of those camps, but you’re talking about a skilled position,” Dyer said. “Most schools only recruit one tailback. When you’re recruiting linemen, there’s five linemen position and they’re probably taking two or three linemen. When it’s a running back, it’s ‘Does he fit the system, does he do this or that?’”
Finding the right fit is part of the challenge. Hamden Hall coach Joe Linta said several scouting experts said his son T.J., a quarterback who will enter his senior year with the Hornets this fall, has the talent to play at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level.
But T.J. Linta has both talent and smarts, and he’s currently seeking a spot on an Ivy League roster. Both Brown and Princeton are interested in the younger Linta. Joe Linta, an NFL agent whose clients include Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, played at Yale.
“Ivy League kids get taken every year (in the NFL draft),” Joe Linta said. “You get the best of both worlds at an Ivy League school.”
West Haven coach Ed McCarthy believes Philips has the talent and versatility to play at the FBS level.
“I’ve said since his sophomore year that his greatest attribute is his versatility,” McCarthy said.
Philips hopes to play on offense on the next level, either at running back or as a slot receiver, and feels his versatility could work to his advantage during the recruiting process.
“I think that separates me from a lot of high school kids because I can catch the ball and I can do a lot of other things besides just run the ball,” Philips said. “I think the coaches like that versatile player.”
When is the right time to make a decision? It seems to vary from athlete to athlete.
Newsome wanted to commit before the season started.
“Now I just have to worry about getting bigger, stronger, faster, and finish off my senior year strong,” Newsome said last week after committing to UConn.
Philips has sought the advice of family, friends and other players who endured the process.
“I tried to get some advice from people who have been through the recruiting process on when you should make a decision,” Philips said. “Mostly people have told me that you really have to go on your official visits; see everything, go through the full process, before you make a decision. You don’t want to make a decision too early.”
Erv Philips
Rodney Williams
