Recruiting Mail

Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, and nonathletic institutional publications at any time, but most of the mailings arrive during your sophomore year.

Getting mail is better than not getting mail, but getting mail only means they know about you. Getting mail does not mean a scholarship offer will follow. Most schools have 500-plus players on their mailing lists and sign around 25 kids a year.

You will also receive questionnaires in the mail-fill them all out. Look at each one of them as a job application-even from the schools you have zero interest in.

Ask yourself: If they were the only one to offer you a scholarship, and it came down to them or you having to pay to go to school, would you mind having a degree from that school on your wall?

A lot of questionnaires will ask you to rate your interest in their school or rank schools you are interested in.

You would never apply for a job at Coca-Cola and tell them you like Pepsi, Dr. Pepper and Sprite better.

Create as many opportunities for yourself as you can by returning every questionnaire, ranking your interest in that school as high as possible, and remember it's a long way to Signing Day. You never know what school will be your new favorite.

A good quote to remember when talking to coaches early on in the process is: "I have dreamed my whole life of being a [insert mascot name here]."

Resumes are a huge component of how you can make a first impression on a coach and provide them with measurable data that can be compared with other recruits.

• Make sure you spend time creating your resume by sophomore year and keep it updated constantly.
• There are hundreds of examples online-from simple to fancy.
• Printouts can be easier to stuff into questionnaire envelopes.
• Consider using Canva or some other app to create an online resume.
• Make sure to link that online resume in your social media.
• Add a QR code on a printed resume that links to an always-updated website.

Tape Don't Lie

It's critical to create a way for coaches to see your film, whether that's through Hudl, YouTube, etc. Your highlight video is your greatest shot at getting a coach's attention. Keep consistently updating your videos-put in the work.

• Put your best plays first! Coaches will make their minds up on viewing a video in the first 15-30 seconds. If you don't have anything to get their attention, they will turn it off.
• Don't add music! There should not be music on your video, especially music with explicit language. This is a recruiting video, not a music video.

Highlight Video Tips

• Use spot shadows, circles, or arrows: Make it easy to identify you. Use a spot shadow and/or freeze the tape for two or three seconds before each play and highlight yourself with an arrow. Many times, the video isn't high enough quality to easily identify you on each play. Most coaches expect the video to have spot shadows now.
• Use All 22 video: Use wide-angle footage so you can see all 22 players in the same shot. Avoid isolation plays unless the video is from a camp or event where you're battling one-on-one.
• Exceptions: Some coaches will also arrange for footage to be taken from the end zone in a tight shot to show the 10 players on the line of scrimmage. This type of film can be really beneficial for offensive and defensive linemen and linebackers because it shows college coaches the alignment of players and their footwork.

What to Include at the Start of Your Video

• First name, last name
• Height, weight
• Position(s) played
• Player photo
• Phone number, email address
• Cumulative GPA, ACT and/or SAT scores (if you have them)
• Your head coach's name
• Head coach's phone and email address

Include the same slide at the end and could also include one that features player's accolades, rankings, and postseason honors.

Highlight Video Creation Tools

• Hudl (with tutorials on creating and sharing highlights)
• Adobe Premiere
• iMovie
• CapCut
• Canva
• Final Cut
• Inshot
• Videoshop

If you choose to do it yourself, there are plenty of sound-and sometimes free-options. And doing it yourself can allow you to make special and unique edits that Hudl doesn't allow.

Quarterback

• Variety, early and often
• Velocity throws (outs, slants, digs)
• Arm strength throws (posts and go's)
• Touch throws (corners, fades, screens)
• Out-of-pocket throws
• Movement in pocket
• Scrambling/running in the open field

Running Back

• Homerun balls to see flat-out speed
• Receptions to show off ball skills
• Runs that highlight cutting ability and physicality
• Pass protection or blocking in space
• Dynamic special teams play

Wide Receivers

• Deep balls to highlight ball skills and speed
• Short routes to show off RAC (run after catch) ability
• 50/50 balls
• Blocking
• Dynamic special teams play

Tight Ends

• Hand in the ground blocking
• Inline route running
• Flexed-out blocking to show movement in space
• Flexed-out route running
• Dynamic special teams play

Offensive Line

• Mix best run, pass, and blocks in space
• For the run game, show a variety of base blocks, climbing to the second level, and pulling
• For pass pro, highlight your success against different techniques
• For blocks in space, use clips of you downfield on a screen or similar play

Defensive Line

• Unblocked sacks/TFL's are nice, but let's see you make plays being blocked as well
• Show success defeating run blocks/splitting double teams to make plays
• Show off multiple pass-rush moves
• High motor/hustle plays where you chase the ball

Outside Linebacker

• Mix of pass rush and coverage clips
• Show pass rush, both lined up on the line of scrimmage or blitzing from depth
• Show zone drop to show ability to redirect and run in space
• Show man coverage on tight ends, slot receivers, and/or running backs
• High motor/hustle plays where you chase the ball
• Dynamic special teams play

Inside Linebacker

• Strength in the box, defeating blocks, and finishing tackles
• Change of direction and short area quickness
• Show zone drop to show ability to redirect and run in space
• Show man coverage on tight ends, slot receivers, and/or running backs
• High motor/hustle plays where you chase the ball
• Dynamic special teams plays

