Recruiting Timelines

End of Freshman year/Summer before Sophomore year 

START OF DIVISION I TIMELINE (but all levels can be doing these things at this time)

Welcome to the start of your college football journey! For the next three years you will be participating in the crazy world of college football recruiting. Time to buckle in!

At the end of freshmen year and over the summer there are a couple things you should be focused on.

1. Getting comfortable in the weight room

   1. This offseason is going to be a great opportunity to get stronger, faster, and more explosive. This begins with setting up a routine with your high school strength coach to get you in the weight room in the offseason. By the beginning of Junior year you should be significantly stronger and ready to compete at the varsity level. 

2. Register for tough classes

   1. Academics are pivotal for your success in recruiting - being a top performer in the classroom will open opportunities for scholarships and roster spots. 

3. Training

   1. This offseason is also a great opportunity to become a much more skilled football player and athlete. Use this time to do drills and develop your skills. 

4. College search

   1. At this point you should begin to focus on what schools you want to attend and potentially play for. This could include visiting schools or just researching about them online. 

5. Camps

   1. Although attending camps the summer before your sophomore year is not required. It is good to get the experience of going to camps in order to see the different drills and skills you need to practice.

Sophomore year football season

DIVISION I TIMELINE

Hopefully you locked in over the summer and got better in the weight room and on the field! Now it's time to ball!

1. Play some ball!

   1. Don't think about recruiting when you are on that field - play for your teammates and coaches and try to win a championship!

   2. However, make sure you have access to the film of the seasons games. 

2. Hit the books!

   1. Don't think that your ability on the field is enough to get you to college. Especially for the lower divisions, academics are vital in the recruiting process. 

   2. Make sure you are doing well academically and keeping a high GPA. 

3. Start compiling highlight clips.

   1. Start to compile your best clips from each game in hudl or whichever site your high school film is on.

End of Sophomore football season

DIVISION 1 TIMELINE

This is the evaluation period in division I football - meaning that coaches can recruit off campus. 

Hopefully you had a fun season with your teammates, but now it's time to really begin the process.

1. Create your Sophomore year highlight tape

   1. Compile your best 10-15 clips and edit them into a highlight tape.

2. Send out highlights to college coaches.

   1. Send it to as many coaches as you can - check out my email templates for inspiration for the emails.

3. Continue to work in the weight room.

4. Academics!

Sophomore year winter

DIVISION I TIMELINE

This is the contact period period in division I football - meaning that coaches can recruit off campus.

As you move through the final days of your sophomore football season here are a couple things you can be doing.

1. Continue to communicate with college coaches and send out your highlight tape

   1. You can also begin to send out workout tapes to coaches as well

2. Continue to work in the weight room and in the class room.

3. IF YOU CAN - visit colleges and meet with coaches 

   1. Learn about the schools and decide if you would want to go to the school.

   2. Talk with coaches about the program and see if it fits your goals.

4. Create/finalize your summer camp schedule - more info about those in my video :)

Sophomore year spring

DIVISION I TIMELINE

As you move through the final months of your sophomore year here are a couple things you can be doing.

1. Continue to communicate with college coaches and send out your highlight tape

   1. You can also begin to send out workout tapes to coaches as well

2. Continue to work in the weight room and in the class room.

3. IF YOU CAN - visit colleges and meet with coaches 

   1. Learn about the schools and decide if you would want to go to the school.

   2. Talk with coaches about the program and see if it fits your goals.

4. Create/finalize your summer camp schedule

End of Sophomore year/Summer before Junior year 

DIVISION I TIMELINE

START OF DIVISION II TIMELINE

START OF DIVISION III TIMELINE

1. Getting comfortable in the weight room

   1. This offseason is going to be a great opportunity to get stronger, faster, and more explosive. This begins with setting up a routine with your high school strength coach to get you in the weight room in the offseason. By the beginning of Junior year you should be significantly stronger and ready to compete at the varsity level. 

2. Register for tough classes

   1. Junior year is a pivotal athletic as well as academic year. Make sure to sign up for tough classes and prepare for a rigorous year academically. 

3. Training

   1. This offseason is also a great opportunity to become a much more skilled football player and athlete. Use this time to do drills and develop your skills. 

4. College search

   1. At this point you should begin to focus on what schools you want to attend and potentially play for. This could include visiting schools or just researching about them online. 

5. Camps

   1. Although attending camps the summer before your Junior year is not required. It is good to get the experience of going to camps in order to see the different drills and skills you need to practice.

Junior year football season

DIVISION I TIMELINE

DIVISION II TIMELINE

DIVISION III TIMELINE

Hopefully you locked in over the summer and got better in the weight room and on the field! Now it's time to ball!

1. Play some ball!

   1. Don't think about recruiting when you are on that field - play for your teammates and coaches and try to win a championship!

   2. However, make sure you have access to the film of the seasons games. 

2. Hit the books!

   1. Don't think that your ability on the field is enough to get you to college. Especially for the lower divisions, academics are vital in the recruiting process. 

   2. Make sure you are doing well academically and keeping a high GPA. 

3. Start compiling highlight clips.

   1. Start to compile your best clips from each game in hudl or whichever site your high school film is on.

      1. DIVISION I - Send out mid-year highlight tape to coaches 

Junior year winter/spring

DIVISION I TIMELINE

DIVISION II TIMELINE

DIVISION III TIMELINE

As you move through the final months of your junior year here are a couple things you can be doing.

1. Continue to communicate with college coaches and send out your highlight tape

   1. You can also begin to send out workout tapes to coaches as well

2. Continue to work in the weight room and in the class room.

3. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THESE ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO GIVE TO COACHES OVER THE SUMMER

   1. Junior year transcript

   2. Senior fall semester class schedule 

   3. FAFSA and any financial aid information if that applies to you

4. IF YOU CAN - visit colleges and meet with coaches 

   1. Learn about the schools and decide if you would want to go to the school.

   2. Talk with coaches about the program and see if it fits your goals.

5. Create/finalize your summer camp schedule - more info about those in my video :)

Summer before Senior year

DIVISION I TIMELINE

DIVISION II TIMELINE

DIVISION III TIMELINE

Welcome to camp season!!!

1. Participate in camps!!!

   1. Meet coaches, make connections, and have fun playing football!

   2. Make sure coaches have your information and required documents (transcripts, financial aid, senior year classes).

2. Continue to work out and hone your skills.

Senior Year season

DIVISION I TIMELINE

DIVISION II TIMELINE

DIVISION III TIMELINE

1. Have fun in your senior year!

2. Create a mid year highlight tape to send out to coaches (email/twitter).

3. Continue to reach out to coaches. 

November/December - End of senior season

DIVISION I TIMELINE

DIVISION II TIMELINE

DIVISION III TIMELINE

1. Send out final senior highlight tape.

2. Enjoy the rest of high school and make your decision!