How to Impress College Football Recruiters

College football and high school football are two totally different animals. The recruiters for college football are looking for specific needs and they know how to recognize talent. That said, you need to know going in how to not only attract the recruiters, but also how to provide what they are looking for. There are a number of things you can do early in your high school careers to get on the college recruiting radar.

One of the best ways to get on the college recruiting list is to go to the football camps at various colleges you are interested in. These summer football camps are often run by the very coaches that you could potentially play for. If you go to one of these camps and they notice your talents, you will be on the list of recruitment for certain. While these camps are sometimes expensive, it is vital to attend them if you are serious about playing college football someday. Begin attending them at the earliest possible time.

Embrace the concept of the colleges that you are interested in. Many colleges put a premium on defense or great special teams play. When most college players first get to college, they are special teams players almost by default. Show that you have the speed, determination and talent to handle special teams effectively. Also, try to pick a high school football position that you will be able to also play in college. For example, in high school a lineman can be 150 pounds in high school, but they will never make the position in college due to size. Pick the position that you will be good for in college, and become excellent at it.

An underrated but important way to get noticed by college recruiters is to keep your grades up. High school athletes do not realize that if their grades are high, they will bring in more recruiters. The reason is simple - more colleges are going to a specific GPA for admission into the school. The more schools you academically qualify for, the better your odds of actually landing a scholarship. You also get the added benefit of a great education.

As for physical skills, the colleges are looking for skill sets. Speed is important, but quickness is more important. In other words, how fast you get from point A to point B is vital. Opportunities to run the length of the football field come up on occasion, but running forty yards is almost every play. Increase your speed to really make the college recruiters drool.

Ask for help from your high school coaches. Let them know you want to play in college and take all the extra instruction you can get. Technique is very important to college recruiters and you have to know the basics well. If you are having trouble with a particular area of your football game, then ask for help. Do not try to hide the weakness, because college recruiters will see it anyway. It is better to deal with these weaknesses now rather than when you show up for the first day of college football practice.

Finally, be flexible about what position you want to play in college. Many quarterbacks are turned into running backs or wide receivers for example. Some of the greatest players in the history of the game began their high school careers at completely different positions.