Terry Joseph Wants To Be An 'FBI Agent' On The Recruiting Trail
Thoroughness is the of the utmost importance in recruiting, and Notre Dame safeties coach Terry Joseph knows that well.
In fact, Joseph likened the job of recruiter to that of a federal agent.
“I think as a recruiter you’ve got to be part salesman, part ambassador of the school and you also have to be a friend, a brother and almost like an FBI agent,” Joseph explained. “You want to gather all the information and get your pitch to hit the hot spots that that kid and his family have let you know through talking or through research.”
Joseph came to Notre Dame from North Carolina and said there are noticeable differences between recruiting players to South Bend and recruiting players to other schools.
“The product that we’re selling is a special product and we want to fight against the big boys on those guys because we know our experience and our program is unique,” Joseph said. “I think the big thing is getting out in front of it, getting great evaluations and getting those guys to campus early.”
Joseph and the rest of the Notre Dame staff are hard at work on filling out the class of 2019, but that doesn’t mean later classes aren’t being emphasized as well.
Even though 2020 and 2021 seem like a long way off, Joseph said he and the staff are already getting great looks at recruits in those future classes.
“I still have a hard time thinking about how we’re recruiting guys in 2020 and 2021, but that’s where we are right now,” Joseph told Blue & Gold Illustrated. “We want to get those guys on campus in camp settings so we can get our hands on them and make sure they’re guys that fit what we want to do, not only on the field but also off the field because it’s a different experience.”
The evaluations, Joseph said, are really what it comes down to in recruiting.
Skills wise and personality wise, Joseph said, an in-depth evaluation is a vital to a recruiting department as anything else.
“I think you’re selecting more than you’re recruiting,” Joseph said. “I think if you do a great job evaluating and finding a great fit, you’re going to put yourself in position to get some of the premier players across America.”
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