Maintain a high grade point average. Many students miss out on scholarships because their grades do not show the kind of commitment most college coaches are looking for. Athletes in the top 1 percent of their graduating class do not have to worry about this, but a high GPA can open a lot of doors.
Make a high quality highlight video. A video gives college coaches and recruiters a chance to gauge your skill level without having to invest time and money seeing you play in person. A good video may convince a recruiter to visit or to request additional footage.
Create an online profile and post it on national recruiting websites (see Resources). Many college coaches subscribe to these sites.
Make a digital resume that includes additional information, such as your GPA, extracurricular activities, accomplishments in other sports and other pertinent information. A digital resume is easy to email or upload for quick distribution to colleges.
Seek an unbiased opinion of your skill level before contacting any schools. High school coaches and local sports journalists are good places to start. Use their comments as a guide when deciding which NCAA division to focus your campaign efforts on.
Create a website that focuses on your statistics and accomplishments as a football player and student athlete. Make sure the site is organized and easy to navigate. The website should include a link to your digital resume.
Make a list of potential schools. The list should include how well you fit the college's football program athletically, its proximity, NCAA division, the depth at your position, the school's academic requirements and any social aspects that will affect your decision.
Visit each school's athletic department website and read about the schools you are considering attending. Send your digital resume and link to each website via email and call the football coach as a followup to make sure the information arrived.