subject: I Want To Play College Football - The Recruiting Process [print this page] "One saying that is always in the back of my mind - that I always think about is - 'don't give up what you want most for what you want now'. And I know, for me, I want to play college football - I knew that college was something that I wanted to do, I wanted to get a college degree. And if there was a way that I could get it paid for through football, if it was able to help me get a scholarship to pay for it, then that would be a huge blessing, and a big plus - not only for myself, but also for my family it would help out financially. It definitely meant a lot of sacrifices, but I wanted to play college football.
If what you want most is to play college football, or maybe even at the professional level, don't give it up for temporary things right now. Which might mean going and hanging out with friends all the time - not that it's bad to hang out with friends, but you shouldn't do it excessively. You should be going to the weight-room or taking care of your school work, doing those things that will help you to get to the next level, making those sacrifices. If you do those things, then you'll be able to accomplish your goals, so always keep in mind what you want most, and I think that's what has helped me even until now - I always try to set goals, and sometimes there will be temporary things that seem fun that I want to do at the moment, but if it's not helping me work towards my goal of finishing school or becoming a coach, (maybe for you it's becoming an athlete at the college level), then just think twice about the decisions that you make." -Inoke Funaki (Quarterback for the University of Hawaii)
"The junior college football recruiting process isn't much different from that of the bigger schools. You shouldn't feel bad looking into junior college football recruiting. I started out looking into junior colleges and later on, towards the end of my senior season I was fortunate enough to be recruited by the University of Hawaii as well as Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
There are a lot of high school athletes that aspire to play at the Division 1 level and currently aren't getting looks from the Division I schools. Some of them are only getting looks from junior colleges, and some aren't getting any looks at all. My biggest piece of advise would be: don't be discouraged. I know a lot of athletes who took the long route, or developed later, or were just overlooked by coaches that didn't see their talent - and they went to play at junior colleges and persevered through it all - and now they're playing professionally.
If it's something that you really want to do it can be done. Whether you're interested in a bigger school or the junior college football recruiting process, you have to work hard. Hard work beats out talent when talent doesn't work hard. There is no substitution for hard work." -Inoke Funaki (Quarterback for the University of Hawaii)
"You don't have to wait until your senior season to start the college football recruiting process and get in contact with coaches.
It will definitely help a college football player to be more vocal. If you have any questions or concerns about anything you should ask a coach. A lot of times there are players that have questions about "how to do this" or "how can I do that' and I think that coaches - at least most of them - are very willing, and want to help in any way they can with the college football recruiting process. And a lot of times they can't help you unless you ask. And most of the time they will be more than willing to help you. Whether it's with college or with football, or any other sport, or just working out, or how you can better yourself in the sport that you're playing, just have the courage to ask.
I know for me, growing up, it was difficult to talk to the coaches. It wasn't the coaches fault, it's just myself and my personality - I was afraid to ask too many questions. But it's definitely better to ask a lot of questions than to ask no questions and trying to figure out everything on your own. It's a totally different world out there, and you need other people to help you through the college football recruiting process.
Not everyone has someone that has been through the experience before that can help 'coach them up' - so if you're one of those people, don't be afraid to ask questions. It will really help you out. Ask and you shall receive." -Inoke Funaki (Quarterback for the University of Hawaii)
