College Football Recruiting: Package Deals Becoming an Unfortunate Focal Point

Within the confines of recruiting rules, "package deal" is arguably the dirtiest of terms.

It is, however, an unfortunate reality in the cutthroat world of college-football recruiting.

Nowhere is it more prevalent than in the South, where interstate recruiting battles between the likes of Tennessee and Georgia (among others) are always raging.

In fact, Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution set to flesh out a potential "package deal" that affected both programs as recently as this year.

The Volunteers snagged the nation's No. 1-ranked JUCO prospect, wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, on National Signing Day after nearly every recruiting outlet projected him to sign with Georgia.

Carvell writes:

"

Last week, the Tennessee Rivals website Volquest.com reported that Hutchinson (JC school where Patterson played) assistant head coach Brandon Staley “will have an undisclosed role in the Tennessee football program.” It immediately sparked speculation, especially among Tennessee fans on this message board, that Staley was part of a delayed “package deal” involving Patterson.

"

Both the school and player denied any correlation between the two events.

This latest chapter is just another installment in an ongoing battle that will never end.

Whether Patterson and Staley will ever admit to being a "package deal" or not, the speculation will continue on.

And, unfortunately, players and other players are getting hip to the idea too.

Robert Nkemdiche, the No.1-rated recruit in the country by both Scout and Rivals, made it known that he does have a desire to play with his brother, Denzel, and his best friend, David Kamara.

Denzel is one year older and already a member of the Ole Miss Rebels. Not surprisingly, the Rebels made offers to both Nkemdiche and Kamara, but so did Mississippi State and Clemson, according to Carvell.

Kamara certainly isn't a nobody, but all three schools who've extended offers to the 5'11", 185 lb. cornerback are in on Nkemdiche—two of whom are on his top-five list.

Carvell also reported that the Clemson offer stands for Kamara, regardless of what Nkemdiche decides. Whether or not that is just a ploy remains to be seen.

"Package deals" are, unfortunately, undermining an important part of the recruiting process for the student-athletes.

Rather than focusing on which school offers them the best future on and/or off the field, these recruits are focused on which school is willing to give them what they want.

At 18 years old, want and need are two completely different things. A school willing to give a recruit what he wants doesn't mean they'll give him what he ultimately needs to succeed.

Some of that may be on the recruit and how they handle life in college, but schools can be very much to blame for this as well.

These "package deals" are an unfortunate practice where blame can be pinned on both sides, but in the end, it is very much alive.

Even more unfortunate is that it is becoming a focal point in the recruiting process for schools to get exactly what and whom they want.