One Reason Why a Recruit Would Choose Each Top 25 Program

Each college, be it an elite BCS program to an NAIA school, has its positives, draws and allures. No matter what, a school, a campus, a town, city, tradition, uniforms, coaches, fan bases, a program has something that attracts players to come there.

For this read, I'm just going to list one reason for each Top 25 team in the ESPN College Football Live poll why a recruit would choose that program. Sure there are likely several reasons, but, for time purposes, I'm just sticking with one.

Here we go.

25. Florida

Reason: Supreme talent

Gainesville is a great place, the fans are rabid, you're in the SEC and Florida wins a lot of football games. So, there are a lot of reasons to go here.

One main reason would be because you know you're going to be playing with an extreme amount of talented players. So, you'll be in the hunt to win some big games here.

24. Notre Dame

Reason: Tradition

Notre Dame football is a classic staple in sports, just like the Yankees, Lakers and Cowboys are. The Irish have a ton of mystique and tradition around the program.

Aside from a great academic degree, a prime reason a recruit would come here is the amazing classic tradition of the program.

23. Boise State

Reason: Something to prove

Boise State is not, and likely never will be, a sexy school in recruiting. The school isn't in an ideal place, like USC or Miami. Also, it's not a high-profile, traditional power.

However, if I'm a recruit that has been overlooked by other programs, I'd go here and play with a chip on my shoulder. The Broncos do a great job of coaching up their players, you'd be developed right and would play with something to prove each Saturday. 

22. Texas

Reason: Mack Brown

A running joke in Texas is that if Mack Brown ran for governor, he'd win in a landslide. He's immensely popular and I always get the "cool grandpa" feeling from him.

Players enjoy playing for him, he recruits extremely well and he has made Texas into a national program.

21. Oklahoma State

Reason: Exciting football

If you're an offensive recruit, you look at the Pokes because you know your unit is going to score points. Oklahoma State can score with the best of them and you're going to put up some stats.

Defensively, you look here because you know you're going to be in some shootouts. You're going to get a lot of reps because the offense can strike quickly, and you're going to be playing the pass a lot. 

20. Ohio State

Reason: To play in Rose Bowls

Ohio State has been the flagship program in the Big Ten for decades. The Buckeyes have good tradition, recruit well and win a ton of games.

The Big Ten doesn't have many elite, dominant programs, but Ohio State is one of the few. As a recruit, you go here because know you can win your conference and get to the Rose Bowl on a consistent basis. 

19. Virginia Tech

Reason: To win 10 games a year

You can almost book it that Virginia Tech will win 10 games and go to a solid bowl game each year. It's just their mantra, as it is as consistent a program as there is in the country.

It's not a sexy recruiting school, but, as a recruit, you head to Blacksburg and get coached up to win 10 games and go to a bowl game all four years there. 

18. Clemson

Reason: Family atmosphere

Clemson isn't in a big town and there really aren't too many immediate distractions. As a recruit, you come here to concentrate on academics and football.

The program really prides itself on its family atmosphere, that the coaches care about you on and off the field and you're going to playing in big games with big time players.

17. Nebraska

Reason: Live fan base

Cornhusker fans are passionate, show up in a sea of red and get after it every Saturday home game in Lincoln. You make a play in front of them and they fall in love with you.

16. Wisconsin

Reason: Big boy football

As football players, the game is always talked up as a physical sport. Wisconsin subscribes to that theory very much so.

You go to Madison and play at Camp Randall so you can play big boy football. Physical, tough and rugged is how the Badgers play. 

15. Stanford

Reason: Academics and football combo

Right now, the best combination of elite academics and good football is offered by Stanford.

If you're a recruit with excellent grades and want to continue to challenge yourself in the classroom while still maintaining good quality football, Stanford is for you.

14. TCU

Reason: Coaching

Gary Patterson and his staff do a great job of coaching up the players they get. They're starting to go after higher profile recruits since the team is moving into the Big 12.

You get developed and coached up here.

13. Kansas State

Reason: Big 12 play

If you're a high school player from the Midwest and love it there, grew up watching the Big 12 and want to play in the conference, then head to Manhattan—Kansas that is. 

12. Michigan State

Reason: Consistency

Michigan State is usually in the hunt for the Big Ten title each year, wins games and goes to bowl games. That's the standard in college football, and the Spartans fit the mold.

Head to East Lansing to be consistently competitive as a program. 

11. West Virginia

Reason: To win the Big East

The Big East is not the best conference in the BCS. Let's just say that.

West Virginia is one of the better programs in the Big East, so, as a recruit, you know that if you sign here you could win the conference and get to a BCS bowl without much restriction.

10. Michigan

Reason: To play Ohio State

Michigan vs. Ohio State may be the marquee rivalry in college football. Michigan is one of the staple programs of the sport and has many traditions, and mystique in it as well.

Playing in the Ohio State game is an honor and something many high school players dream of doing. 

9. Arkansas

Reason: To play in front of SEC fans

Arkansas fans are some of the most passionate and wildest in the land. You hear the chants and rants all throughout the game, and this is prime SEC country.

Why not head here and play in front some crazy fans that support you in the best conference in football?

8. South Carolina

Reason: Steve Spurrier

You saw what Steve Spurrier did at Florida, and he has made South Carolina into a consistent SEC East contender. Spurrier is a living legend and playing for him assures you that you're going to win a lot of games. 

7. Florida State

Reason: History

Florida State was the team of the 90s and many players grew up in that era. The Seminoles had the best players, won a ton of games and were the sexy school.

History is starting to repeat itself, as Florida State has begun to recruit in a dominant fashion again, and has become a prominent power on the field. 

6. Georgia

Reason: Big-time SEC play

You want to go to a program that wins games and plays in big-time SEC games? Georgia is the place for you. Athens rocks and rolls and you get to play the Floridas, Alabamas and LSUs of the world every Saturday.

5. Oklahoma

Reason: Red River Rivalry game

Texas is Oklahoma's biggest rival. They meet each fall at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and get it on.

The stadium gets divided down to the "t" in fans from each school. There are always Big 12 and BCS implications on the line and legends are made at this game. 

4. Oregon

Reason: Uniforms and facilities

I couldn't decide between which one, because I've heard recruits marvel at both reasons. Oregon has been a football fashion innovator through the years, as its uniforms change literally every game.

The facilities in Eugene are top notch, updated and very plush. 

3. Alabama

Reason: The NFL

Alabama is constantly viewed as quick to get to the league by high school players. The Tide runs like a smooth, well-oiled NFL organization and runs NFL schemes.

If you're a recruit that wants to play big-time football and get prepared for the NFL, Alabama is the top place for you.

2. LSU

Reason: Game Day atmosphere

Saturday night games in Baton Rouge are bantered as perhaps the most electric scene in all of the country in the fall. You get the food, the passionate fans and Louisiana State football. 

Having a great atmosphere and support is imperative for any program, and if you go to LSU, you'll know that won't be a problem during your tenure.

1. USC

Reason: It's sexy

Not sexy as in "sexy", but sexy as in cool, in, and hip. The Trojans, located in Los Angeles, are the de facto NFL team in the second largest media market in the country and win a lot of games.

There's a lot of confidence at USC and the Trojans' recruiting pull is nationally feared by other elite programs. It's always a sexy pick by recruits.

Edwin Weathersby has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects & writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (now ESPN Rise-HS). A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a College Football and NFL Draft magazine.