Defensive Backs

• Interceptions are nice, but eight picks on bad balls aren't all you have to offer
• Off-man with backpedal and different transitions (turn and run, break on out routes, squeeze inside routes)
• Press man!
• Zone techniques
• Physicality
• High motor/hustle plays where you chase the ball
• Dynamic special teams play

Specialists

• Variety is key as 10 touchbacks or XP in a row is overkill
• Leg strength on kickoffs
• Field goals that highlight range first and ball get-up as well
• Punts for distance, hang time, and punts to pin deep
• Tackles to show physicality
• Any fakes to show athleticism

Social media, when used properly, can be a great recruiting tool. Recruits can use social media to contact coaches, show coaches what kind of recruit they are, and even gain the attention of college coaches who weren't previously recruiting them.

Consider your social media another form of an online resume-so you'll want to scrub/delete anything that you wouldn't want a coach or your grandma to see or read.

Football coaches are most active on X (Twitter), but do track Instagram, TikTok, etc. Countless stories of recruits who lost an offer or a scholarship because of poor social media choices.

Coaches are always watching!

Coach Research on Social Media

• Research by Cornerstone Reputation in 2020 found that 83% of college coaches said their staff conducted online research on recruits-the number is probably higher now.
• Some coaches even use fake accounts to evaluate student-athletes and social media accounts.
• Coaches turn to social media to get a better understanding of a recruit's personality and character.

When Coaches Can Contact You

• Recruits can reach out to college coaches on social media at any time at any level of competition. Whether or not they can respond depends on when you are in the recruiting calendar.
• For D-I, rules allow college coaches to start reaching out to recruits via all electronic communications, including texting, emailing, and social media direct messages, on June 15 before the start of their junior year of high school.
• D-II coaches can reach out to recruits starting June 15 after the athlete's sophomore year via electronic communications.
• D-III and NAIA coaches don't have any restrictions on when they can begin contacting recruits.

You know schools are interested when you start getting likes!

Social Media Bio Tips

• Use your real name!
• Include basics: High School (spell the full name out), height/weight, email address, NCAA ID number, GPA/ACT & SAT scores, position, and current link to recent highlight video.
• Use a camp or combine photo to help coaches recognize you at other events.

Three is the Magic Number

• The magic number is three when sending direct messages on social media to coaches.
• You should only DM a coach three times-if they haven't responded within those three attempts, move on and stop wasting time and effort with coaches who are obviously ghosting you.
• Find three other schools to direct message.
• You should have three things when reaching out: Your transcript, ACT/SAT scores, and your film.
• "Check me out, coach" won't get your film evaluated, no matter how many times you send it to a coach.

A mistake on social media during the recruiting process can be costly-$100,000 in lost scholarship costly. There are endless stories about players losing scholarships because of their actions. Check out some of these headlines:

• Pinole teen athlete loses college scholarship after rant caught on camera
• Florida revokes football scholarship after video surfaces of recruit using racial slur
• Track athlete's scholarship pulled for offensive TikToks
• Another softball recruit loses her scholarship
• Football recruit loses scholarship to Michigan because of Twitter
• Top QB recruit loses scholarship after posting video saying N-word in rap song
• NDSU athlete from Minnesota has scholarship revoked over offensive TikToks
• Riverhead senior loses scholarship following racially-charged Snapchat post

Social Media Dos

• DO show off your skills! Don't be shy about highlighting your accomplishments.
• DO get social with coaches! Follow them and their programs online. Like, comment, and share their posts to show you're interested. If they follow you, send a thank you note!
• DO show your smarts! Grades matter, so share your academic achievements too.
• DO build a positive brand! Social media can show who you are as a person. Highlight your character, leadership, and community involvement.
• DO network! Connect with current and former athletes at your target schools through social media.

Social Media Don'ts

• DON'T use bad language, racist or sexist stuff, or get too political. Coaches are looking for players who are respectful and represent their program well.
• DON'T post inappropriate pics! Grandma wouldn't approve of nudity, alcohol, or drugs, and neither do college coaches. If you've posted those pics or your friends tagged you in them, delete them ASAP!
• DON'T be a Negative Nancy. Keep your cool online. Posting angry or jealous rants isn't a good look. Remember, social media is like your resume during recruiting.
• DON'T be lazy. Posting about skipping school or practice shows coaches you're not committed.
• DON'T break NCAA rules on social media. There are rules about when coaches can contact you. If a coach contacts you at the wrong time and you engage, it could mess up YOUR eligibility.
• DON'T overexpose personal life. Maintain boundaries between your personal and public life on social media, avoiding oversharing personal information or details that could compromise your privacy and safety.
• DON'T neglect privacy settings, especially on X/Twitter. Review and adjust your privacy settings on social media to control who can view your content and interact with you online. Limit the visibility of your posts and profile to ensure that only trusted individuals, such as friends, family, and college coaches, have access to your information.

Social media can be a valuable asset for student-athletes navigating the college sports recruiting process when used responsibly and strategically. Remember, your online presence is an extension of your personal brand, so approach social media with intentionality, professionalism, and integrity to maximize its impact on your recruiting journey.