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Nick Stevens

Does N.C. have a better player-to-signee ratio than California?

By Nick Stevens
Nov 24, 2009

hc 06

#8 Kendall Moore sacks Brian Taylor during Harnett Central's 36-22 victory over Southeast Raleigh High School on Friday, Oct. 30. (photo by Will Okun)

According to Rivals.com's Dallas Jackson, yes.

Rivals.com's prep sports Web site, Rivals High, gets emails from its nationwide audience about which state has the best high school football. Obviously the general perception is that states such as Florida, Texas, California and Ohio have the best high school football teams.

And while that may be true, North Carolina is at least comparable to Texas and California when it comes to the number of division one prospects that come out of a state.

By the sheer number of division one players, Texas is No. 1. Florida and California are close behind, but research done by Rivals suggests that is simply because of the population in those states.

For example, 160,893 teens play high school football in Texas, according to the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations. Only 29,179 play in North Carolina. However, Texas "only" put out 390 division one players. North Carolina sent 67.

That means one in every 413 players in Texas go on to play division one college football, while one in every 436 high school football players in North Carolina go on to play division one college football.

North Carolina is actually better than California.

With 104,224 high school football players in the state, California sent 238 players to division one schools. That is one in every 438 players in California that goes on to a division one school to play football.

In case you're wondering, based on this formula, Florida is the No. 1 state, sending one in every 127 players on to play division one college football.

North Carolina ranks No. 15.

If you're a division one prospect, be glad you're not playing in Vermont, Rhode Island, South Dakota or Maine. Those four states didn't sign a single player to a division one school from the Class of 2009.

People will continue to put down North Carolina football, claiming it's not anything like it is in Florida, Ohio and Texas. And while towns may not shut down on Friday nights and season tickets may not sell out February, North Carolina has plenty of talent to offer.

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Very good work, Nick. Most of the power states get their reputation from the number of D1 players signed and the top four or five dynasty teams in the state. Between Texas and Florida this year, there may be between 7 and 11 teams at most that are better than Butler. But once those very high qualits teams are pulled out, the best of the rest is on par with NC or SC teams. If one looks at the sheer numbers as the indicator, then because of sheer numbers, there are more Texas and Florida teams with only two wins or less.
crouch1010
November 25, 2009 7:33 p.m.
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good article Nick. I get tired of hearing the Texas and other state arguments myself.
lamontegarrett
November 24, 2009 7:38 p.m.
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