Recruiting Limitations Has Tom Allen Focused on the Finish, Whatever That Looks Like

Image: Amanda Pavelka, Hoosier Huddle

Written by Juliet Gahan (@GahanJuliet)

Indiana head coach Tom Allen Zoomed with media on Tuesday morning and explained the difficulties this spring has brought to the Hoosiers. He has had to reimagine his recruiting style due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Allen has even made offers to players he hasn’t met. 

The pandemic does not allow for in-person interactions. The NCAA has been in a “dead period” since March. Meaning, a coach cannot have face-to-face interactions with recruits. All communication must be through phone calls and other forms of correspondence. This dead period has been extended until August 31st.  

If recruits come to Bloomington they must do it on their own accord. They will not meet coaches or see the inside of the facilities. Recruits will have a map to guide them through campus. COVID-19 has made it impossible for Coach Allen to formally meet some of his future Hoosiers

“I think it's going to create a very interesting finish, and I guess that's the part I'm focusing on because we can't change anything about what's happened” Allen explained. He hopes to see the recruits play, but some states will not allow for players to have their senior season.  He will be heavily relying on senior evaluations for next year’s team. 

“The big thing about recruiting is that you want to try to gain as much information as you can to make a decision, and that information right now is limited,” Allen said.  There is always potential to make errors in the recruitment process. 

“A kid is listed as 6'1, is he really 6'1? Usually they're not” Allen said. Many players are listed at least an inch taller than they are in person. The coaches lost the ability to go to a school and watch spring training. It will be difficult to judge how much weight a player can gain in order to make the cut at a Big Ten school. 

“It is a smaller class for us, which is one positive thing because of the circumstances of having a small senior class.” As of right now, IU has 10 committed recruits. Players from Australia to Bloomington itself will be on the field at Memorial Stadium. Class of 2021 will have an interesting recruitment process. They will certainly be a team to remember.