Football Recruiting Advice for Running Backs

A series of articles that I have been doing lately is breaking down the recruiting knowledge that I know for different positions in both basketball and football. While some may feel that recruiting is all the same, I feel that is not the case at all. The recruiting process for a quarterback, point guard linebacker, center, or kicker is very different. That is why I plan on focusing on a variety of positions to help with basketball recruiting and football recruiting.

The running back position in football is a very difficult to gauge for college coaches. There are a lot of athletes at smaller schools who will total over 2,000 yards and yet still go on to play Division III football. While there is nothing wrong with continuing your athletic career at any level, this site was created to help potential athletes earn scholarships at the next level. That is why this advice for running backs is essential.

The first thing that a college coach wants to see in a running back is his size. While there are many smaller Barry Sanders’ sized running backs, a coach wants to see that his running back of the future is not 5-foot-5 and 130 pounds. That is why many coaches like to see running backs in person before offering a scholarship (Unless your highlight tape is jaw dropping). The coach can do that during the spring of their junior year or at camp. This is an important time for the athlete to just say hello (I believe that is all they can say according to NCAA rules) so that the coach can allow them to pass the eyeball test.

As for your highlight tape, there are a lot of different things you want to showcase. The first thing I want to say is not to include your five to ten yard runs up the middle. When you add this to the tape, unless you juked someone or knocked them over, this is not going to impress college coaches. I have seen it too many times and it may be what the coach needs to stop the tape and move on to another prospective recruit. Try to include your best highlights, long runs, good moves by the defender, and anything that will showcase your athleticism and running ability.

Two other areas that you may also want to add to your highlight video is your blocking ability and your ability to catch passes. While this is not a necessity, it is something that could help you with college coaches. I would include this potion at the end of the highlight tape because you always want to add your best highlights right away. Blocking is essential because you will need to be a good blocker at the college level to get playing time. As for receiving, this will just show your versatility if you prove you can catch balls from out of the back field.

Because most running backs have a great deal of athleticism to run the ball, there is also a chance that you may move positions at the college level. I have seen running backs in the past move from that spot to wide receiver, defensive back, or even safety. Athletic running backs can also see time on special teams while returning kicks, punts, or when trying to cover kicks. The coaches want to be able to use that speed to their advantage so they will try to get the fastest athletes on the field as much as possible.

When talking with college recruiters, try to get a feel for their depth chart at running back. Some schools play only one running back at a time while others have multiple running back sets. Talk more to the coaches about their system and how they will be able to utilize your abilities. If you are an athletic back who can make people miss, it wouldn’t be smart to go to a school that plays smash mouth football. It would be a waste of your abilities and you would get beaten up in the process as well. This goes back to asking the coaches a lot of questions, research the systems yourself, and talk to those in the know about college football. The more you know, the better of you will be in the recruiting process.

College camps and combines will also be an essential time for you to prove your ability. If you are a small school running back who has big school aspirations, you will need to compete with the big boys on as many occasions as you can. That is why these camps are an essential time to showcase your skills. At college camps, the coaches will be timing your 40-yard dash.

This is a very important part of the recruiting process. If you run a 4.8 and want to be a Division I running back, that may not be happening. College coaches want to make sure you have the speed to compete against the top schools in the country so you will need to do your best. The coaches at camps and combines will have potential recruits go through running drills, blocking drills, pass catching drills, and anything that will show if you have the ability to play running back at that level.

Previous recruiting specific articles to look at:

• Football Recruiting Advice for Quarterbacks
• Basketball Recruiting Advice for Point Guards
• Important Factors in Accepting an Athletic Scholarship: Location
• Important Factors in Accepting an Athletic Scholarship: Athletic Facilities