Football Highlight Video Guide: What College Coaches Want to See

A football recruiting highlight video should be 3-5 minutes, with 7 minutes as the absolute maximum for linemen who need more reps. Coaches review hundreds of videos and typically make a decision after the first 3-5 plays. Lead with your best plays - the opening is crucial to hook the coach's interest.

Quarterbacks should show full drives demonstrating decision-making (60%), mixed with highlight plays (40%). Include red zone sequences, 3rd down conversions, deep ball accuracy, rollout/bootleg plays, and two-minute drill situations. Coaches want to see your reads and pocket presence, not just touchdowns.

Yes, 90%+ of college football programs use Hudl as the industry standard for film exchange. Coaches strongly prefer Hudl links over other platforms. NCSA and BeRecruited are also accepted but secondary. Always include your jersey number and team name so coaches can verify footage.

For FBS D1, skill positions typically need 4.6 seconds or faster. Running backs and wide receivers need 4.4-4.55. Linebackers and tight ends need 4.6-4.85. Offensive and defensive linemen need 5.0-5.4. FCS and D2 standards are approximately 0.1-0.2 seconds slower per position.

FBS programs have 85 full scholarships that cannot be divided - every scholarship player gets a full ride. FCS programs have 63 equivalency scholarships that can be split among more players, meaning most FCS players receive partial scholarships. Both are Division I.

For D1, coaches can send recruiting materials starting June 15 after your sophomore year. Phone calls, texts, and off-campus contact are allowed starting September 1 of your junior year. Official visits can begin August 1 before your senior year. D2 and D3 have more flexible rules.