Most Underrated Recruiters in College Football Today
The familiar faces we see each national signing day—Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Jimbo Fisher, Les Miles, etc.—may be royalty in college football recruiting, but there are plenty of less celebrated assistants who put in work throughout the year in order to improve rosters.
Success in the recruiting department requires cohesion among members of a staff, consistent communication with targeted prospects and individual dedication to sealing the deal by winning over athletes and their families.
We looked beyond the headliners to identify several assistant coaches who continue to get the job done on the recruiting trail.
Barry Lunney Jr. (Arkansas)
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Coaching Position: tight ends coach
Background: Barry Lunney Jr. is a Razorback mainstay on the field and sidelines. He started 40 games at quarterback from 1992-95 before spending a season in the Minnesota Twins' minor league baseball system.
His previous collegiate coaching stops were San Jose State and Tulsa, while he also helped lead Arkansas powerhouse Bentonville High School to two state championships as offensive coordinator. Lunney returned to Fayetteville as a member of Bret Bielema's new staff.
Key Recent Commitments: He serves as the Razorbacks' primary in-state recruiter and has flourished in the role. Arkansas signed eight of the state's top 10 prospects last signing day, losing previously committed No. 1 target K.J. Hill to Ohio State late.
That home-state haul included two of the country's top tight end prospects in Will Gragg and C.J. O'Grady. Lunney led the charge to land pledges from 2016 prospects T.J. Hammonds (athlete), Austin Capps (defensive tackle) and Jordan Jones (wide receiver).
Top Targets: His efforts to keep top talent on home turf now center on standouts like 4-star defensive end McTelvin Agim and stout inside linebacker Deontre Hardwick. Ohio product Luke Farrell is an elite tight end target, but it will be difficult to pry him from Big Ten territory.
Terry Samuel (Michigan State)
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Coaching Position: wide receivers coach
Background: The former Purdue wide receiver returned to the Big Ten in 2011 with Michigan State. Terry Samuel's previous collegiate coaching stops included Arizona, North Dakota State and Central Michigan.
Key Recent Commitments: His efforts have extended far beyond wide receiver recruits. A pair of premier signees are 5-star defensive lineman Malik McDowell and 4-star offensive lineman Kyonta Stallworth.
Samuel helped collect commitments from a 4-star receiver duo during the 2016 cycle. Justin Layne (Ohio) and Cameron Chambers (New Jersey) are both on board.
Top Targets: Several pass-catchers remain points of interest for Samuel, a list headlined by 4-star Detroit standout Donnie Corley. He also serves as the primary recruiter for 4-star Penn State cornerback pledge Lavert Hill, a Michigan product, and in-state running back Martell Pettaway.
Ja'Juan Seider (West Virginia)
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Coaching Position: running backs coach
Background: Ja'Juan Seider starred at quarterback in college, earning All-American honors at Florida A&M. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2000 but soon worked his way back to Florida as a high school coach.
Seider served as a graduate assistant at West Virginia in 2008 before becoming the running backs coach at Marshall. He returned to the Mountaineers in 2013.
Key Recent Commitments: West Virginia's Sunshine State recruiting pipeline has been paramount to the program's success, and it's in good hands with Seider. His recent 4-star Florida finds feature 2015 signees Jovon Durante (wide receiver) and Tyrek Cole (cornerback).
Seider also helped secure a signature from 4-star 2014 North Carolina running back Donte Thomas-Williams, who could emerge as a crucial contributor this fall.
Top Targets: Look for Seider to continue his diligence in South Florida, with wide receiver Keyshawn Young and safety Devin Studstill emerging as possibilities. Tennessee receiver Rontavius Groves and North Carolina running back Kennedy McKoy have also maintained contact.
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Tavita Pritchard (Stanford)
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Coaching Position: quarterbacks and wide receivers coach
Background: Tavita Pritchard is another coach who previously played at his current place of employment. He started 20 games at quarterback before being replaced by some guy named Andrew Luck.
He stuck around with Stanford after his career, rapidly working his way up from volunteer assistant to position coach.
Key Recent Commitments: Pritchard has been instrumental in many of the Cardinal's most highly publicized recruiting pickups. He helped lead the charge for 5-star 2014 Texas defensive end Solomon Thomas, who shocked many with his decision to play at Stanford.
