Know Your Competition

With over 18 years of coaching players of varying degrees of skill, talent, ambition, leadership and goals, the biggest thing I tell players it know your competition!

If I had a dollar for every player that said they wanted to play D1 football, I would be in the billionaires club. That is not to say, you shouldn't strive for your goals, especially if you have what it takes! However, if you are going to go for the gold so to speak, you should invest as much in reality as much as you do in your training.

What do I mean by this? If you are a QB from New Hampshire, Idaho, Connecticut, Arkansas, etc., do yourself a favor and attend a premier university camp i.e. Michigan, USC, UCLA, Penn State, Clemson, Alabama, etc. You will very quickly get a reality check on who you are competing with athletically. If you match up, great! Get that much better...grades, GPA, athletics, etc. If you are not in the same league, you have a choice. Get better...if you can to be in a position to compete or adjust your goals.

I would never tell ANYONE they can't do anything or reach their goals. However, as a coach, it is my and your HS coaches responsibility to be honest with you. For example, you maybe a stud in New Hampshire, but that doesn't cut it at Penn State, Oregon, Washington, UCLA or Ohio State. I don't care if Coach Kelly and Coach Day are from NH. You must meet the minimum standards to even get a shot and must be able to compete with the best in the country. Why? Because they are competing for your spot. Your scholarship. Your opportunity. Measure yourself by your competition nationally. NOT locally.

While this definitely applies to the D1 high level programs, I would suggest, you do this for any level of play FCS, D2, D3, JUCO (remember a lot of JUCO players are D1 FBS bounce backs and JUCO's now becoming feeder programs for D1 programs), etc.. IF you want to play, and not just be a roster player, know your competition and do what it takes to compete at that level. Go to the camps if for no other reason to see who you are competing with.

Just remember most D1 QB's are 6'3+, 200 pounds min, and all dual threat QB's AND can sit in the pocket. They can make every throw, throw on the run, boot, run the ball, run a sub 4.7 40, smart as an engineer, exhibit leadership abilities, and are good students academically. That is just the price of admission. Now, what differentiates YOU from all the other D1 studs. KNOW YOUR COMPETITION! This applies for all positions. Perhaps study your favorite college player and study their journey, training, etc. They are obviously doing things right. Equal parts hard work, training, talent and luck. Remember, luck is when opportunity meets preparedness!

Let us assume you have all the basics to compete at the highest level, now what are the intangibles do you bring and can develop. Are you an asset to the team or just an ass? Poise? Pocket Presence? Field Vision? Understand breaking down film? Leadership? Speed? Toughness? Work Ethic? Sacrifice? Attitude? Football IQ? Do you cheat your drills? etc.

These are the things that will set you apart. As I always say. There are a ton of amazing talented athletes out there, but very few great football players. Great football players are made and forged through adversity, hard work, relentless training, positive attitude, discipline, competition, and more! Ever hear of Tom Brady?

Remember, hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work. If you wan't to play, compete, play for the best HS programs, best D1 program, etc. KNOW YOUR COMPETITION and be better than them! If you need help in this, reach out. We would be happy to help you reach your goals!

-Coach Dave Frederick