What Do College Coaches Look for in Recruits?

When college coaches start evaluating potential recruits, they typically look at athletic ability first. They’re paying attention to qualities like strength, speed, endurance, and power, as well as other key physical traits such as agility, stamina, balance, and flexibility. Ultimately, coaches are asking themselves: Can this athlete make our team better? Can they compete at our level? Are their skills on par with, or even better than, the athletes already on our roster?

But who you are off the field and in between reps is important too. Coaches evaluate whether or not you’re coachable. A coachable athlete is one who is always looking for ways to improve, willing to apply feedback and has a passion for their sport. 

Academic eligibility is also a crucial aspect of the recruitment process. If you want to be an NCAA Division 1 or Division 2 athlete, you need to start thinking about your academic eligibility as early as your freshman year of high school.

One of the main ways colleges keep track of potential recruits is using the star system. Star ratings are a quick and easy way to convey a recruit’s level of talent to college coaches, and it’s often used in team sports. Typically, student-athletes are rated from no stars—indicating unrecognized talent—to five stars for elite athletes.

What star level recruit are you? Where do you fit in? There are a couple of ways you can identify where you stand: you can research college rosters, or be evaluated by a third-party.

If you’re interested in a college’s program, go to the school’s athletic website and take a look at the roster and most recent statistics. Do your key stats fall in line with the other players in your position? Do you have similar achievements as everyone on the team? If you have comparable measurements, then you probably qualify for that level of competition. If you aren’t quite there yet, take a look at a lower division level until you find a good fit where your skills fall in line with the rest of the team.

College coaches evaluate more than just your athleticism and academics. They also pay attention to your character and coachability, too. Demonstrating your coachability to college coaches can help set yourself apart from other recruits.

The most important thing coaches look for in a recruit is, of course, your athletic ability. But that’s not the only factor they consider. Coaches are also evaluating you on some of these other key factors:

Academics: Sometimes, coaches will have multiple recruits of similar athletic ability that could fill a position. If one of the recruits is stronger academically, the coach may choose them—this athlete could be more likely to stay eligible, while the other athlete could struggle to stay on the field. To maximize your recruiting potential, stay focused on academics, but also talk to your guidance counselor about study skills that could make your academic goals easier to achieve.

Character: Coaches want to see how athletes interact with their teammates, coaches, parents, and teachers. Learn what college coaches look for in student-athletes, from athletic ability and academics to character and coachability. Find out how to evaluate your recruiting level and prepare for life as a college athlete. Smaller programs may not have the travel budget to visit recruits that are far away. These programs may have relationships with coaches and high schools in their regions, which can give local athletes a leg up.

The road to becoming a college athlete is about much more than athletic talent. While coaches will always look at your physical abilities first, your academic strength, character, and coachability all play vital roles in the recruiting equation. Understanding how you stack up, whether through star ratings, stat comparisons, or direct evaluations, can help you target the right programs and prepare for what’s ahead. College athletics will push you harder than ever before, both on the field and in the classroom. But with the right mindset, support system, and preparation, you’ll be ready to rise to the challenge, and thrive as a student-athlete at the next level.