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A lot has been made about spring game attendance in the Southeast this year, with head coaches and fan bases alike worrying about crowd size and the impact it can have on recruiting. With that in mind, we caught up with several recruits at the recent Atlanta stop of the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp presented by adidas to get their thoughts on the topic.
Does spring game attendance matter to you?
“I do look at the attendance and I do pay attention to that. UNC should improve a lot this year, so I expect their attendance to pick up in the future. Their crowd was not great this year though. Schools like Ohio State and Nebraska pack their stadium out for spring games, so that is impressive to me.” – Rivals250 wide receiver Joshua Downs
“Me personally? I don’t really care about attendance. I think maybe some other people, but I don’t at all.” – Rivals100 Georgia defensive line commit Jamil Borroughs
“It’s not not a big deal. I just want to see the team play and see what the team does.” – Rivals250 linebacker B.J. Ojulari
“I mean, yeah. I care a little bit because you have to see if the fans are all about the school. You know?” – Three-star Georgia Tech wide receiver commit Ryan King
“I don’t care about that at all. I mean, I’m coming to see the game. I’m not coming to see the fans. I understand the fans are a big part of a college, but I’m there for the game.” -- 2021 Alabama defensive lineman Tim Keenan
“Yes. It has a huge impact because you want to see the fans are interested. Attendance does matter and I like what I saw at South Carolina.” — 2021 Georgia offensive lineman Amarius Mims
“I guess it does matter. You want to see a good crowd, but I’m really just there to see a game.” — Three-star offensive lineman Sean Hill
“Yes. It is to let everyone know that it matters. It shows the level of interest.” — Three-star Alabama offensive lineman Javion Cohen
“I went to Clemson’s spring game and there were a lot of fans there. It was loaded. I think it’s a fun environment but I don’t think really think it’s something recruits are paying that close of attention to.” -- 2022 Georgia running back Quintavious Lockett
“Yes sir. When you’re on the field the vibe from the fans feeds into you your play. When the fans are hype, you want to be hype with them. So you want to see a school’s fans taking interest in the team.” – Three-star Auburn defensive line commit Demarjhe Lewis
What are you looking for when you go to a spring game?
“I’m looking at the environment. You are going to spend four years of your life there, you need to see what it is like on the field. “ — Mims
“As an offensive lineman, I’m looking at my position. And I’m looking how the coach gets along with the players.” — Cohen
“At Georgia Tech, I’ll be looking at the offense. They are switching it around and I want to see what they are doing.” — King
“I look at the depth at my position and where I would fit in.” — Hill
What stood out in the spring game you attended?
“The offense at UNC overall caught my attention. Sam Howell at quarterback did too. He is a good one.” – Downs
“Nothing really caught my attention. It was Alabama. It was what I expected it to be.” – Burroughs
“I got there (Tennessee) a little late, but I was just looking at the defense and how they use the outside linebackers. Mostly, though, I was just watching my friend [Ramel Keyton]. I was excited to watch him play.” -- Ojulari
“The Clemson defensive line is still strong. They came out swinging, especially the white teams. Then for Alabama, the nose guard. He really played well the whole time. He showed me something.” – Keenan
“No. 15 at Florida State (WR Tamorrion Terry). He is a man.” – Cohen
“AJ Terrell really impressed me. He made a few big plays for them.” – Lockett
