🏅 Are You a Recruitable Student-Athlete? What College Coaches Look For

You’ve set your sights on playing college sports—but are you truly a recruitable student-athlete? Understanding what college coaches look for during the recruitment process is essential if you want to stand out from thousands of other athletes competing for limited spots.

The path to earning a sports scholarship isn’t just about your game stats. College coaches assess three major areas when evaluating prospective student-athletes:

Athletic ability
Academic success
Individual character

Let’s break each one down and help you figure out how to improve your chances of being recruited to a U.S. college sports program.

📘 Academics: More Than Just Grades

Coaches want athletes who can succeed in the classroom just as much as on the field. While some schools demand higher GPAs than others, all coaches are looking for recruitable student-athletes who show strong work ethic, discipline, and commitment to learning.

Coaches will consider:

Your current GPA
Whether you’ve taken standardized tests like the SAT or ACT
Your ability to meet eligibility requirements for their school and conference

📌 Tip: Research the academic standards of each university you’re interested in. Don’t assume athletic ability can override poor academics. Coaches need to trust that you’ll stay eligible and graduate.

⚽ Athletic Ability: Showcasing Your Skills

Athletic performance plays a central role in whether or not you’re recruitable—but it’s not just about raw talent. Coaches look for athletes who can contribute to their program right now or with development.

Coaches evaluate:

Technical skills: How well you perform the core skills of your sport
Tactical awareness: Your decision-making, game IQ, and positioning
Physical performance: Speed, strength, endurance, and agility

⚠️ It’s important to remember: your coach or parents don’t decide your level—college coaches do. They assess whether your style, ability, and potential are the right fit for their team’s system and level of competition.

For sports like track and field, golf, or swimming, statistics matter more (e.g., race times, scores, or averages). But in team sports, coaches often prioritize attitude and potential over current skill alone.

🧠 Character: The Game-Changer

Your character can make—or break—your recruitment. In today’s digital world, it’s easier than ever for college coaches to assess who you really are beyond your highlight reel.

As legendary coach Bob Chmiel said, “College coaches want character, not characters.”

Coaches look for:

How you interact with teammates and coaches
How you respond to adversity or failure
How you present yourself online and in person
The values and habits you display consistently

John Wooden put it best: “Sports do not build character, they reveal it.”

The Five Pillars of Recruitable Character:

Accountability
Integrity
Loyalty
Trust
Leadership

These qualities can set you apart from similarly skilled athletes and make you a coach’s top choice.

👥 Friends and Character: You Are Who You Hang Out With

Coaches often assess your social circle to understand who you are. Even if you’re not the one making poor choices, being around people who do can reflect negatively on you.

Surround yourself with peers who share your values and make decisions that align with your goals. Coaches want leaders, not followers.

📱 Social Media and Character: Your Digital Resume

Your social media profile is often the first impression a coach has of you.

Be intentional with what you post. Maintain a clean, positive, and professional presence online. Avoid anything that could raise red flags—controversial posts, negativity, or inappropriate behavior.

👉 Coaches use platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to get a glimpse into your daily life, personality, and priorities. Make sure what they see matches the athlete you say you are.

🔁 Recruit the Coach, Too

Remember, recruitment is a two-way street. You should be evaluating the coach, program, school, and team culture just as much as they’re evaluating you.

Ask yourself:

Does this coach’s philosophy align with my goals?
Will I thrive academically and socially here?
Does the team environment feel supportive?

🎯 How BRUSA Sports Can Help

At BRUSA Sports, we help student-athletes just like you navigate the U.S. scholarship process—from building a recruitable profile to connecting with the right programs.

Whether you’re just starting your journey or ready to take the next step, our team is here to support you.

📩 Ready to find out if you’re a recruitable student-athlete?
Complete our free evaluation form and let us guide you toward the right opportunity.

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @brusasports