Iowa’s football signees live twice as far from Iowa City as Ohio State’s do from Columbus

This isn’t exactly a shocking revelation. But Iowa’s football staff has to travel many, many more miles to fill a football recruiting class than does Ohio State’s.

Nebraska’s and Iowa State’s 2011 signees come from a greater distance than Iowa’s. Meanwhile, Georgia’s highly touted class of ’11 is fruit picked from local trees.

Major-college football coaches know this sight too well

Here are my self-calculated mileage counts using Yahoo Maps’ driving distances. For junior college players, I used the site of the schools, not the players’ hometowns, since the school site is where the coaches did their primary recruiting.

IOWA

24 signees, a total of 16,605 miles from Iowa City for an average of 692 miles per player.

3 in-state players

The farthest: Fort Lauderdale FL (1,458 miles), Naples FL (1,431), Groton MA (1,193).

Recruits from within 200 miles of Iowa City: 2.

IOWA STATE

22 signees, a total of 20,523 miles for an average of 933 miles per player.

5 in-state players

The farthest: San Francisco CA (two players, 1,838 miles from Ames), Mission Viejo CA (1,725), San Jacinto CA (1,714), Walnut CA (1,701).

Recraits within 200 miles of Ames: 6.

OHIO STATE

23 signees, a total of 7,579 miles for an average of 330 miles per player.

13 in-state players

The farthest: Naples FL (1,185 miles from Columbus), Plantation FL (two players, 1,161 miles), Cumming GA (590)

Recruits within 200 miles of Columbus: 15.

NEBRASKA

20 signees, a total of 16,366 miles for an average of 818 per player.

4 in-state players

The farthest: Boca Raton FL (1,626 miles from Lincoln), Weston MA (1,486), Clearwater FL (1,478), Rancho Cucamonga CA (two players, 1,458 miles)

Recruits within 200 miles of Lincoln: 4.

GEORGIA

26 signees, a total of 5,961 miles for an average of 229 miles per player.

19 in-state players

The farthest: Lauderdale Lakes FL (651 miles from Athens), Perkingston MS (487), Tarpon Springs FL (483)

Recruits within 200 miles of Athens: 14.

(I would include more schools than this, but it takes way too much time and effort. Nutshell: Boise State must travel great distances to recruit. Florida and LSU? Not so much.)

Iowa’s football signees live twice as far from Iowa City as Ohio State’s do from Columbus

Sue-Don Immer said: On February 7, 2011
I’m sure it’s extremely annoying for me to note that I think you mean “farthest”, not “furthest”. Distance = farthest; addition (“more-est”) = furthest.
Long off-season, I know.
At three we’ll have a web discussion: Strunk & White, Elements of Style vs. Stanley Fish, How to Write a Sentence: Is There a New Champion in the Room?
- Mason Ossumburger said: On February 7, 2011
  pls…go write your own article..
- Mike Hlas said: On February 7, 2011
  I have changed that, and I have no problems with anyone calling me out on grammar.
Adam Bothwell said: On February 7, 2011
classy move mike, i like it!
Scott Gill said: On February 7, 2011
While we’re talking about recruiting, did anyone notice the story about how Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger were passed on by just about every D-I school? This “four and five star” recruiting stuff is way overhyped. Wasn’t Iowa the only major school that spotted Chad Greenway? The talent is out there – the coaches just have to find it.
Steve Litchfield said: On February 8, 2011
Interesting research Mike. Thanks! The inherent advantages that some schools have in recruiting also includes getting players that have grown up rooting for your program. It always helps when kids are invested in the program before they even set foot on campus.