Navigating the college recruiting process can be overwhelming, but avoiding common mistakes can set you on the right path. Here are the top 5 recruiting mistakes athletes and their families make:
1. Choosing the Wrong High School
Selecting the right high school is crucial. Some schools are known for producing college-ready talent consistently. Researching high schools and their track record in producing college scholarship athletes is essential.
Remember, college recruiting begins with your choice of high school.
Athletes who end up at a school that produces minimal college talent, should prepare to be more diligent and maybe look for outside support, to supplement what their school is not providing
2. Procrastination
Procrastination is a dream killer. Start your recruiting journey early. If you’ve chosen the right high school, they should provide counselors and systems to guide you. However, you should lead your own fate and your recruitment isn’t your coaches responsibility.
Don’t wait until junior year to get serious. Start as a freshman by taking the right classes and building relationships with varsity coaches.
As you get older, college camps, unofficial visits, enrollment with the NCAA Eligibility Center and many more things, will all need to be in place. Start early, so you don’t miss out!
3. No Film Evaluation
As a varsity player, having your film evaluated by a professional is critical. This evaluation helps determine which schools to pursue, which camps to attend, and which coaches to contact. Think of it as a musician’s demo tape or streaming link.
Missing this step can mean missing your shot by targeting the wrong schools.
4. Unrealistic Goals
Be practical about your goals. Film evaluations can help you set realistic targets. There are many college programs with funding looking for good talent.
Too many waste time chasing schools like the University of Oregon, when they could have secured funding at Portland State or Southern Oregon.
Make sure you get “A” bag, before you go chasing scholarship money from big school’s, that aren’t showing you any interest.
Also, keep in mind.
What we want and what we are willing to pay for, are two totally different things. If you say you want to play at the highest level of college competition, make sure you are practicing and competing at the highest level you possibly can now.
You have to walk the talk!
5. No Off-the-Field Money Strategy
With NIL opportunities, grants, academic scholarships, and other programs, you can often attend college for free or at a reduced cost.Ivy League schools and many FCS, D-II, and D-III programs, have limited football money anyway.
Be proactive in finding funding strategies outside of football scholarships to secure your future. Sometimes it’s just getting a roster spot, which opens up the route to the scholarship.
By avoiding these mistakes, you can enhance your chances of success in the college recruiting process. Start early, stay realistic, and explore all funding options.
*Attn: 2025 and 2026 College Football Prospects. Join us for the 2025 College Football Recruiting Accelerator, kicking off Monday, July 1st. We will be covering everything you need to know about the Recruiting Process in depth. See you there.
Click Here to Register!
