Chris Salem - Athlete Spotlight

The Scholarship Hustle College Recruiting Exposed

Here are the show notes for this episode of The Scholarship Hustle, drawing on the information provided in the sources:

The Scholarship Hustle: Featuring Pro 7 Sports Athlete Chris Salem

In this episode of The Scholarship Hustle, we dive into the world of football recruiting with Pro 7 Sports defensive back, Christopher "Chris" Salem, interviewed by his coach. The conversation highlights the reality of the "recruiting grind," emphasizing that it requires more than just talent to get noticed. Pro 7 Sports aims to help qualified athletes, both athletically and academically, navigate this process effectively.

Meet the Athlete: Chris Salem

• Background: Chris Salem, also known as Christopher, is a football player from Oakridge High School. He primarily plays defensive back (DB) but is also working towards playing wide receiver (WR). He started playing tackle football in the third grade and flag football around age six, developing a love for the sport.
• Training & Other Sports: Chris trains as much as possible, often daily, balancing football training with playing baseball.
• Overcoming Challenges: He notes that being slightly undersized can be a challenge but believes his performance numbers, especially from last year, help make up for it. He is aiming for even better numbers this year.
• Support System: His parents are very supportive and push him to improve.
• Dream: Chris has been dreaming of playing college football for a long time.

Recruiting Journey: Before & After Pro 7 Sports

• Before Pro 7 Sports: Chris's recruiting efforts before joining Pro 7 Sports were inconsistent. This included attending camps occasionally and relying on his high school recruiter, who he felt wasn't very effective. There wasn't a consistent plan in place.
• After Joining Pro 7 Sports: Joining the Pro 7 Sports recruiting family has made a significant difference. Chris feels much more open to opportunities and has seen more opportunities come his way. He highly recommends Pro 7 Sports, feeling well-treated and supported by a team behind him.

Understanding the Recruiting Process

• It's Not Easy: Chris emphasizes that the recruiting process is not simple.
• Consistency is Key: Athletes need to be consistently engaged in the process, ideally daily if time permits, but at least weekly.
• Persistence Pays Off: It's important not to get frustrated if coaches don't reply immediately. When athletes demonstrate their skills ("show your play"), coaches will find them, especially when using a good recruiting strategy or strategist like Pro 7 Sports.

Chris's Goals (Academic & Athletic)

• Chris is focused on attending college, whether for sports or academics.
• He is considering majoring in fields such as law, business, or analytics.
• Academically, he aims to maintain straight A's and his current class rank, which is around 50.
• He hopes to continue receiving scholarship opportunities from different schools. The coach adds that it's not just about playing ("balling") but setting yourself up for life.

Message to College Coaches

Speaking directly to college coaches, Chris states that bringing him into their program would mean getting:

• A leader.
• Someone 100% dedicated ("tapped into") to the program.
• A necessary player to keep the team performing at its best ("tippy top shape").
• A team player.
• Someone with a great work ethic who will earn his way into a starting spot.

Actionable Tips for Athletes & Parents ("Gym Drops")

The coach provides three key tips for navigating the recruiting journey:

1. Clean up your social media ASAP: College coaches will look at your social media to learn about you. Make sure it reflects positively on you.
2. Design an attention-grabbing highlight video: Your highlight video should be created specifically to capture the interest of college coaches, not just for your own enjoyment.
3. Be realistic: Understand the appropriate level of play for you. While having dreams is important, recognize how recruiting works now. If you initially pursue a D2 path instead of D1, you can still strive to perform at a D1 level within that program and potentially transfer later via the transfer portal to reach your desired destination. Being realistic is often the hardest tip for athletes and parents.

The Pro 7 Sports Philosophy & Call to Action

Recruiting is described not as luck, but as a combination of strategy, execution, and exposure. If you or your athlete are struggling to figure out the process alone, it's recommended to get a strategy built by someone who can help. Pro 7 Sports Recruiting helps build a proven strategy. To potentially be featured and evaluated for scholarship opportunities, athletes should get on the college prospect report by visiting collegeport.com/questionnaire. The episode closes with the reminder that today's actions shape tomorrow's success and that waiting can kill a dream, urging listeners to take action now.

produced by Lone Star Gridiron http://www.lonestargridiron.com