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NCAA Football Recruiting FAQs: How to Get Noticed & Recruited

03/11/2025•9 minute read

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Earning a spot on a college football team isn’t just about talent—it requires strategy, preparation, and a solid understanding of the recruitment process. Coaches evaluate players on both their athletic ability and academic performance, meaning a well-rounded approach is essential for securing offers. From scholarships and eligibility requirements to highlight reels and direct outreach, taking the right steps can help you land an opportunity at your best-fit school.

This FAQ guide answers the most common questions about NCAA football recruiting, breaking down everything from timelines and eligibility to how to connect with coaches and showcase your skills effectively.

Playing NCAA football isn’t just about being the best player on the field—it’s about having the right game plan to get recruited. College coaches are constantly evaluating talent, but they’re also looking for athletes who meet academic requirements, demonstrate strong character, and fit their program’s needs. The recruiting process is competitive, and understanding how it works can make all the difference in securing a roster spot, scholarship, or even a walk-on opportunity.

Whether you’re aiming for a Division 1 powerhouse, a strong D2 or D3 program, or just looking for the best opportunity to continue your football career, knowing when to start, how to communicate with coaches, and how to showcase your skills effectively is key. From building a highlight reel and attending the right camps to navigating the NCAA Eligibility Center, each step plays a crucial role in your recruitment journey.

If you want to maximize your chances of playing college football, you need a strategy that puts you in the best position to succeed. Let’s break it down and get you on the right path to recruitment.

About the Author: Collier, Athletic Strategy Football Specialist

Collier Winters is a former Harvard University quarterback and Ivy League champion who now helps young athletes navigate the NCAA football recruiting process. Growing up in Oklahoma, Collier was a multi-sport athlete but found his greatest success in football. As a high school standout, he was an All-State quarterback and a U.S. Army National Combine invitee, earning over 15 Division 1 scholarship offers, along with opportunities to play at several Ivy League schools. Ultimately, he chose Harvard, where he went on to have an illustrious career.

During his five seasons with the Crimson—three as the starting quarterback—Collier led his team to three Ivy League championships and earned two All-Ivy selections, along with an honorable mention All-American nod. He still holds several Harvard passing records. Before his final season, he was selected as a counselor for the Manning Passing Academy, where he won the prestigious counselor throwing competition, outshining future NFL quarterbacks like Andrew Luck, Kirk Cousins, Ryan Tannehill, and Eli Manning.

Following his collegiate career, Collier played briefly in the Canadian Football League (CFL) before transitioning into coaching and mentoring young quarterbacks. He has served as a high school offensive coordinator and personal QB coach, training multiple quarterbacks who have gone on to play at the college level.

At Crimson Athletics, Collier is passionate about helping student-athletes reach their full potential and navigate the recruitment process with confidence. His experience as both a recruited athlete and a coach allows him to provide the strategic guidance necessary for players to maximize their opportunities and succeed at the next level.

FAQs:

What are the academic eligibility requirements for college football?

“The NCAA academic requirements for football are the same as all other NCAA sports. There are a list of things that are posted on NCAA.org, but they include 16 core course credits, a GPA of 2.3 or above and registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center.”

How do I create a compelling recruiting profile?

“College coaches are looking for athleticism and skill. There are different ways to showcase these things and different positions require different skills and physical characteristics; however, performance is always king. Testing well (40yd dash, vertical, 3 cone drill, etc.) can only take you so far. In the end, it’s going to come down to how well you perform on the football field. ”

What role does my high school coach play in the recruiting process?

“This is really going to vary from high school to high school. Ideally, your high school coach has built many relationships with college coaches over the years as these coaches have recruited many athletes from the program. However, this is not often the case. In most situations, high school coaches will have limited influence with college coaches and limited time to advocate for you. You should certainly leverage whatever you can from your coach, but, ultimately, you need to take ownership of your recruitment process and be as proactive as you can. ”

How important are highlight videos, and what should they include?

“For football, highlight videos are incredibly important. They need to showcase not only your skill set, but also the skill set that is required for your position in order to play at the next level. For example, a linebacker may be able to put together a video with a lot of really hard hits, but if his reads and reaction times after the snap of the ball are slow or hesitant, he is not going to receive a very high evaluation from college coaches. It is important to know what is required at your position in order to play at the next level.”

What factors should I consider when choosing a college program?

““Fit” is always the word that is used when it comes to choosing a college program. When trying to determine what is the best fit for you, many of the critical [football] factors include: coaching style/personality, previous success of the program, previous success of the athletes at your position, offensive/defensive styles and roster depth at your position. Perhaps an underrated factor is weather!”

How do athletic scholarships work, and what are my chances of receiving one?

“Division 1 and Division 2 programs offer athletic scholarships. Each team has a certain number (or amount) of scholarships to offer each year. Coaches will recruit many players, but only offer scholarships to their very top recruits. Only about 2% of high school football players will receive any amount of scholarship. ”

What should I do if I get injured during the recruitment process?

“Focus hard on your recovery, be honest in your communication with coaches and prove yourself again as soon as you have the opportunity. ”

How does Ivy League recruiting differ from other NCAA Division 1 programs?

“Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships. They do, however, offer admission to the school as a “recruited athlete.” For Ivy League schools, the academic requirements will be much higher than the NCAA eligibility requirements.”

Crimson students are 7x more likely to gain acceptance to their dream college!

Remember, you don't have to navigate this journey alone. Crimson provides a comprehensive suite of services, from academic mentoring and test prep to essay assistance, extracurricular guidance, and career mentoring, ensuring a holistic approach to your college preparation journey.