How to Get Recruited for College Football (2025 Complete Guide)

Section 1

The Reality: Numbers You Need to Know

Let's start with the truth. Only about 7% of high school football players will play at any college level. Only 3% will play Division 1. And only a fraction of those will receive full scholarships.

Each FBS program can add 25 new scholarship players per year from a pool of roughly 100,000 high school seniors who think they can play college ball. The math is brutal.

But here's what most people don't understand: the top ~200 recruits get "discovered." They get offers without doing much. Everyone else—including future NFL players—had to work to get noticed.

If you're not a 5-star recruit, you need to be proactive. Waiting to be discovered is not a strategy.

Section 2

The Basics: What Every Recruit Must Do

Before we get to the advanced stuff, you need the fundamentals locked in. This is table stakes.

Academic Eligibility

None of this matters if you can't get into school. The NCAA has minimum requirements, but competitive programs want more.

Complete 16 core courses (4 English, 3 math, 2 science, etc.)
Minimum 2.3 GPA in core courses for D1
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (start sophomore year)
Take the SAT or ACT (even if test-optional schools exist)

Pro tip: When coaches compare two similar players, GPA often becomes the deciding factor. Better grades = less risk for the coach. Less paperwork to get you admitted.

The Highlight Film

Your highlight film is often a coach's first—and sometimes only—look at you. It needs to be excellent.

Keep it 3-5 minutes max
Lead with your best plays (coaches may only watch 30 seconds)
Include your jersey number, position, and height/weight
Show game film, not just practice clips
Include plays where you make mistakes and recover
Upload to Hudl—it's the industry standard

Reaching Out to Coaches

Don't wait for them to find you. Send your film and info to 50-100 schools.

Find the position coach's email on the team website
Write a short, professional email (not your parents)
Include: your Hudl link, stats, GPA, graduation year
Follow up once if you don't hear back—then move on
Cast a wide net: D1, D2, D3, NAIA, JUCO

Camps and Combines

College camps are where offers actually get handed out. Go to as many as you can afford.

Prioritize camps at schools you're interested in
Go to camps as early as the summer after 8th grade
Get your 40 time, vertical, and measurables documented
Introduce yourself to the position coach before and after

Section 3

What Coaches Actually Look For

Coaches have limited scholarships and unlimited risk. They're not just evaluating your talent—they're trying to predict if you'll be worth the investment.

On Film

Do you play fast? (Effort and motor matter)
Can you change direction? (Athleticism over straight-line speed)
Do you make the same mistake twice? (Coachability)
How do you respond after a bad play? (Mental toughness)
Are you in the right position? (Football IQ)

Off Film

This is where most recruits don't realize they're being evaluated:

Your social media (coaches check this—clean it up)
How you talk to them (communication skills, maturity)
How your parents act (red flag if parents are difficult)
What your high school coach says about you
Your body type trajectory (will you grow into the position?)

What coaches CAN'T see on film

Your recovery habits. Your sleep patterns. Your off-field discipline. Whether you'll break down physically in year 3. This is the information gap—and it's where you can stand out. More on this in Section 5.

Section 4

How to Evaluate Programs: 8 Questions to Research

Every coach will tell you their program is the best. Here's how to verify—with data.

1. NFL Development Track Record

Don't just look at wins—look at draft picks. How many players at your position have they sent to the league in the last 5 years?

Example: Ohio State has produced 95 first-round picks (most in NFL history). Texas has had 3 first-rounders in the last 3 years.

Where to find it: 247Sports draft history

2. Coach Stability

Coaches leave. A lot. Before you commit, check how long the head coach has been there and what their contract situation looks like.

Example: Ryan Day (Ohio State) is signed through 2031 at $12.5M/year—he's not leaving. Steve Sarkisian (Texas) is locked in through 2031.

Where to find it: ESPN, school announcements, Google "[coach name] contract extension"

3. NIL Situation

Money matters now. Ask the coach directly: what's the NIL situation for players at your position? Don't be shy—this is part of the decision.

Example: Texas's NIL budget is estimated at ~$37.5M. Ohio State spent $20M last year (highest in the country at the time).

Where to find it: On3 NIL rankings, CBS Sports, local reporting

4. Facilities & Recovery Investment

Tour the weight room, sure. But also ask: Do you have cryotherapy? Sleep tracking? Sports psychologist? Nutrition staff? Programs that invest in recovery are investing in your longevity.

Example: Ohio State's Woody Hayes Athletic Center has cryotherapy chambers and sensory deprivation tanks. Many programs won't publicly disclose what recovery tech they have—that's a signal.

Where to find it: Ask on your visit, check 247Sports facility tour articles

5. Transfer Portal Health

Check who's leaving. If a program loses 5 starters to the portal, ask why. Portal movement tells you about culture, playing time, and whether players are happy.

