It can be hard to know what college coaches are looking for during the recruiting process–after all, high school athletes have many different strengths and weaknesses even if they play the same sport. So how do college coaches know which athletes have college potential and what goes into those decisions?

Talent Matters…But So Does Character

For some coaches, it all boils down to two significant characteristics. Talent is the first one–it's no secret that college athletes have to be good at their sport. But according to Illinois Wesleyan Assistant Men's Soccer Coach Matthew Kemp, playing ability isn't all that matters. “Generally I look at the character of the player just as much as the ability,” he told 2aDays. “Are they a leader, or have they ever been a captain? Because then you can say well he's a good player but if he is having an off day, and you are thinking how he is going to produce, you know he is going to add to the team environment and help the team win.”

Related: Rate Coach Kemp

A Fine Balance

This is great insight from Coach Kemp as it shows just how important having character and being a good teammate is. Obviously, if you are a player that is miles and miles ahead of the other players from a skills perspective, you are going to generate interest from universities. However, Coach Kemp points out that coaches must consider whether or not other players who lack talent but have the right character are going to catch up talent-wise and will wait to make a decision between the two players.

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

It's obvious that you need talent to have college potential. But let's be honest–a lot of the time you know if you have the skills or if you need to work harder to get to the next level. However, make sure you have the right character attached to your name because it turns out, it is more important than you think when college coaches are determining if you have college potential.

Have an idea for a story or a question you need answered? Want to set up an interview with us? Email us at [email protected]

* Originally published on August 3, 2022, by Scott Abramson