Football Scouting Methods

Teams are always in need of fresh young talent to replace aging players, and scouts have the job of finding those new talents. Scouts have different methods of finding and identifying potential prospects. They also have a variety of methods for identifying which potential prospects might be the best fit for their team.

  1. Pro Days

    • One method that many football scouts use to help them identify potential new talent for their team is a pro day. On a pro day, players in a given geographical region, typically from colleges in that region, gather somewhere to display their skills. Scouts from professional teams in that same region come out and watch the display, taking notes on potential talents. Scouts and players also typically have a chance to talk.

    NFL Combine

    • Another big event in the scouting calendar is the NFL Combine. The combine takes place each February, and consists of players going through a variety of drills and benchmarks over four days. Scouts, as well as coaches, doctors and even executives from each NFL team come to watch the players go through the drills, and take notes. Events like the NFL Combine give scouts a good chance to see how different players compare to each other.

    Metrics

    • Events such as pro days and the NFL Combine are such good events for scouts to attend because they give the scouts a chance to measure players against each other. For example, 40-yard dash times will give scouts and coaches valuable insights when they compare the times of different players. Scouts and coaches will use these numbers, along with game statistics and a variety of others, to make a decision about a potential prospect.

    Intangibles

    • Statistics are valuable, but there are many things that will not show up on statistics that will be important to a scout. Player attitude, for instance, may be important to a scout. Coaches tend to want players that are team players, and players that can take direction and instruction well. They may also want players who are hard workers, and will work to improve themselves and their football skills. Scouts often talk with players and players' coaches to get a feel for who a player is.