Countless student-athletes dream of playing college football, but only a select few ever achieve this goal. The recruiting process in college football has a competitiveness that other sports cannot match, making it increasingly necessary for all prospective players to know the rules and use them to their advantage. It takes more than talent to get to this level, as drawing enough attention to yourself goes a long way in attracting the interest of a college coach.
Step 1
Begin the process of finding an interested college team during your freshman year. The NCAA Eligibility Center reports that all student-athletes must complete the required core course in high school in order to compete in college sports, so you must focus on your academics as well. Put your best foot forward, as coaches now begin identifying potential players during seventh or eighth grade.
Step 2
Assemble a list of colleges you want to attend. According to NCSA Sports, you should consider between 10 and 20 percent of the colleges that offer your sport, which means that you could end up with a list of around 200 schools. Consider all of these schools, since you never know how much interest you will generate.
Step 3
Build up your speed and weight in order to reach the average requirements. NCSA Sports states that NCAA schools have average measurable stats for speed, height and weight which they look for in a football player based on the player's position. Play a position in high school based on your measurable stats, as this gives you the best chance of receiving interest.
Step 4
Avoid believing that a college coach will find you because you have performed well in high school. Athletes Wanted reports that future stars like Jerry Rice and Walter Payton did not receive interest from colleges after high school, despite setting performance records at those schools. Make yourself known to these coaches by contacting them throughout high school, which will increase their likelihood of watching you while scouting games.
Step 5
Research walk-on information at various colleges if you do not receive scholarship offers. According to ESPN, NCAA teams can award only 85 scholarships to their players. This means that the rest of the roster will contain walk-on players who did not receive scholarship offers, but who have the talent to play at the NCAA level.
Tips and Warnings
- Remember that many NFL players have come from NCAA Division I-AA and NCAA Division II schools. Consider going to a junior college and improving your grades if you do not meet eligibility.
- Not every person who generates interest from a school will receive an offer, so do not get your hopes up too early.
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