Underclassman Starter Kit: Understanding the Recruiting Process

Welcome to Your Underclassman Starter Kit!

You’re officially locked in — and your recruiting journey just got a serious head start. 💪

Here’s what’s inside your Starter Kit:

• ✅ FREE Recruiting Lessons & Advice

• ✅ Coach Email & DM Templates, Recruiting Calendars, and More

• ✅ Highlight Film Checklist & Film Checker

• ✅ Recruiting Timeline (D1, D2, D3, NAIA, JUCO)

• ✅ One-on-One Assistance from our Recruiting Coordinators

• ✅ First Access to Our New Web App & Recruiting Software

• ✅ 1X Social Media Boost for Exposure on X/Instagram

📲 Next Step: Join Our X Community

Connect with other 2028 & 2029 athletes, drop your film, ask questions, and get real-time feedback from our team.

Join X Community

Understanding the Recruiting Process: A Step-by-Step Breakdown for Athletes

The recruiting process is exactly that — a process.

It’s not about going viral overnight or waiting for a coach to magically find your highlights. It’s a series of actions and stages that athletes must move through in order to reach their ultimate goal:

Earning a college athletic scholarship and signing with the right program.

Whether you’re in the Class of 2028 or 2029, understanding how this process works gives you an edge. Here's how it breaks down:

🔑 The Recruiting Process Follows 3 Key Stages:

📊 The 3 Stages of Recruiting

1️⃣ Identification Stage

2️⃣ Evaluation Stage

3️⃣ Recruitment Stage

Each day this week, we’ll break down one stage of the process — and give you the tools to learn, plan, and execute at every step.

🔍 Identification Stage

This is where it all begins.

At this point, college coaches are just discovering who you are. Maybe they see your name on a roster, get tagged in a clip, or come across your film at an event.

🧠 Coach Tip: "In recruiting, first impressions matter — because second chances aren’t guaranteed."

How you're perceived by college coaches the first time can make or break your shot at a scholarship.

Make it count." 🏈

What matters in this stage:

• Exposure (social media, camps, showcases)

• Personal Branding on social media

• Making yourself findable (EXPO+ profile, Hudl link, Twitter bio)

Here's How to Stand Out

Brand Yourself on Social Media

1.) Create a dedicated X account for your recruiting

(suggest using your name to make it easier for coaches to find you: @JohnSmith2028 instead of JS.532)

2.) Pin Your Highlight Film:

Your best clip should be front and center — link to Hudl or YouTube.

3.) Clean Bio with Key Info:

Include position, height/weight, GPA, school, and a film link.

Hudl & Recruiting Email Setup

Have you completed these steps? ✅

Vote in the poll and drop your answer in the comments!

📎 Drop your X profile below to get a free account check —We'll repost the profiles that are set up correctly!

Have You Completed Day 1?

• Yes
• No

Evaluation Stage

Now that they know you exist, it’s time for them to assess whether you’re a fit for their program.

Coaches are watching film, checking transcripts, and comparing you to their current roster needs.

They’re asking:

• Does your film show IQ, skill, and effort?

• Are your measurable and athleticism up to standard?

• Can you qualify academically for their school?

This is where your tape and GPA matter most.

🧠 Coach Tip: Keep your highlight film between 2–4 minutes. Coaches review hundreds of films — they’re not watching a 33-minute tape. Use the highlight checklist below

Highlight Checklist

✅ 1. Start Strong (First 3 Plays Matter Most)Lead with your best plays — coaches decide quickly if they’ll keep watching.

✅ 2. Keep It Short (2–4 Minutes Max) Only include high-quality plays. No full-game footage unless requested.

✅ 3. Use Clear Labels Add your name, position, jersey number, and class year at the beginning.

✅ 4. Spot Yourself in Every Clip Use a circle, arrow, or spotlight effect so coaches can quickly find you.

✅ 5. Show Variety Include different types of plays: speed, skill, IQ, physicality, effort.

Day 2 Task: Complete your Highlight Checklist - Drop your highlights in our X chat to get feedback

Share Highlights