How to Get Recruited Through College Football Camps

Earning a college football scholarship is nearly as competitive as the action on the field. Hundreds of players vie for a limited number of full scholarships. National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I football teams are allowed to award 85 total scholarships, and a Football Championship Subdivision team can give out 63 scholarships. A high school star must attract a coach's attention and present himself as a favorable recruit. One of the best ways to get recruited is by attending a college football camp on the campus of a potential recruiting university. A strong showing can put an unknown player on the recruiting radar.

Instructions

    • 1

      Attend the camp in top shape. Most college football camps are held during the spring and summer, a long way from the fall football season. Weightlifting or playing another sport like baseball can be helpful, but football-specific conditioning requires you to have bursts of quickness and stamina to last the entire game. Coaches rate players on how well they perform certain drills such as the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump and the broad jump. College football camps often measures those skills.

    • 2

      Let the coaches know you are attending their camp. Camps can draw several hundred athletes, and speaking with a coach beforehand lets him know you are serious about earning a scholarship. A call shows initiative and a coach may go out of his way to evaluate your skills.

    • 3

      Perform exceptionally well at the camp. A college coach's job is to win games and recruit talented players who will help him achieve his and the university's athletic goals. Treat the camp with the same mentality as you would your biggest rival during the season.

    • 4

      Don't neglect the intangibles, such as intelligence, character and mental toughness. While coaches are judging a player's talent, they're also noting nonphysical skills. Say "thank you" and "sir" when speaking with the coaches, always hustle and don't use curse words.