Example: Ohio State lost zero star players in 2025 and added 10 from the portal. That's a healthy program. If players are fleeing, find out why.

Where to find it: 247Sports transfer portal tracker

6. Academic Strength

99% of college players don't make the NFL. What's your backup plan? If you want to be an engineer, check if they have a top engineering program. Same for business, communications, etc.

Example: Texas ranks #10 in engineering, #6 in business. Ohio State is #20 and #14. If academics matter to you, this data exists.

Where to find it: US News rankings

7. Program Culture & Accountability

This one's harder to find, but it matters. Google "[school] football player arrested" and see what comes up. Look for patterns, not isolated incidents.

Example: Texas has had 4 player incidents (including multiple DWIs) in 2024-25. Ohio State is notably absent from arrest lists and is cited as a program that "keeps players in line."

Where to find it: Google News, local newspapers, The Fulmer Cup (tracks all D1 football arrests)

8. The Question Almost No One Asks

"What's your sleep and recovery protocol?"

If the coach can't answer this clearly, that tells you something. Elite programs—Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State—track sleep with Oura or Whoop. They have dedicated sports science staff. They treat recovery as seriously as practice.

Why this matters: Injuries end careers. Programs that invest in recovery are protecting their investment—and you.

Section 5

The Edge 99% of Recruits Miss

Here's what most recruiting guides won't tell you: coaches are making a $100K+ investment in you. They're betting your body will last 4 years. They're betting you won't be a problem off the field. They're betting you'll recover well from the grind.

The one thing they can't see on film is how you recover.

Elite programs already track this. Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia—they all use wearables like Oura or Whoop to monitor player sleep and recovery. It's becoming standard at the college level.

Why Sleep Data Matters to Coaches

It predicts durability. Poor sleep = higher injury risk. Athletes sleeping <8 hours have 1.7x higher injury rates.
It shows discipline. Consistent sleep patterns indicate someone who takes care of their body—not just when coaches are watching.
It de-risks the investment. If a coach can see 6 months of your sleep data and it's solid, you're a safer bet than someone who's a black box.

How to Start Tracking

You don't need expensive equipment to start:

Free: Use your phone's built-in sleep tracking (iPhone Health, Google Fit). It's not as accurate as a wearable, but it builds the habit.
Budget ($50-100): Fitness trackers like Fitbit or Amazon Halo track sleep decently.
Serious ($200-400): Oura Ring or Whoop are what the pros use. If you can afford it, this is the gold standard.

The play: start tracking now.

When you're on your official visit and the coach asks about your habits, you can say: "I've been tracking my sleep for 6 months. My average is 7.8 hours with 20% deep sleep. I take recovery seriously." That's a differentiator no highlight reel gives you.

Section 6

For Parents: Your Role in the Process

Parents: you're a huge part of this decision. Here's how to help without hurting.

Do This

Help research schools and organize the list
Drive to camps and visits
Ask the questions your son might be too polite to ask
Talk to other parents of current players at the school
Evaluate the academic support and graduation rates
Look into the medical and recovery resources

Don't Do This

Send emails to coaches on your son's behalf
Negotiate with coaches (let your son lead)
Be "that parent" who's difficult or demanding
Make the decision for your son
Badmouth other schools or coaches

Questions Parents Should Ask on Visits

What's the graduation rate for football players specifically?
What happens if my son gets injured and can't play anymore?
What medical support and recovery resources do you have?
Do you track player sleep and recovery? How?
What's your policy on player conduct issues?
How do you handle mental health for players?

Section 7

How to Stand Out from 100,000 Other Recruits

Everyone has a highlight film. Everyone can run a 40. Here's what actually differentiates you:

What Everyone Has

Highlight film
40 time, measurables
GPA and test scores
Coach recommendation

What Almost No One Has

Documented sleep/recovery data. 6+ months of wearable data showing you take care of your body.
Research on the program. When you can cite specific stats about their draft history, coach tenure, and facilities—you show you're serious.
The right questions. Asking about recovery protocols and sleep tracking shows maturity that most 17-year-olds don't have.
A clear "why." Why this school? Why this program? Having a specific, researched answer matters.

The recruit who can show a coach 6 months of solid sleep data is telling them: "I take this seriously. I'm not a risk. I'll last 4 years." That's a message no highlight reel can send.

The Future of Recruiting

Sleep tracking is already standard at elite programs. It's becoming the norm everywhere else. The recruits who start tracking now—before they need to—will have an edge when it matters.

EYES UP helps college programs see what film can't show: how their players recover, sleep, and prepare. If you're a coach interested in bringing sleep intelligence to your program, we'd love to talk.

If you're a recruit, start tracking. Build the habit. And when you get to campus, ask your new coaches if they use a platform like EYES UP. It's the future of player development.

How to Get Recruited for College Football

Recruiting Timeline & Checklist