Coach Prime’s unconventional refusal to conduct off-campus recruiting visits is gaining traction, as major programs follow his lead by prioritizing efficiency over long-standing high school scouting traditions.
When the Colorado Buffaloes hired Deion Sanders prior to the 2023 season, nobody knew just how "untraditional" the hire would be. Coach Prime told the world he was bringing his "Louis Luggage" to Boulder and didn't stop there. Sanders was the first coach to turn over a roster with mostly top-tier transfers.
Another part of his philosophy was not visiting high school recruits at home. Sanders took a great deal of heat for his approach. Instead of hitting the road, he does all of his recruiting on campus with a wide-reaching approach. Why be tied down to a single school or visit when you can play host to many players during the same weekend? It's working smarter and not harder. Is it less personal? Maybe.
But Sanders isn't alone in ditching home visits. According to a report by USA TODAY Sports, Indiana Hoosiers football coach Curt Cignetti chose to host recruits on campus and not hit the road last season.
"Cignetti didn’t visit recruits at their homes or high schools this past winter either," the university confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. "He didn’t have time. His team was making a run to the national championship in January. “Calendar was the reason,” an Indiana spokesman said."
Sanders seemed to start a trend in the Power Four coaching ranks. Cignetti was the most prominent out of the bunch. Michigan's new coach Kyle Whittingham, who came from Utah and had a good relationship with Coach Prime prior to his days at Colorado, also doesn't visit high schools or homes. It was also a recruiting tactic former Buffs assistant and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer implemented during his first year at Southern University. Needless to say, more coaches will be ready to give up life on the road, with Cignetti being the prime example.
However, some coaches can't let go of tradition. UCLA coach Bob Chesney has racked up miles with a recorded 493 off-campus recruiting contacts, according to USA TODAY Sports. Nebraska's Matt Rhule is in the same boat. The Huskers coach ended January with 373 off-campus and kept an assistant by his side.
Sanders has also been ahead of the curve with recruiting and the transfer portal. The one change the NCAA has been reluctant to address with Coach Prime involves joint practices with another team, instead of a traditional spring game. Maybe this latest example might change a few minds on how major college football needs to evolve.
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