Recruiting 101: Your Foundation for Understanding the College Recruiting Journey

The path to becoming a college athlete is exciting, competitive, and often confusing, especially if you’re navigating it for the first time. That’s why Recruiting 101 exists. This weekly blog category will break down the entire recruiting landscape step by step, giving athletes and parents a clear view of what it takes to earn an opportunity at the next level.

Student-athletes today have more tools, exposure, and information than ever before, but they also face tougher competition and higher expectations. Without guidance, families can feel overwhelmed by deadlines, rules, communication etiquette, and understanding what coaches at each level are really looking for.

Recruiting 101 is here to simplify the process and give you the insight you need to make informed decisions and position yourself for success.

In this series, we will cover the structure of recruiting across every level, including:

• NCAA Division I, II, and III

• NAIA programs

• Junior colleges (NJCAA)

• Post-grad and prep school pathways

  
  

We will break down what makes each level unique, how scholarships work, timelines for communication, academic requirements, the level of competition, and what athletes can expect on and off the field.

You can expect practical guidance on topics such as building a recruiting profile, contacting coaches, attending camps, maximizing film, understanding eligibility, and avoiding the mistakes that cause athletes to be overlooked. Each week will build on the last, creating a full roadmap of the recruiting journey from freshman year through signing day.

The goal is simple: empower athletes and families with clear information, real strategies, and the confidence to own their recruiting process. With the right plan and the right mindset, opportunities open. Recruiting 101 will help you rise, prepare, and position yourself to be seen, no matter where your starting point is.

Welcome to the foundation of your next level.