About GrassRoots Prospects
What is GrassRoots Prospects and what do they do?
GRP is a full service scouting and marketing company that provides Universities in Canada and US with information on athletes that are eligible to receive scholarships for football at the university level. We also provide information to players and parents on the recruiting process and how to get a scholarship at that level. GRP promotes character, leadership, and academic development to all youth football players and parents and provides opportunities to showcase player skills and achievements.
What motivated us to start GRP?
Our experience as both high-school stars, and presently, as coaches in youth football is what motivated us to start GRP. Over the last few years of coaching, our players asked us the same question; “How do I get recruited?”
After answering it over and over, Godfrey and I thought, there must be an easier way to help these kids? Our idea of GRP was born and the website was created. It started as a way to inform more players about the recruiting process and give them the direction that is necessary for them to achieve their academic dreams, through athletics. It has since evolved into what you see today, with profiles, combines, partnerships, forums, character building, and other resources for players and coaches.
What separates GRP from other scouting companies/agencies in Canada?
I think there are a few things that separate us from everyone else. Firstly, We are not in it for the money. Over the last 12 years, we have coached, mentored, and raised money for kids involved with youth football. We have invested our time and money out of our own pockets to help others achieve. We both had great influences in our lives growing up and they sacrificed for us. It was, and is our turn to pay it forward.
Secondly, we speak the truth. We don’t promise every kid that they’re going to get a scholarship. We only help them reach their potential. Whether they play in the N.C.A.A. or in the C.I.S., we still want them to become the best player, and individual they can be, and potentially get a scholarship towards University. We help them in every way we can; by providing a medium to showcase their talent, by handing out videotape to Canadian and American coaches, or meeting up in a field to show them a few drills and tell them what they need to work on. We are here for the relationships and to help Canadian football become what Canadian hockey already is.
Thirdly, we show our players the ropes through our experience. Godfrey and I were both highly recruited players. We were both on all-star teams and we both played above average football. Godfrey had help and mentors to guide him, I didn’t. We both went down different paths. Godfrey went to the NCAA, and I went to the C.I.S. Each was a different experience, but both provided valuable lessons for us to pass on. We have perspective on football from both sides of the border at the University level.
Lastly, we attack the recruiting process from both Canadian and U.S. points of reference. Godfrey now coaches and teaches in Ohio, while I work and live in Toronto. I work on gathering recruits here, while Godfrey works on selling them there. He is also able to deal with NCAA coaches and administrators directly, while I deal with C.I.S. schools directly. In essence, we are in two places at once.
What type of turn out did you have for our first combine?
Our first combine was amazing. We ended up with 120 players, from grades 7-12. I was really excited to see the peewee players out. They are the ones we can truly help.
How does GRP Combine differ than some other ones in Ontario/Canada? What do we offer that other combines don't?
Our combine is unique in Canada because we provide more then just times and measurements. We provide a competitive environment with top of the line equipment, and most importantly experience and information.
The biggest problem with Canadian combines is quality control. All of the American schools “hand time” the athletes at their combines/camps. This is because those who run the events are in control of the stopwatch. They can believe the times if they record it. If they can’t time the athletes themselves, the next best thing is to be timed electronically. The consistency is always present with laser times. I have been to way too many combines where the timer screws up, but instead of letting the athlete rerun the drill; they just make up a time. That’s not fair to the player or the coaches. They deserve what they pay for. And that is accuracy.
We also try to provide an atmosphere of professionalism. We run a “pro-style” warm up, and get right to business. We give the coaches and scout a birds-eye view of the action, which puts a little pressure on the player. Something they had better get used to at the next level, and at future combines and camps. We also partnered with one of the G.T.A.’s premiere training facilities, Advantage 4 Athletes, in Markham, Ontario, to run all the drills.
It is GRP’s mission to never let a player go home empty handed. We handed out information packages on the recruiting process in Canada and the U.S., eligibility requirements, academic requirements, and character building initiatives. We even threw in a Grassroots Prospects T-shirt!
Our biggest distinction is that we videotape the players at each drill, and put together a video profile on our website that is theirs. These profiles will be uploaded and players will be able to attach their highlight tapes to it, and update it, giving them an opportunity to show scouts their most current information all in one place! We feel this will help all scouts access Canadian talent with ease and save them recruiting costs by saving them a trip, and providing them a glimpse of a player before deciding on whether or not to recruit him.
What were we hoping to accomplish after the combine was over?
