Every year around Signing Day, we always hear that the best recruiters are often the best “salesmen.” After all, in essence what an assistant or head coach is ultimately doing is “selling” themselves to a recruit and their family. They’re selling the school, selling the football program, selling the cute girls on campus. Sell, sell, sell. Always be closing.
Today though, Crystal Ball Run brings you the unique case of Khalfani Muhammad, a recruit who decided to take the unusual step of selling himself to a major college football program. That’s right, the 5’8 back from California felt like he was on the short end of the stick in the recruiting game, and instead of moping, decided to do something about it. Although he is ranked as the No. 108 player overall by Rivals.com in the class of 2013, Muhammad was searching for an elusive offer from one of his dream schools, Arkansas. So he decided to pick up the phone.
Muhammad told his story to Arkansas’ Rivals affiliate HawgSports.com:
“It was a funny story of how I got the offer from Arkansas,” he said. “My quarterback [Arkansas target Kelly Hilinski] hit me up and was talking about them. I told him, ‘Give me their number, I want to speak to Arkansas. I believe I can fit into that program. I’m pretty interested in that program and I want to be even more interested, so give me their number.’ So he gave me their number, and I found them on Facebook, too. Right before I called, I messaged them my highlight tape with all my information and stuff.
“I gave Coach Paul Petrino a call, we were talking, and I could tell he really didn’t know me. At first it didn’t sound like he was too interested in me while we were talking. I mean, he had never seen me play, and with all the players they talk to in the country, a lot of them are busted. I said, ‘Coach, I know you don’t know much about me, so I sent you all my information on Facebook. Why don’t you go check it out, and hopefully you’ll like what you see and we can talk more in the future.'”
Apparently Petrino is pretty Facebook savvy (has he been checking for updates on an ex?), because within minutes, he was back in touch with Muhammad.
“I gave him a call and he sounded a lot more interested in me. He said I’m a hell of a player and told me he wants to offer me.”
To quote the great line from the great movie ‘Good Will Hunting,’ “How you like them apples?”
In all seriousness though, good for the kid for taking matters into his own hands. It sounds like he’s had an interest in Arkansas for some time, and now apparently they have interest with him… along with every other school in college football. According to the Rivals.com report, schools like Notre Dame, USC and Oregon have shown interest, while some like Duke, Cincinnati and Utah have already offered a scholarships as well.
Then again, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that a school like Duke has offered Muhammad early; he seems like a truly bright kid.
And if this whole football thing doesn’t work out?
Well, it sounds like he’s got a future in sales.
For all his opinion, insight and analysis on college football and beyond, please follow Aaron on Twitter @Aaron_Torres.
