How to Make a Football Recruiting Video Coaches Will Watch

We’re not going to mince words here: a football recruiting video is a crucial, must-have tool in an athlete’s recruiting toolbox. Most college coaches don’t have the time to travel across the country and watch hundreds of football recruits in person. That’s why a recruiting video is one of the most important parts of a recruiting profile. It takes just a few minutes for a well-made recruiting video to show coaches what a high school football recruit can do on the gridiron.

For a football recruiting video to be effective, athletes need to know what football coaches are looking for. We’ve included guidelines on how to use a football video, as well as specific tips on what skills to showcase based on position.

Creating a football recruiting video coaches want to see can be especially difficult if your season was cancelled or postponed, or you didn’t have a chance to attend camps or combines over the summer season. So, what can football recruits do to stand out? Creating a football skills video provides a great opportunity to get on a coach’s radar and demonstrate athleticism and technical abilities. 

How to use football highlight videos in your recruiting

An athlete’s football recruiting video should be the first thing that they send college coaches when they contact them. The benefit of a football recruiting video is that it can give college coaches a good view of if the athlete is qualified to play at that school. If the coach likes what they see in a football recruiting video, they might request full game footage or more clips. At the very least, it will encourage the coach to strike up a conversation to learn more about who the recruit is as a student-athlete.

According to Zcruit CEO Ben Weiss, “A lot of schools have run out of film to watch and players to evaluate. With no new film coming in and not much else to do other than evaluate, coaches feel a rare sense of ‘caught up’ with recruiting work.” This presents prospects with an opportunity to get creative with their recruiting videos.

Right now, recruiters are desperate for new game film—which can be difficult to obtain for some prospects—and are looking out for any new film they can get from prospects in states that are playing football during the 2020-21 academic year. These prospects may have a leg up on recruiting, but prospects dealing with a canceled or postponed season can help themselves by getting creative with training videos. This includes position-specific footage that shows off an athlete’s skill set. 

While it can be difficult to get on the recruiting radar of a top program with a training video, recruiters will watch anything they can get their hands on. If the prospect is already on their radar, they’ll use the video as a decision-point for their evaluation. For an example of what top programs are looking for, check out this Penn State virtual combine video.

How long should a high school football highlight tape be?

Athletes don’t need a 20-minute video to get a college coach’s attention. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Football recruiting videos should include an athlete’s best 25 plays or be about 3-5 minutes long. Always start with the best plays—athletes want to hook the college coach early on. Don’t worry about adding in music, sound effects, crazy transitions or slowing down/speeding up the film. In other words, stick to the basics!

Most football players benefit from having all their games filmed for them by their high school. The camera crew should be in the press box, using a wide angle so they can capture all 22 players in the same shot. Some coaches will also arrange for footage to be taken from the end zone in a tight shot to show the 10 players on the line of scrimmage. This type of film can be really beneficial to show college coaches the alignment of players and their footwork.

What kind of footage should athletes use in their football recruiting video?

For most positions, college coaches are looking for full-padded, full-speed game film. Punters and kickers should include mostly skills footage—which involves athletes showing off specific skillsets on an open field. A separate 7on7 film can be created to supplement the full recruiting video, but for most athletes this won’t be necessary unless a college coach specifically asks for it. If a recruit has an unbelievable, Sports Center Top 10 highlight from a 7on7 game, they can include it in the full video, but it really has to be spectacular. College coaches might ask for full game footage, but that will also be on a case-by-case basis.

How to edit your football highlight video

Once your family has all their film, it’s time to start editing it down. Families who aren’t sure what plays or skills footage to use should talk to their high school coach or contact NCSA’s team of football recruiting experts. They know exactly what college coaches are looking for at every position, and they can help you pick out the plays that really show off your skill set.

To start the football recruiting video, athletes should always include a slide or two with their information. Here’s what you should include:

• First name, last name
• Height, weight
• Position(s) played
• Phone number, email address
• Cumulative GPA, ACT and/or SAT scores (if you have them)
• Your head coach’s name
• Head coach’s phone and email address

Before each play, athletes should use a drop shadow or arrow to identify who they are. Start the footage a couple seconds before the play, so the coach can see how the play unfolds. Don’t mess with speed of the film and don’t add special effects—let the athlete’s talent speak for itself! As we mentioned earlier, start with the very best plays to capture the coach’s interest immediately, and keep the full football recruiting video to no more than five minutes.

