In this episode of Moms in the Huddle, Erika and Jillian sit down with special guest EJ Holland, national recruiting analyst with On3 Sports, to take a closer look at the recruiting star system.

What does it really mean to be labeled a 5-star, 4-star, or 3-star athlete? Who decides those ratings, and how much weight do they actually carry when it comes to recruiting? EJ pulls back the curtain on how the system works, where the hype comes from, and what parents and athletes need to know to keep perspective.

Together, we unpack the myths and realities of the star system, giving moms, dads, and athletes the insider knowledge to navigate recruiting with wisdom. Because at the end of the day—it’s not the stars that define your child’s future, it’s their character and work ethic.

In this special episode of Moms in the Huddle, Erika and Jillian invite their very first guests—their sons—to share the mic. Joining the conversation are John Blackwell, Division I basketball player at the University of Wisconsin, and Semaj Morgan, Division I football player at the University of Michigan.

Together, this mother–son huddle dives into how the journey began. From early practices to game-day memories, John and Semaj reflect on their paths to becoming student-athletes at two of the nation’s top programs. Erika and Jillian open up about the sacrifices, prayers, and lessons learned along the way—revealing what it means to raise athletes while shaping young men of character, faith, and grit.

This episode is about more than sports—it’s about family, faith, perseverance, and the powerful bond between moms and their boys.