D1 Shortlist Recruiting Guide
For High School Athletes and Parents Navigating the Road to College Football and NIL Deals
Average NIL Deals by Position
What Are Players Actually Making?
NCAA Revenue Sharing: A Game Changer for 2025–26
Starting in the 2025–26 school year:
Schools can share up to 22% of revenue (~$20.5M annually).
High-revenue sports like football benefit the most (74% of shared revenue).
Includes medical coverage, scholarship protection, and academic support.
How to Get Noticed by Coaches
Perform Consistently on the Field
Strong varsity play and stats matter most.
Build Your Recruiting Profile
Get ranked on platforms like 247Sports, On3, ESPN, and Rivals.
Create a Clean, Position-Specific Highlight Film
3–5 minutes, best plays first—this is your D1 résumé.
Proactively Reach Out to Coaches
Send emails with your film and use Instagram to share highlights.
Attend Top Recruiting Camps & Showcases
(e.g., Rivals, Under Armour, The Opening)
Maintain Strong Academics & Leadership
GPA, test scores, and character are non-negotiable.
Key Recruiting Milestones: Year-by-Year
Freshman & Sophomore Year
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Build fundamentals and GPA
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Create first version of highlight film
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Attend camps to get early exposure
Junior Year
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June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can contact you
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Create strong fall season film
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Start campus visits and send intro emails to coaches
Senior Year
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August 1: Official visits begin
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Dec 18–20, 2024: Early Signing Period
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Feb 5, 2025: National Signing Day
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Confirm NCAA Clearinghouse registration
Academic Eligibility: Don’t Let Grades Hold You Back
Complete 16 NCAA core courses
Maintain a qualifying GPA
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center before senior year
Recruiting Camps Timeline
Rising Juniors
Begin attending national recruiting camps
Rising Seniors
Prioritize top school camps for final evaluations
OUR ATHLETES —THE D1 SHORTLIST
Meet some of the standout athletes who trusted D1 Shortlist with their film. From 2019 to 2021, these players caught the eyes of recruiters — and made the cut.
