Coaches are using cryptic tweets to circumvent recruiting rules

Thu, Dec 19, 2013, 2:26 PM

As we get closer to national signing day on Feb. 5, coaches are doing what they can to secure the commitments – and ultimately the signatures – of some of the nation’s top and undecided recruits.

Some are sending recruits ridiculous letters, others are sending them more letters than they can possibly read and others are using Twitter in ways that walk the NCAA line for permissible contact.

What I like about "THE" 2014 DT from KY is the explosive power he can generate from his lower body! Truly impressive! The Guy is a BEAST!
— JR Sandlin (@JR_Sandlin) December 19, 2013

The popular theory is that Sadlin’s tweet was about three-star defensive tackle Matt Elam from Elizabethtown, Ky., even though Sandlin doesn’t specifically mention him by name.

By not using his name, Sandlin does a nice job of avoiding an NCAA violation. LSU coach Les Miles decided to take a cue from Sandlin and indirectly tweet out his affection for the nation’s No. 1 running back Leonard Fournette.

#Geaux Buga Nation !!! — Les Miles (@LSUCoachMiles) December 19, 2013

As noted by The Big Lead, the term “Buga Nation” is used throughout Fournette’s Twitter timeline and Fournette even retweeted Miles tweet.

Like Sandlin, Miles isn’t committing an NCAA violation, but he is getting a recruit’s attention during what is supposed to be a recruiting dead period.

Coaches are always trying to get around recruiting rules and this is just another way to tiptoe around the system. Sandlin even acknowledged as much in a now-deleted tweet: