After talking to several scouts and watching tons and I mean tons of films of prospects, here are some tips on highlight videos that YOU MUST follow:

RULE #1: Put your best plays first

There’s no need to hold out, this is not a feature film with a plot. Scouts have to watch many films and they are not likely to get beyond 4 minutes in your film at the most. Put your best 10 plays as the first 10 clips on your film. They need to know right away what kind of player you are. A perfect example of this is Jeff Luc’s highlight video. There’s no denying that he can play after seeing the first 5 clips. That 90 yard interception return, the 95 yard kickoff return, the bone crushing hit, that run you had where you broke 10 tackles, that block you made when you buried a kid and he quit football, that needs to be the first thing on your highlight tape.

RULE #2: Point out where you are on the film

This applies to all players except QB’s and RB’s. It’s hard as hell to find some players on grainy footage when they are mixed in with 8 other players on a play. Use some kind of highlight effect on your video. Whether it’s an arrow, shading everyone else out at the start of the play or putting some kind of special effect over you before the play. This is especially important for defensive players like defensive linemen and linebackers. Also ultra important for offensive linemen.

RULE #3: Watch your music choices

The music on your tape is going to represent who you are. If the song you have on your video represents violence, domestic abuse, drug dealing, profanity, it’s going to be hard for someone watching it to believe that you are someone that’s likely to take advantage of a college education. It will be hard not to worry that you will do something in school that could get you kicked out. I recommend putting the instrumental version of all songs you choose on your highlight video that way there’s no mistakes.

RULE #4: If you don’t know what you are doing get a professional

The idea of making your own highlight video can be a thrill but your high school football highlight video is not the one to experiment with. If you don’t know what you are doing, get someone who does. Getting one made can cost some decent money but it’s a worthwhile investment if you are a player. That highlight video could save you $thousands on a college education. Get a job, ask an uncle or a rich auntie, make a deal with mom or day to help you pay to have a video made. Nothing will turn a scout off faster than a poorly made tape that’s hard to follow.

RULE #5: Don’t keep it a secret

Whether you think you are big time recruit or not, it does nothing for you to have a tape made if you are going to keep it a secret. Get your tape sent out to the schools you are interested in. Upload your video to YouTube. Post your video to sites like this one. The more people that see it, the better it is for you. Get discovered, be confident and tell people who you are.

Chad Wilson

Chad Wilson is a college football recruiting expert and creator of the GridironStudsApp which allows high school football players to gain exposure to college football coaches and fans. Wilson is a former college football player for the University of Miami (92-94) and Long Beach St. (’90-’91) and played briefly for the Seattle Seahawks (’95). He is also a former youth and high school football coach for over 15 years most recently for 5-A State of Florida Champs American Heritage. He runs All Eyes DB Camp a defensive back training company located in South Florida IG: @alleyesdbcamp. Wilson’s oldest son Quincy plays in the NFL for the New York Giants and his younger son plays cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals.