2014 Offers

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I started looking at the offer lists for alot of the top guys in 2014 and I notice that Bama has offered just about every 5 star and many high rated 4 stars. Do they just offer everyone who has high stars?

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I think you are looking at this from a backwards perspective.

First, you need to understand that the recruiting sites (Rivals, Scout, 24/7, etc.) are for fans and are not geared to college coaching staffs. The recruiting sites are staffed with journalists.

Secondly, college coaching and recruiting staffs scout these kids over a period of several years, watch film of these kids, see them play in person, evaluate these kids at their own and various other camps, etc. These are the professional people that know which prospects they want to offer.

Thirdly, the largest factor determining the recruiting sites ratings are the opinions gleaned from the professionals, as the journalists hang around the same camps, etc. as the professional do; and the journalists opinions are greatly influenced by the professional coaching and recruiting staffs.

Saban's staff obviously does a very good job of identifying talent, as do the staffs of many prominent schools, including LSU.

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Does anyone know if LSU ever tries to convince recruits that LSU offers, aren't just handed out to just anyone.

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Yes, they do.

Lastly, different coaching staffs approach recruiting in vastly divergent ways. Some may take a shotgun approach and issue tons of uncommittable offers (Bama in your example) to those prospects at the top of their lists, while others will identify a core of players to be issued offers and then build the recruiting class from there. Both can be highly effective ways of conducting business.

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Seems like a recruit would feel more special getting an offer from us b/c we arent doing this?

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I would guess that some recruits would and some wouldn't care. It often appears to be the case that the elite recruits want to have the bragging rights to an offer lists that contain offers from the elites of college football (Bama, USC, Ohio St., LSU, etc.) whether or not they have a genuine interest in attending said schools.

I guess I was looking at it wrong. This makes more sense now. Thanks for your input.