How to use Hudl for football

Hudl has replaced VHS and DVD as the No. 1 way for recruits to send their football recruiting videos to college coaches. Because of Hudl, it’s easier than ever to share film with college coaches, and for that reason, coaches have come to expect to be able to find recruits on this platform. Recruits should use the following tips to make sure that they get the most out of their Hudl account:

• Athletes should consistently update their Hudl account with new football recruiting videos. This ensures that college coaches have the most up-to-date view of that athlete’s skillset and talent level.
• Recruits can link to their Hudl account on social media, in emails and in their NCSA profile. These are all easy ways to get coaches to watch a recruit’s video. Because Hudl has become the platform to host football recruiting videos, families need to find ways to drive coaches to the recruit’s account. Coaches aren’t typically browsing through Hudl, hoping to find that diamond in the rough. Instead, they go on the platform to watch film of specific recruits they are interested in.
• Learn how to make a football highlight video on Hudl. Hudl has video editing features that recruits can use to add drop shadows and arrows, as well as to cut up game footage into a manageable series of highlights. For families who aren’t investing in a professional video editing service, this is a great way to get the clips their recruit needs.

While Hudl is a great platform for editing, hosting and distributing football recruiting videos, athletes still need an online recruiting profile where they can house all the information college coaches are looking for, such as social media handles, academics, personal statement, coach contact information, a link to their Hudl account and more.

Quarterbacks: Vary your throws and show off your footwork

Learn how to make a football quarterback skills video during COVID-19 and what college coaches are looking for at your position/level. Watch our football quarterback expert analyze skills footage and get actionable tips for showcasing the skills coaches want to see in your video.

NCSA Senior Recruiting Coach Brendon Albert highlights what football quarterbacks need to include in their skills video, including:

• How many reps to complete (2-3 per drill) and how long your skills video should be (2-4 minutes max)
• Why consistency and accuracy should be your primary focus during all drills
• Key drills that display your athleticism, like pocket movement skills, throwing on platform and throwing to multiple route
• Showcasing a variety of spot throws
• How to frame the camera like the drill examples shown in the video

Receivers: Focus on your athleticism

Learn how to make a football wide receiver skills video during COVID-19 and what college coaches are looking for at your position/level. Watch our football wide receiver expert analyze skills footage and get actionable tips for showcasing the skills coaches want to see in your video.

Former wide receiver player and coach Jordan Wells highlights what football wide receivers need to include in their skills video, including:

• 3 key drills all wide receivers should incorporate, including the Vertical Tracking Drill (2-3 reps), 30-Degree Tracking Break Drill (3 reps/each side) and Gauntlet Drill (1 rep)
• What recruits need before filming—a couple footballs and some teammates to help run drills and record
• Showcasing 2-3 routes on air—run 2 or 3 routes in your system that you’re best at, e.g. a post, post-corner or 15-yard dig

Running backs: Block, catch and run the ball

Learn how to make a football quarterback skills video during COVID-19 and what college coaches are looking for at your position/level. Watch our football quarterback expert analyze skills footage and get actionable tips for showcasing the skills coaches want to see in your video.

Check out the video below to see what a running back should include in their football skills video!

NCSA Senior Recruiting Coach Brendon Albert highlights what football quarterbacks need to include in their skills video, including:

• How many reps to complete (2-3 per drill) and how long your skills video should be (2-4 minutes max)
• Why consistency and accuracy should be your primary focus during all drills
• Key drills that display your athleticism, like pocket movement skills, throwing on platform and throwing to multiple route
• Showcasing a variety of spot throws
•  How to frame the camera like the drill examples shown in the video

Defensive backs: Big hits, big plays

Learn how to make a football defensive back skills video during COVID-19 and what college coaches are looking for at your position/level. Watch our football defensive back expert analyze skills footage and get actionable tips for showcasing the skills coaches want to see in your video.

