Warning To All High School Recruits

For a long time, high school athletes believed recruiting worked like this: stack a few offers, wait for a bigger name, and hope a Power Five school swoops in late. But that era is over. The transfer portal, older college athletes, and proven production have completely changed the game, and Coach Glover isn’t just talking about it. He’s warning athletes to wake up. His message cuts through the noise: you’re not competing against other teenagers anymore. You’re competing against 22-year-olds with college game film, physical maturity, and experience. In that reality, sitting around hoping for “more” or “better” isn’t just unrealistic, it’s dangerous. Offers don’t sit around forever. Roster spots don’t stay open. Coaches don’t wait. Today, the biggest mistake isn’t having too few offers; it’s holding onto offers and stalling, waiting for something “bigger” to magically appear. With one phone call, a coach can replace a high school recruit with a bigger, stronger, proven transfer. That’s why Coach Glover keeps emphasizing: an offer isn’t a trophy,  it’s an opportunity.

Instead of chasing a fantasy NIL payout or holding out for a Power Five logo, athletes should be locked in on finding the right fit, a program where they can play, develop, and grow academically, athletically, and mentally. NIL and bright lights mean nothing if you’re sitting on the bench behind transfers who have already earned their place. In this new landscape, relationships matter most. Coaches stay loyal to players who communicate, commit, and buy in. Athletes who build real bonds with the staff are far less likely to get pushed aside for a transfer. That connection, not hype, is what protects your future. Growth beats glamour. Development beats headlines. A steady path earning playing time, improving your game, and building your brand through real production — will take you farther than gambling on attention you haven’t earned yet. NIL follows performance, not potential.

For years, an early offer felt like the finish line, proof that a dream was coming true. But today, that offer is just the beginning. With the transfer portal booming, NIL reshaping priorities, and recruiting moving faster than ever, high school athletes, even the ones with offers, are in a tougher spot than they realize, competing against seasoned transfer players ready to contribute on Day One. Coach Glover said it plainly: “Too many high school kids sit back with offers in hand, thinking they’re safe, while the portal guys keep eating up spots and the NIL money shifts the power.” In other words, an offer isn’t a destination; it’s a checkpoint. And if athletes don’t move with urgency, intention, and commitment, they risk falling behind in a system that won’t slow down for them.

What’s Changed

• The Transfer Portal Surge: The portal has turned collegiate rosters into free-agent arenas. Coaches can now tap into athletes with college experience, validated production, and, in some cases, immediate eligibility. For high school seniors still developing, the path is steeper.

• NIL Dollars: While many high school players await offers, wealthy programs chase athletes with brand potential, social metrics, and transfer resumes. This shifts resources and attention away from local high-schoolers who may have offers but fewer connections.

• Offer Inflation: An offer that once carried weight now anchors a recruit instead of launching him. Many high schoolers stop recruiting hard after an offer, believing the job’s done—while coaches continue chasing upgrades.

Coach Glover’s Warning

Waiting is a risk, not a plan. Fit beats fame, development beats attention, and the athlete who commits and grows will outlast the one who hesitates. In the portal era, the player who waits gets replaced; the player who chooses the right opportunity gets better. Playing beats posting. Development beats hype. And the right fit will always beat the biggest logo.