We were just trying to get a buzz going. We tried to create a favourable response and some word of mouth advertising. I think it worked! We will see in May when we run our next combine, which will be bigger and better than the first, I promise! We also have some other events up our sleeves. Some big surprises. Things that have never been done in Canada before…. Stay tuned to our website or facebook group. Here’s a hint: Keep the end of June and July circled on your calendar.
A description of 3-4 players who stood out at the combine.
That’s a tough one. We had so many! Three or four players that stood out were Tevaun Smith, Eli Ankou, Kema Nnawuchi, and Horatio Finnikin.
Tevaun, who’s in grade 11, has such explosiveness He has a great vertical, and is a dominant receiver. He also runs track well.
Eli is a monster defensive end for his age and is going to have a breakout season in Ottawa for sure. He’s already 6’3” and 260lbs and he is only in grade ten! He just needs to work on his speed and agility.
Horatio Finnikin, a corner in Mississauga, caught me by surprise. I didn’t know much about him, but he was second fastest with a 4.69 forty.
Kema Nnawuchi, a running back out of Holy Trinity, was the fastest with a blazing 4.60 forty. He has a 32.5” vertical and jumped 9’6” in the broad jump! A well rounded athlete for sure!
Overall though, we had a great group of athletes. With some hard work, they will improve immensely. I look forward to seeing them again at our next combine!
What's the process if players want to sign up with GRP?
It’s really easy to do. To get a player profile, all you have to do is show up to our combine and get recorded. We will take their headshot, their information, and their drill video and post it on our website. If they have an existing highlight tape, we can attach it to their profile as well. We will also have some other features available to keep it as current as possible.
A list and description of the services we offer players who are hoping to be scouted by NCAA and CIS schools:
We offer help with highlight tapes, SAT’s, eligibility information, academic assistance, coaching, training, and virtually anything a player needs in order to be scouted. We use the information gathered at our events to rank players in each grade, at each position, and let scouts know about them.
Our biggest service is our online profiles. Scouts and coaches will be able to view kids from their home or office, and get a well-rounded image of the athlete. This will help them decide whether a player is worth recruiting. It will save them a lot of time, money and effort. It is a truly beneficial service for both athlete and coach. We want to make the recruiting process easier for everyone.
What other plans does GRP have to help prospects in the future?
We have a few surprises up our sleeves! Some of our events are new to the Canadian scene and we are looking over our options, and working out deals to bring kids exposure as cheaply as possible. We want the best bang for the buck for Canadian players. You’ll have to stay tuned to our website for that information!
Other information on GRP.
When Matthew Marquardt was 18, his father passed away from Cancer. That year, his family started an annual memorial golf tournament called Paul’s Kids. His involvement in youth football was substantial. They decided to raise money for underprivileged youth to play football in North York. That was in 1997. Thirteen years later, they have raised over $28,000 for youth football. We will continue to raise money in hopes of helping even more kids.
GrassRoots Prospects Relationships:
Advantage 4 Athletes: A4A is a full service athletic training facility with a certified staff that is capable of testing athletes in measured drills. We teamed up with them so they could promote their business and we use their services to gauge athletic ability based on a core set of drills; the forty-yard dash, the vertical jump, broad jump, and the shuttle drill. There is no financial partnership or exchange with A4A. It is a trade-off, service for marketing.
DNA Training: DNA is a full service speed and agility training company. They work with A4A and have joined them in our partnership. There is no financial partnership or exchange with DNA Training. It is also a trade-off, service for marketing.
Marchants Sports: A clothing and screening company that provides us with gear for a reduced rate. They supply our printed shirts, sweaters, and tracksuits. We pay cost on all our items in return; they receive their logo on our gear.
Future Aces Foundation: We are working with this non-profit group to raise achievements in character building, leadership, academics, and athletics. We have helped them design a football specific platform to present to community organizations and the various school boards involved. There is no financial partnership involved.
Volunteers: At our combines and showcases, we require friends from local businesses and community football programs to assist us in running the event. Each volunteer helps with registration, direction, and recording the combine/showcase results. Matthew Marquardt and Godfrey Lewis (GRP) lead the staff and run the event. They have full control, and make all final decisions.
Football University: FBU is an American organization that believes in teaching the fundamentals and providing opportunities for our youth football players, something that Grassroots Prospects also strives for. FBU provides the best youth football camp in the world. FBU has the best coaching available, and offer players a variety of outlets to display their skills. They are having their first non-contact football camp in Canada in April. GrassRoots Prospects helped market and sell the camp. It takes place April 9th to April 11th. (A good opportunity to see what the NCAA camps will look like) We will only be assisting in this camp with registration, and medial tasks.
