Make it productive. Make it look good ~ Janesh

I want to take the time to thank God for everything that has been happening for me. New levels. New goals.

For the next 2 weeks, the only focus is making each football game productive. You have to realize that the film from each football game is your résumé   for these college coaches. For the rising juniors and sophomores, this film will be what gets you in the door and on the recruiting board for the next off-season. This will be what coaches have to rely on when making your prospect camps credible . Rising seniors, this is it for you. Although you may have missed the D1 opportunities, using the film from this year can still land you a huge D1AA scholarship. D2 is still open. D3 most definitely. This film is the most crucial part of the recruiting process. This where all of the smoke is cleared, and potential is out the door. Camps and combines don't matter after Friday nights. Hype doesn't matter, and ratings fold as well. You have to earn it from here.

Take it one game at a time but know the goal.  You have about eleven guaranteed games to fill your highlight tape with quality play.  Each play should be a potential highlight.  Understand that you still have a job to do with your team.  You still must be a team player, but in order for you to go to college, you have to make an impact on your high school team. Coaches are looking for technique to be up to par.  Make it look good.  Make it look graceful.  When they check out your film, you have to compete with the college guys they already have.  If they don't see potential in you competing with those guys, why would they maintain interest in you? 

I've heard a few college coaches say that they recruit players to fill the spots of assets they are losing. So if an offensive coordinator is losing a scat-back style slot receiver, he will search his recruiting board for the guy that most resembles the player he lost.  So whatever your style is, make it look good.  You now have to market yourself. If you're a power running back, run down hill, run people over, break tackles.  If you're a speedy/finesse guy, make people miss.  Make that be your style.  Market your skills.

This is a lot of information but I just want you to understand that this film is so important for your recruiting process.  Solid game film will go further in the recruiting process than running a 4.4 40.  In the eyes of recruiters, that stuff doesn't matter unless you produce on the field.  The next step is to market yourself how you want to be used on the college level.  Your tape will show your recruiters how you will fit in on their team. 

Also, go hard on special teams.  Special teams highlights go a long way.  It takes a special guy to play special teams.  A coach will water at the mouth for a guy that goes just as hard as he would on offense or defense as he would on kick off return or punt team.  

As I close, everything you show a college coach helps. Each Friday night, make it productive and make it look good. This is your résumé for the job.  The film is your ticket.  The training, the camps, the combines, the college visits, none of it matters during the season.  The film is the key. 

Words from Winston Salem State's Recruiting Coordinator 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt32CI4JYPQ

Make it productive, make it look good,

- Janesh