An Ohio State signee is not the only former recruit feeling gamed by the coaching carousel.
Earlier today, and following up on rumors that surfaced Thursday, the day after National Signing Day, Florida announced that it had hired Chris Rumph to serve as the Gators’ defensive line coach. Rumph had held the same role at Texas, where he helped to recruit, among others, Du’Vonta Lampkin (pictured) as members of UT’s Class of 2015.
The day the Rumph speculation began, Lampkin, a three-star defensive tackle, took to Twitter to let everyone know he had been reassured by UT head coach Charlie Strong that Rumph had not accepted the UF offer.
Getting off the phone with coach strong "coach rumph did not accept the offer" 💯
— 8️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ (@DeeChilllin) February 5, 2015
The same day it was confirmed Rumph had indeed accepted the UF offer and was moving on, Lampkin’s social media tone changed. Significantly.
Really? 2 days after signing day?
— 8️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ (@DeeChilllin) February 6, 2015
Guess i was lied to in my face
— 8️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ (@DeeChilllin) February 6, 2015
Its not even the fact he left. Bc thats what coaches do. Its the fact i was told it wasnt going to happen
— 8️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ (@DeeChilllin) February 6, 2015
Another 2015 defensive line signee, four-star end Charles Omenihu, had a similar, albeit slightly more muted reaction to Rumph’s departure.
It’d be nice if coaches didn’t “mislead” recruits, but they do. It’d be really nice if coaches, ya know, the adults in the equation, were more transparent in situations like these, but they aren’t. It’d also be nice if recruits chose a school for the school and not a coach, but they do.
Such is life when it comes to the vagabond ways of coaches and the decision-making whims of teenagers, which is why, every single year from now until whenever recruiting ceases to exist, we’ll have these types of stories in the days after National Signing Day.
(Photo credit: Rivals.com)