NCSA Recruiting Coach and former defensive back college athlete James Cooper highlights what football defensive backs need to include in their skills video, including:

• Offering coaches supplementary footage during season delays or canceled camps/combines
• Why recruits should focus on having a proper stance throughout all drills
• Key drills to include, like the Short and Long W, Weave, and Pedal and Full Open (which players also run during the NFL Combine)
• Why the angle of the camera matters—facing you or behind you to show your full body size and how you break
• How many reps to complete (2-3 per drill) and how long your skills video should be (2-4 minutes max)

Linebackers: Show off solid technique on your tackles and big hits

Learn how to make a football linebacker skills video during COVID-19 and what college coaches are looking for at your position/level. Watch our football linebacker expert analyze skills footage and get actionable tips for showcasing the skills coaches want to see in your video.

NCSA Recruiting Coach and high school football coach AJ Foster highlights what football defensive linebackers need to include in their skills video, including:

• What equipment recruits need—from bags and cones to getting creative with common household items
• Key drills linebackers should run, including Box, Attack the Bag, Run/Pass Read and Shuffle Drills
• What coaches are looking for—making sure recruits stay low and explosive, have a great stance and don’t cross their feet
• How many reps to complete (2-3 per drill) and how long your skills video should be (2-4 minutes max)

Defensive Linemen: Focus on tackle technique and using your hands

Learn how to make a football defensive line skills video during COVID-19 and what college coaches are looking for at your position/level. Watch our football defensive line expert analyze skills footage and get actionable tips for showcasing the skills coaches want to see in your video.

NCSA Recruiting Coach Bill Perkins—who has over 25 years of experience as a football defensive line coach—highlights what football defensive line players need to include in their skills video, including:

• Showcasing their use of hands, change of direction and ability to burst
• Key drills to run, including the Bag Slap, 45 Degree Break, Punch and Slide and Bag Step Over
• What football coaches are looking for, like explosiveness, power and the ability to be extremely physical
• Combining practice drills with strength and conditioning footage to display your athleticism

Offensive linemen: Good feet and flexibility

Learn how to make a football offensive line skills video during COVID-19 and what college coaches are looking for at your position/level. Watch our football offensive line expert analyze skills footage and get actionable tips for showcasing the skills coaches want to see in your video.

Former football player and coach Brett Morris highlights what football offensive linesmen need to include in their skills video, including:

• What equipment recruits need—from bags and cones to getting creative with common household items
• Showcasing a proper stance and power offense to college coaches
• How to frame the camera like the examples shown in the video
• Key drills to run, including the Long Pull, Short Pull and Drive Block, Mirror Slide, Hip Flip and Rabbit drills
• Why the Kick Slide drill is most important for recruits looking to play at the next level

Punters and kickers: Mostly skills footage with some game film

Learn how to make a football kicker or punter skills video during COVID-19 and what college coaches are looking for at your position/level. Watch our football kicker and punter expert analyze skills footage and get actionable tips for showcasing the skills coaches want to see in your video.

NCSA Senior Recruiting Coach Brendon Albert highlights what football kickers and punters need to include in their skills video, including:

• How to run drills alone or with a teammate
• Why full game footage is not necessary
• Showcasing a variation of field goals and/or kickoffs
• What camera angles to include—during kickoffs, filming from the stands and as a kicker, framing the camera behind you
• Why punters need to be consistent and show 15-20 punts in a row with minimal cuts in action

Long snapper: Focus on skills footage

Learn how to make a football long snapping skills video during COVID-19 and what college coaches are looking for at your position/level. Watch our football long snapping expert analyze skills footage and get actionable tips for showcasing the skills coaches want to see in your video.

NCSA Senior Recruiting Coach Brendon Albert highlights what football long snappers need to include in their skills video, including:

• What recruits need before filming—a couple footballs, someone to catch and a cameraperson or tripod
• Why recruits should include about 15 long snaps and a few snaps with running footage
• What college coaches are looking for, from hand movement, follow-throughs to foot action
• How to frame the camera like the examples shown in the video