Are you having trouble with a coach during the recruitment process? You might not be the only one! Just as you think the recruitment process with a coach is going smoothly, it can sometimes take a turn for the worst after commiting. This is what soccer player Caleb Jackson experienced during his college recruitment, where a steady relationship with a coach turned into an uncertain future post-commitment. In this article, Caleb will be talking us through his recruitment story and providing tips to recruits who could be feeling similar pressures.
Caleb's Athletic Background
Caleb Jackson is from Bowie, Maryland and previously attended Dematha Catholic High School, where he had hopes to play soccer in college. Caleb achieved this goal, being a former soccer player at D1 college University of Maryland, Baltimore County. In his junior year, Caleb transferred to Virginia Wesleyan University to continue his soccer career where he plays as a defender, wearing the number 12 for the Marlins.
Related: Daily Grind: IWU D3 Men's Soccer Player Scott Abramson
The Recruitment Process
Caleb's recruitment story went rather smoothly as he was able to find a college that he thought would be a great fit. During the recruitment process Caleb says that he “had lots of D2 and D3 offers from schools, but the dream was to play at D1 level.” At the time, Caleb was playing for soccer team ASA and felt like he needed to play for a better team to get recognized. Soon enough, Caleb joined Baltimore Celtic and from there had significantly more interest from D1 schools–maybe too much interest.
“One school contacted me in the early days of the recruitment process which was great, but they pressured me into making a decision,” Caleb said. “[It was] almost like a ‘you have to decide right now' scenario, so I passed.” After this occurrence, Caleb continued to play well and impressed at his new club team. This led to a coach approaching him who spoke highly of him and showing a great deal of interest. “I was told that I'd be a big part of their plans if I were to join the team and they filled me with lots of praise and encouragement that I could do well,” Caleb said, and due to the fantastic reception he received, Caleb committed and signed with the school.
This is where Caleb's recruiting horror story begins. “Straight from the start it didn't work out,” Caleb remembered. “Although I committed and signed based on what the coaches said, they gave me false hope. They had signed another player who plays in the exact same position as me straight after I committed, with no hesitation, and gave that player the keys to the palace. The player proved himself, which was fair enough and I'm happy for him. But I felt I never got that chance to prove myself and was given false hope during my recruitment.” On top of these events, Caleb suffered an injury during his freshman year which kept him on the sidelines.
Advice To Recruits
After the first chapter of Caleb's Recruiting Horror Story played out, he picked himself up and was able to transfer to a college where he enjoys playing, fits in, and is able to excel. “Don't rush the decision because they're saying everything right,” he urged new recruits. “Look thoroughly at everything and all your offers, even at D1, D2, and D3 levels.” Caleb added that recruits should “focus on your career and academics too. Look at all your options, still hear other offers out, and do your research.” A final tip that Caleb had for recruits was: “talk to players that have played at the college before–that's huge. When I started hearing about the coach it was after I committed so it was already too late.” In line with Caleb's valuable advice, using 2aDays as a tool to research what reviews have been left on college coaches and facilities could be invaluable to making your decision!
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
Caleb's Success
Although Caleb didn't see the field as much as he would have liked during his time at his first school, he now plays for Virginia Wesleyan University's soccer team where he is thriving! Caleb made the All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference Third Team, scoring four goals as a defender, and starting 19 out of 20 games during the season! It's safe to say that Caleb didn't let his negative recruitment experience get the better of him and has been successful during his college playing career!
Have a horror story of your own? Email us at [email protected]
* Originally published on April 4, 2023, by Rhys Davies
