Finley Earner | CCHS #74 | co28 | OL

Junior Film Highlights. Includes OL film from: - Week 5: vs. Metheun High School - Week 4: @ Xaverian Brothers - Week 3: @ Bishop Hendrickson - Week 2: vs. St. John’s Prep - Week 1: vs. Boston College HS - Preseason: @ Catholic Memorial

Film from some key plays in our 41-20 (R1) playoff win Friday night. #WeAreCentral

I’m very grateful for the invite to visit US Air Force Academy on Saturday. Thank you to Coach @CamerJonny for the invite to see the program. I can’t wait to get back on base again and finally be able to see the team and staff in person. I’m looking forward to (first) locking in another win on Friday with the boys at @CCRaider_FBall, and then getting out to @AF_Football to visit on Saturday! #FlyFightWin #BoltBrotherhood #USAFA

November 15 is coming up and it is the biggest day in HS football - it's the day that the offers get put on paper. Everything before this was just words and verbal promises. Have you heard it call it signing your national letter of intent? I have too, but we don't sign those as student athletes anymore (since 2024). The letter of intent used to lock the athlete in and penalize the athlete if they changed their minds. Now on November 15, we sign an aid agreement, which locks in the money at the school. Basically, we used to commit to the school, now the tables are turned a little and the school pretty much commits to us. It's a small but important difference... So what is the actual difference? Letter of intent (NLI): Signing bound the athlete to the school for one academic year. If they backed out or left, they usually lost a year of eligibility unless the school released them. That held even when the coach who recruited them left! (Think Coach Urban Meyer telling Josh Heuerman "you aren't my recruit" when he got to Ohio State after he passed on him while coaching in Florida - brutal!). Athletics aid agreement: The school signs a written promise of athletics aid, such as a scholarship. Once a recruit signs it, other schools have to stop recruiting them, but there's no eligibility penalty attached like there was with the NLI if the recruit changes their mind. ^ In the Urban Meyer story the recruit could literally pack up and pivot before the school deadlines. Why did he NCAA change it? They voted to end the National Letter of Intent in October 2024. It was because free transfers through the transfer portal had made the NLI's penalty mostly pointless, because an athlete could commit, enroll, and then immediately transfer anyway. Dropping it also cut paperwork and ended the situation where a recruit was stuck after a coaching change. What it mostly means for college recruits today: ✓ More leverage and less risk when committing ✓ Signing dates still matter, because they're when written aid offers become official ✓ A signed agreement is a statement of commitment rather than a contract binding the player, so flips can still happen

Thanks @PRZNewEngland for the live scouting evaluation from our solid win in the state tournament tonight. The sets will get tighter over the next week. We will all be ready!

Thank you @EmmaKimble_ and @KU_Football for the invite to see the Jayhawks and visit the @KansasUniv campus this weekend! I sincerely appreciate the invite. Unfortunately, I can’t line up flight timing with our playoff game Friday night! I am looking forward to continuing communication and re-scheduling a visit out soon. Good luck this weekend against @UCF_Football! Rock Chalk!

Ever Wonder it's like on an Unofficial Visit? The short answer is that not every unofficial visit looks the same, and not every recruit receives the same level of attention. From my experience, here are the 4 most common scenarios parents and players should be prepared for: 1. The Quick Introductions Coaches go through one-by-one, introduce themselves, shake hands, exchange a few words, and move on quickly to get a touch with everyone. Game days are busy, so don't automatically interpret a short conversation as a lack of interest. You're then usually sent on a tour of campus or facilities and then bought to the field before going to your seats. I've had coaches follow me on X during these and then reach out to me after. 2. The Recruiting Staff Led with Individual Pull-Aside Recruiting staff meet recruits without the coaches present and have a list of certain players to pull aside for additional conversations or access to the football facility. Some recruits receive more personalized attention than others. I have been brought away from the group to go into the coach offices and into the locker room briefly before going back to the field for pre-game warm-ups. 3. The Trophy Room Mixer Recruits and families gather in one area, usually a trophy room, while coaches circulate. These are my favorite because you usually get more one-on-one time with the coaches. I could always tell if the coaches watched my film by the conversations. Some are basic introductions, while others get into positions, schemes, specific plays, and potential roster fit. Then it's usually followed by some sort of tour before field access pre-game. 4. 100% Recruiting Staff Led On these, the recruiting staff handles everything: check-in, credentials, tours, field access, and the full schedule. Coaches will have limited or no interaction, focusing solely on official visit recruits. When this happens, I've noticed sometimes the Head Coach gives a speech to the group and then hurries off to do final game day prep. These can still be valuable because you can often make connections with the analysts. What I think Parents and Players Should Understand: • A visit doesn't automatically lead to an offer, but it can open a path. • Coaches knowing your film and discussing your fit has been the strongest indicator of interest in my opinion. • Pre and post game conversations can be meaningful, but coach time isn't guaranteed. • Game-day schedules vary, so don't judge everything by how much time you receive. Especially early in your recruiting journey. You also MUST be ready to talk about yourself. This was the hardest thing for me as an O-Lineman. I try to do my job quietly, plus I'm so introspective and focused on improving that I'm typically considering what needs to be fixed vs what went well the day after a game. Prepare for visits like anything else we do as players. Practice and rep it out before because you MUST talk to the coaches before you can get offers. It's the next step (after the field) in the "offer" process. If you end up with a coach one-on-one, you'll almost certainly be asked a variation of these to start (practice with a parent or sibling before you get there): 1) Did you play last night? 2) How's the season going? 3) What classes are you taking? 4) What are you planning to major in? Lastly, if you're asked to do measurements, say YES. It doesn't matter if your knee hurts or you're wearing the wrong socks, or any of the other dozens of reasons I’ve seen recruits shy away. Step up, go first, and get it done! It's a part of the process & you can't hide from it if you want an offer! Final note: Most programs require you to have a questionnaire before a visit. You can type the university name and then add "football questionnaire" in Google and it will bring you a direct link. ✓ Create a Google sheet to track submissions so you can update them as your stats and film improve!!

Great day visiting @WakeFB. They had an absolutely dominant win over @UVAFootball today. I am especially grateful to Coach @BJ_Williams12 for spending time with me and telling me about how great it is to be at Wake. Definitely a great program to see and worth the visit. Thank you all for inviting me down - and good luck on the ACC title run! @CoachDickert @tygatson @kuykendall_kyle @adrian_sienko @RobEzell @MaggieJMullen20 #GoDeacs #BuiltintheDark

Thank you to @ColgateFB for the invite tomorrow for the game against @WMTribeFootball. I’m sorry I’m unable to make it, but will be watching the Raiders crush the Tribe tomorrow in NY. Thank you @Coach_McCrann for the invite. I definitely would like to get out to see Colgate soon!!!! Good luck tomorrow!

✓ Good work! #WeAreCentral