The Transfer Portal Almost Ended My Football Career. Here's What I Wish I Knew

The Transfer Portal Almost Ended My Football Career. Here's What I Wish I Knew

This offseason was littered with stats and stories of transfer portal athletes who never made it out. Athletes who didn't realize just how touch it would be to find a new home. Andy Gerasenko could have been one of these athletes. He found out his program was dropping from D1 to D3 AFTER he had already committed to them his senior year. Decided to stick it out his freshman year, but entered the portal in January. What followed was five months in the portal, over a thousand schools narrowed down to a handful of real conversations, and a reality check that most athletes only find out about after it's too late. In this episode, Andy gets completely honest about what led him to the portal, what it actually feels like to watch commit announcements roll in on social media while you're still waiting, why he kept looking for another D1 program to compete at, and what finally led him to Lock Haven and why he has zero regrets about where he landed. He also breaks down the three things every athlete needs to understand before they ever enter the portal: the credits that might not transfer, the scholarships that disappear the moment you leave, and why patience is the hardest and most important skill in the whole process. If you play college or high school football and the portal is something you're thinking about (or if you just want to understand what it really looks like from inside the portal) this one is worth your time. Follow Andy: * X: https://x.com/Andy_Gerasenko Connect with Nick: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/ [https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/] * X: https://x.com/nicklemkerd [https://x.com/nicklemkerd]

What College Football Coaches Look for When Recruiting High School Athletes | Head Coach Reveals

If coaches have stopped responding to you, there's a reason... and most athletes never find out what it is. Brant McAdams is the head football coach at Pacific Lutheran University. He played college football himself and has spent years making the final call on who gets recruited and who quietly gets moved off the board. In this episode, he shares what that process actually looks like from the inside. We cover what coaches evaluate beyond your highlight film, why follow-through matters more than most athletes think, how to handle showcases without wasting money, what your social media is telling coaches without you knowing it, and the real reason parents contacting coaches on their athlete's behalf can hurt more than help. Brant also breaks down what most families get wrong about D3 schools, including why the sticker price scares people away from some of the best fits and best financial packages out there. If you play high school football and want to play at the next level, this episode has answers most coaches won't say out loud. What are you doing to build relationships with potential colleges? Connect with Brant:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachbrantmcadams/ [https://www.instagram.com/coachbrantmcadams/]X: https://x.com/BrantMcAdams [https://x.com/BrantMcAdams] Connect with Nick:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/ [https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/]X: https://x.com/nicklemkerd [https://x.com/nicklemkerd]

Why You Can't Hit in Games But Look Great in the Cage | Baseball Hitting Coach

If you're putting in the reps and still not seeing results in games, the problem probably isn't your swing. Rob Crews is the founder of Complete Game and creator of the See Think Move method. He's worked with college programs like UCLA, Florida, and LSU and consulted with MLB organizations including the Padres and Mariners. His take: most hitters are training the wrong thing entirely. In this episode, Rob breaks down why everything before the swing determines whether it's a good one, what's actually causing your slumps and the three things every hitter needs to start doing right now to hit the ball harder more consistently. We also get into why travel ball itself isn't the problem and what parents can do to raise better athletes. If you play baseball or softball and you want to hit better in games (not just in the cage) this one is for you. What's one action you can take to be a better hitter? Connect with Rob: * Website: https://www.complete.game/ [https://www.complete.game/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/completegame/ [https://www.instagram.com/completegame/] * X: https://x.com/CompleteGame [https://x.com/CompleteGame] Connect with Nick: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/ [https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/] * X: https://x.com/nicklemkerd [https://x.com/nicklemkerd]

What to Say to Your Athlete After a Bad Game | Chad Hermansen Mental Performance Coach

Your athlete just had a rough game. They're quiet. You want to help, so you start talking. And that might be the exact moment the damage happens. In this episode, I sat down with Chad Hermansen, first round draft pick, former big leaguer, former MLB scout, and now mental performance coach to talk about what parents are doing after games, in the stands, and at home that is quietly destroying their athlete's confidence and straining their relationship. Chad breaks down why athletes already know what they did wrong, why your frustration in the car ride home is your problem to manage first, and what it actually looks like to be the parent your athlete needs, not the one they dread coming home to. We also get into his self-coaching model from his book The Parent Edge, how to repair a relationship that's already been strained by years of pressure, and the one question you should ask yourself before you ever say anything after a bad game. If you love your athlete and just want to give them what they need to succeed, this one is worth the listen. How do you respond when your athlete gets in the car after a game? Get Chad's book The Parent Edge: https://a.co/d/00o9mzSQ Follow Chad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chadhermansen/ Follow Chad on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mentaledgecoachchad Connect with Nick: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/ * Twitter/X: https://x.com/nicklemkerd

How to Get Noticed by MLB Scouts in High School | Inside the Scouting Process with a Cubs Scout

Most high school baseball players have no idea what MLB scouts are actually looking for, and you're likely focusing on the wrong stuff. In this episode, I sat down with Nate Metzger, a scout for the Chicago Cubs and former college coach, to pull back the curtain on the scouting and recruiting process. We talk about what tools scouts prioritize, how size really factors in, and what separates the guys who get drafted from the ones who get passed over. Nate also breaks down why the jump from high school to college is harder than college to pro ball and what the athletes who make it to the big leagues all have in common, beyond just talent. If you play high school baseball and want to understand what scouts are watching for, how to get on their radar, and what mindset it takes to compete at the next level, this one is for you. Want to reach out to Nate directly with questions about the process? Email him at nmetzger@cubs.com Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicklemkerd/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/nicklemkerd