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Meat Market: Inside the Smash-Mouth World of College Football Recruiting has got to be one of the most interesting reads about college football. The book is written by ESPN Columnist Bruce Feldman and follows former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron as he dives head first into the world of recruiting the class that would change the direction of the program that Orgeron oversaw. It is a particularly interesting read now that Oregeron has been replaced at Ole Miss by former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt.

Feldman is the “fly on the wall” during Ole Miss coaching meetings discussing recruits, particularly in the “war room,” the place where Orgeron did his recruiting work. Feldman reports what coach Orgeron and his coaches say about potential recruits and how Orgeron’s staff identifies and pursues future college stars such as Joe McKnight whom Ole Miss made a serious attempt to sign out of New Orleans. Feldman also reports how certain circumstances during the football season caused the Rebel staff to place a greater importance on “character” players as well as academics in their recruiting strategy.

Feldman explains the use of the Ole Miss summer football camps to identify the “sleeper” recruit which is a tactic of summer football camps all over the country. Orgeron and his staff seemed to embrace the use of the internet recruiting sites using them to boost their own rank with potential recruits by either being the first to pursue a recruit or just by being on a recruit’s short list.

The most exciting part of Felman’s book are the last two chapters as National Signing Day looms closer. This at part of the book is like an intense action-packed 3 hour movie in which circumstances seem to change every 5-10 minutes. Those two chapters follow the most sought after recruits on the Ole Miss board and the reports, rumors, and communications (including text messages) which give the coaches an indication of the direction in which each recruit will or will not go. Feldman seemed to be able to interview some or all of the recruits as well as their families, coaches, mentors, or teachers, etc.

One problem I had with the book is the ability to keep up with all of the different people introduced in the book. Undoubtedly, Feldman met far more than he mentions in the book. I am not really sure how he could help the reader keep up with the ones he mentions. He did provide some helpful reminders, but I often found myself asking about someone he mentioned earlier to try to remember how he or she was mentioned and why.

It is a good read, especially during the spring part of college football when recruiting players for your favorite college football team is still fresh in your minds. Hop on down to your local Borders Bookstore and buy a copy. And, enjoy.