Recruits can now take as many official visits as they want

[ProudUte]

Previously, a high school recruit could take five (paid) visits. Effective August 1st, a high school football player can visit as many schools as he wants. He cannot make two (paid) visits to the same school. How will this affect recruiting?
The world of college football as we knew it has changed. (I am not saying that it is all bad. But, it sure as heck is different.)

[chinngiskhaan]

It was a silly rule IMO. Glad it is gone. No reason to prevent a kid from doing everything he can to make the right choice about his/her future.

[alexsmith]

Exactly. Kids that do well in school and on the ACT/SAT can take as many paid visits as schools are willing to give, so why not athletes.

[DataUte]

I’m confused by this. Schools pay kids to visit for academics now? Man, that would have been nice. I got some good scholarship offers, but no paid trips – had to go on my own. I did get a paid trip for grad school though and got recruited to where I ended up going.

[perceptionate]

I bet this will be good for the U. Most of our recruits are out of state, so we might not naturally be in the top 5 schools to begin with. But the U’s campus is exceptionally beautiful and cool, plus we have an awesome gameday and stadium atmosphere. The more visits the better for us, I think.

[Utah]

Great thought. You have a kid who is a Clark Phillips level talent. He only gets 5 visits. Well, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, USC…

That’s four. You don’t even get most of those kids on the campus. And if you don’t, you have a zero shot. 

Now, they can visit those schools AND Utah. And they have a good experience and they remember that. And when November hits and Urban and Saban don’t remember the kid’s name and Utah is still talking to them…

You might get them to flip, ala Phillips. 

This is great for Utah. 

[ProudUte]

You guys all make some good points.  Maybe this helps Utah’s recruiting going forward.

[DataUte]

I like this – get them to our campus and I think we get a boost in our place on their list. Lots going for the school, program, facilities, mountains, etc.

[UrbanLiar]

This also might be another example of the well capitalized schools just getting stronger. They can bankroll recruit trips but other schools might not have that operating capital.

[GameForAnyFuss]

Not necessarily. The cost of an official visit is a drop in the bucket of the overall expenses required to run a sports team. Since most of the things they’ll do on a visit are sunk costs, the only real expenses are travel, room, and board. I figure $1000/per recruit? So in a big year you’re talking maybe $50k? That’s nothing for a P4 football team.

I agree with those above who say this will ultimately be a benefit to Utah.

[//r00t4Utes]

Y’all made me feel better about this reading through the comments. My thoughts just went to NIL and how the big teams could use this to buy more players.

[DataUte]

Depends on the cost of strippers and blow … jk, we ain’t that “U”