BE THE PLAYER COLLEGE COACHES COVET

Every Friday night, thousands of high school football players step onto the field or attend that college summer camp believing they’re doing enough to get noticed. Get that golden ticket to a college offer. The truth? Most aren’t even close. Thats just the plain truth.

College coaches aren’t just looking for talent. They’re looking for a specific type of player—the kind they can trust, develop, and win with. If you want a shot at playing at the next level, you need to become that player and it takes more than you think.

Here’s what that actually looks like.

1. Production Over Potential

Coaches don’t recruit hype. They recruit film.

You might run a fast 40 or look the part in a t-shirt with all your Nike gear, gloves, custom cleats, shades, etc but if it doesn’t show up on game tape, it doesn’t matter. College coaches want players who produce—guys who make plays consistently, not occasionally.

Ask yourself:

• Are you impacting every game?

• Are you making plays when it matters most?

• Are you improving week to week?

• Do your stats prove it?

Potential gets attention. Production gets offers.

2. Football IQ Separates You

The fastest way to stand out? Know the game better than everyone else. Football IQ is the most important skill. Anyone can run fast. Throw a football. Jump high. Tackle. Do you actual have the football IQ to play, execute and make decisions at the highest elite level where the game is faster?

Coaches covet players who:

• Understand formations, coverages, and tendencies

• Adjust on the fly

• Make the right decision without hesitation

• Know when to run or pass

• Do the things elite players do

It’s not just about being athletic—it’s about being right. If you can read a defense as a QB, recognize leverage as a WR, or anticipate plays as a DB or LB, you instantly become more valuable and interesting.

Film study isn’t optional or negotiable—it’s your advantage. - PRO TIP - HS and College Coaches can see how much film you watch as a HS player. If you are not watching film consistently every day and every week you simply are not a serious recruit.

3. Effort Is Non-Negotiable

Turn on any college coach’s film evaluation, and one thing jumps out immediately: effort.

They’re watching:

• What you do when the play goes away from you

• How you respond after a mistake

• Whether you finish plays

• How you react to your coaches and refs

• Are you giving 100%, 100% of the time?

• Body Language tells a coach everything they need to know

Talent without effort is a liability. Effort without talent can still earn you a roster spot.

But the combination? That’s what gets recruited.

4. Coachability Is Everything

If you think you’ve got it all figured out, know it all, too good to be coached up, you’re already behind.

College programs invest time, money, and resources into players. They want guys who:

• Take coaching without ego

• Apply corrections immediately

• Show growth over time

• NO College coach wants a player who thinks they know everything. Trust me. You don't and you will be in for painful lesson acting like you do.

  
  

A player who listens, learns, and improves quickly is far more valuable than one who resists coaching—even if they’re more talented.

5. Discipline Off the Field Matters More Than You Think

Your habits off the field show up on the field.

Coaches are evaluating:

• Your academics

• Your attitude

• Your Social Media

• Your consistency

• Your character

If you’re late, unfocused, or unreliable in daily life, coaches assume you’ll be the same in their program. Being dependable is a skill—and it’s one that gets you recruited.

6. You Must Train With Purpose

Just “working hard” isn’t enough anymore.

College-bound players train differently:

• Position-specific skill work

• Game-speed reps

• Situational awareness

• Mental preparation

• Training with PROformance Football Training

Every rep and training should have intention. Every drill should translate to the field.

If your training doesn’t look like the game, it’s not preparing you for the next level.

7. Competitive Edge

Coaches want competitors—not just players.

That means:

• You hate losing more than you love winning

• You raise the level of everyone around you - a great teammate

• You show up in big moments

When everything is equal—size, speed, stats—coaches take the competitor every time.

7. Discipline On The Field

Your behavior on the field tells Coaches everything they need to know about you

That means:

• No talking back to the refs

• No dumb penalties especially 15 yarders

• No talking back or attitude to your coaches

• No poor body language after a bad play

• Sportsmanship

• Hustling back to the huddle or line

Poor discipline will kill your chances of being recruited faster than anything else.

8. Digital Permanence

What you put on social media will follow you the rest of your life. Even if you delete it.

That means:

• Don't post ANYTHING that will reflect poorly on you, your family, your school, your program or your coaches. DO NOT DO IT!

• Coaches will review it all. NO ONE is going to make a financial, educational or time investment in you when you post dumb or criminal things on line.

9. Academics

Aside from academic eligibility, your grades increase your recruitment value.

That means:

• If a coach has two QB's that are equal in all things but one has a better GPA, that QB is going to the top of the board

• There is a reason the NCAA and your High School say "Student"Athlete" and not Athlete Student. Remember that.

10. A Solid Film

Your film will set the stage for successful recruitment. Do it wrong...your done.

That means:

• Keep your film under 4 minutes and only use relevant clips i.e. if your a QB show us you running, under center, making all the important throws, athleticism, etc.

• No one listens to the music

• Trim your clips so they move along. We don't need to see you run back to the huddle

• Avoid special effects

• Use arrows or identifiers sparingly

• Be sure the film quality is good so we can see you

• BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION IN YOUR FILM!!!

Final Thought: Become Undeniable

Stop worrying about being seen. Start becoming undeniable.

When your film shows field production, your play shows intelligence, your effort is relentless, and your attitude is right—coaches don’t have to search for you.

They find you.

If you’re serious about playing at the next level, develop your skills, your mindset, and your football IQ. Focus on your positional fundamentals and skills. That’s how you separate. That’s how you get recruited. Don’t just train harder—train smarter. Train with PROformance Football.

Reach out to get started and evaluate your game to play at the elite level.

Coach David Frederick