He helped convince all-time California receptions leader Trent Irwin to play in Palo Alto rather than follow high school quarterback Brady White to Arizona State. Pritchard recently landed pledges from top-ranked 2016 California quarterback K.J. Costello and 4-star Texas tight end Kaden Smith.
Top Targets: Stanford recently hosted 4-star Georgia wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe for a two-day campus visit.
"Coach Pritchard seemed like a good guy and a smart coach," Imatorbhebhe told Bleacher Report. "We got to sit down and watch some film together."
Pritchard surely has his eyes on other receiver possibilities, including Brandon Burton (California) and Simi Fehoko (Utah).
Kendal Briles (Baylor)
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Coaching Position: offensive coordinator
Background: The son of Baylor head coach Art Briles may be standing in his father's shadow, but the 32-year-old is quickly carving out his own name as a coaching mind and recruiting ace. Kendal Briles was promoted to offensive coordinator in December and is entering his eighth season in Waco.
He previously served as wide receivers coach, training four All-Americans in seven years. Briles was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame for an immensely successful high school career at quarterback, advancing to play defensive back and wide receiver at Texas and eventually Houston.
Key Recent Commitments: He helped lure former Texas Tech quarterback commit Jarrett Stidham, a coveted national recruit, last signing day and already landed 2016 quarterback Zach Smith.
Briles was also the primary recruiter for 2014 freshman All-American wide receiver KD Cannon, a former 5-star prospect.
Top Targets: Former Baylor wide receiver commit Tren'Davian Dickson, who set an all-time national record with 39 touchdown catches last season, could still return to the class. Fellow top-tier in-state receiver Devin Duvernay and 4-star Houston safety Eric Monroe are also firmly on Briles' radar.
Deshea Townsend (Mississippi State)
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Coaching Position: cornerbacks coach
Background: Many football fans are probably familiar with Deshea Townsend's recent career as an NFL cornerback. He helped the Pittsburgh Steelers earn a pair of Super Bowl titles before retiring in 2010.
The former Alabama standout started his coaching career with the Arizona Cardinals, where Townsend served as a defensive assistant for two seasons. Mississippi State hired him in 2013.
Key Recent Commitments: Townsend remains relatively new to the recruiting aspect of coaching in college football but has helped set the stage for continued defensive success in Starkville. He played a key role in bringing a pair of cornerbacks —Maurice Smitherman and Chris Stamps—to campus in the 2015 class.
His 2016 haul is highlighted by Alabama defensive tackle Caleb Tillman and in-state cornerback Lashard Durr.
Top Targets: Townsend is going head-to-head with his alma mater for several premier Alabama prospects, headlined by 5-star defenders Marlon Davidson and Lyndell Wilson. He'll also attempt to add Louisiana cornerbacks Andraez Williams and Kristian Fulton to his positional collection.
Travaris Robinson (Auburn)
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Coaching Position: defensive backs coach
Background: It seems like just yesterday that Travaris Robinson was a mainstay in the Auburn defensive secondary. The former Atlanta Falcon and Tampa Bay Buccaneer returned to his alma mater last winter, following a stint as Florida's defensive backs coach.
He previously served as a defensive assistant at Southern Miss, Western Kentucky and Texas Tech.
Key Recent Commitments: The Gators offensive attack sputtered during Robinson's time in Gainesville, but he helped make sure the defensive was well-equipped to keep things competitive. His biggest prospect acquisitions included coveted cornerbacks Jalen Tabor and Vernon Hargreaves III, who is projected as a top-10 NFL draft pick next spring.
He quickly went to work on the recruiting trail after arriving at Auburn, helping flip 4-star safety Tim Irvin from Texas. Robinson was the primary recruiter for late-signing-day additions Javarius Davis and Carlton Davis, both 4-star Florida talents.
Top Targets: Based on his recent stay in Florida, he is an ideal recruiter within the state. His main concerns there include 4-star cornerbacks Khalil Ladler and Chauncey Gardner. Georgia safety Nigel Warrior also rates highly on the list.
Robinson remains in pursuit of Florida safety commit Spencer Perry, who has kept Auburn in the picture.
"T-Rob can relate well with anybody, and he's the kind of coach who tells you things how they really are—not just what you want to hear," Perry told Bleacher Report. "One of the coolest things about junior day was when my parents and I sat down with him while he explained his defensive game plan and how I would fit in it."
Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue unless otherwise noted.
Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.
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