GSU coaches build relationships at summer prospect camps
Grambling State football held its first prospect camp of the summer Friday afternoon, with GSU coaches working closely with players during drills. Leader photo by Matt Belinson
After being in Louisiana for over a year, Hue Jackson’s methodology for in-state recruiting has simplified.
It’s all about relationships.
In an era when college recruiting has devolved into up-front bidding wars and an unspoken celebration if a player stays at his first school, Jackson and his staff at Grambling State know they have to do everything they can to cut through the noise.
Jackson believes it’s the personal connection that can overpower Power Five offers and a fickle and fast transfer process.
Even in the college football of 2023, GSU wants to build those bridges right in its own backyard, by keeping local talent aware of the storied program and the development Jackson and his coaches can offer.
The Tigers hosted their first of several youth camps of the summer on Friday at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium, welcoming over 40 high school athletes to get up- close drill work alongside GSU staff to make that happen.
“I think it’s so important for people to get to know our coaches, to get to see Grambling, to get to be on our field,” Jackson said Friday. “It’s great to see so many parents here because we get to make a connection, and now, they can put a face with a name and hopefully we can build a relationship.
“Recruiting is the lifeblood of our program, and you can only do that by building relationships, by spending time. It’s not just a drive-by phone call. You have to spend time.”
Jackson said the Tigers are ready to take back recruiting in north Louisiana, reclaiming what was historically theirs to make the program stronger.
But after the 2022 roster had less than 12 players from north Louisiana, Jackson made a mission to spread the Tigers’ reach into the corners of the state that were eager to come join the G-Men.
“I think people now know what we’re looking for. I truly understand that talent doesn’t fit everywhere, so we have to do a really good job of making sure we explain to people what we’re looking for and what we need.”
As the camp got underway, players were split up into basic position drills – shuttle drills, cone work, pivoting, route running – and eventually rotated to a new drill every five minutes, all while the blistering sun of the region panned down inside the Tigers’ den.
But the weather added another evaluation to the camp for Jackson and his coaches that they were happy to get.
“I want them to know you’re going to work,” Jackson said about the camp. “It’s going to be a work day. It’s already hot out here and so we’re going to find how serious are you about being a part of this.”
The Tigers went on to host their second camp at Richwood High School in Monroe on Saturday.
