The best tool a recruit has is his highlight video. Done correctly, it gives a coach everything he needs to recruit that player. The easier it is for the coach to know the prospect is qualified and what he is looking for, the more likely the coach is to begin action recruiting that prospect.

Today’s technology allows recruits and coaches to put together effective highlight videos. Understand that this is a product created to share important information, not to entertain.

Though recruits may like music, most coaches turn the volume off, so don’t even worry about putting music into the video. It’s unnecessary. Transitions are a waste of time as well. Simply putting one clip after the next is enough.

COMING NEXT WEEK: Part 2 focuses on highlight package direction for defensive players

SEE ALSO: Tips to creating a highlight video package that will catch a college recruiter’s eye

Here are some basics: Identify yourself before each play starts. Be sure there is not too much time before the start of the play. Shorten it to two or three seconds before the snap if possible. Leave the speed of the film alone – do not speed up or slow down the video.

The highlights should begin with a slide or slides sharing your info. Understand that recruiting services and even the sports video system your team uses try to sell this information to college coaches. Do not let someone broker your deal. Make it easy for the recruiting coach to have all your information at once. Begin by putting this information on your intro slide:

• First name, last name
• Height and weight
• Position(s) played
• Mobile number
• Email
• Cumulative GPA
• Test scores (ACT and/or SAT)
• Head coach’s name
• Head coach’s phone
• Head coach’s email

You can divide this between two or three slides. Following that, you may choose to put your statistics on the field in the weight room and on the track. Be sure any information you find is accurate. A coach may see any false information you share as a red flag, and that could end your recruitment.

After sharing information, the highlight should include the best 25 clips. I can’t stress this enough: Limit it to 25. This is an introduction to you. The coach does not want your whole season. No extra editing such as titles or transition are needed, just your 25 best plays back to back will suffice.

Begin with your best play. This is not build up to the biggest plays. The best plays belong up front in order to grab the interest of the recruiter immediately.

Here are the type of plays recruiters look for at for each position:

Quarterbacks

Ideally the recruiter will see each type of throw made. Limiting it to one type doesn’t paint a broad enough picture.

Also, including different types of footwork and running plays help a coach understand the type of player you are. Coaches understand that your offensive system may not contain every type of throw, but don’t worry about that. Let the recruiter see you doing well within your system.

Try to include:

• Downfield throws on rhythm – posts, corners and seams thrown on the last step of your drop. This is a skill that many quarterbacks do not show on film.
• Intermediate throws: dig, comeback, curl.
• Quick throws: hitch, slant, quick out, fade.
• Throws on the run: sprint outs.
• Play-action fakes and throws
• Escapability from the pocket
• Any read game or run-pass-option
• Your ability as a runner within your offense

Running backs

Coaches like to see big plays of course, but be sure that they include agility and quickness as well. As much as possible, show the ability to be an every down back within an offense.

Include plays that show:

• Ability to outrun defenders who have an angle on you – true game speed.
• Footwork with a disciplined read and cut at the line of scrimmage that shows our patience and vision.
• Ability to keep the ball secure and break tackles in small spaces from tackle to tackle.
• Ability to make a defender miss in the open field.
• Ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
• Blocking ability in pass protection.

Offensive linemen

Showing that you possess good feet and flexibility makes a big difference in determining at which level you will be recruited. All 6-foot-5, 280-pound linemen are not equal. Coaches are looking at your ability to bend your hips and move your feet. If you appear stiff you will move on.

Include plays that show:

• Ability to play with a low pad level. Be sure every clip you have shows your ability to bend at the hips, knees and ankles to keep your pad level under a defender.
• Ability to play balanced. Pick plays in which you do not appear to be a “leaner” by utilizing leg drive and rolling up through the defender rather than leaning on him and pushing.
• Ability to block on the second and third levels. Show that you can block a defender in the open field and that you possess the speed to get there.
• Finishing the play. Go from snap to whistle. If the play shows you stopping early, you do not want to include it.
• Ability to pass protect. Coaches realize that you may not do a lot of passing in your offense, so if that is the case, do not worry. Find a few good clips of you one-on-one stopping a pass rusher.
• Various types of blocks within your offense. For example, try to show a combo block to a linebacker, a combo block where you take over the down lineman, a trap block, a pull and lead block. Again, coaches understand that offenses vary, so do not worry if you don’t have a wealth of options.

Receiver

Great high school receivers are typically the most athletic players on the field. At the college level, that evens out, so don’t fill your highlight reel with a bunch of long passes where you outrun players who won’t play in college.

Route running, possession catching, field awareness, blocking – all of these are critical to show off.

Be sure to show:

• Ability to win downfield on a post, corner, seam or go route. Show your ability to eat up a cushion and get past a defender and make the catch.
• Ability to run good intermediate routes. Show that you have the ability to make good breaks and settle in windows.
• Ability to take a ball in a short throw or screen and make defenders miss or break tackles in the open field.
• Ability to find work if you do not get the pass thrown to you. Show hustle and willingness to make things happen for you teammates by getting yourself in position to make a block.
• Ability and willingness to block in the run game and finish plays.
• Ability to use your body in space. This includes being able to put your body between the defender and the ball to make a catch as well as getting a defender stacked on a vertical route.

Tight end/H-back/Fullback

Players at this position are a hybrid between the skills of an offensive lineman and a receiver. Utilize the checklists above to put together your playlist.

The point of the highlight is to make the recruiter’s job easy in saying, “This guy fits what we are looking for, or this guy doesn’t fit.”

For the recruit, while you do not want to hear the second option, it will happen. Better to figure that out during the recruiting process and move on to another school. There will be a place that is a right fit for both the college and the recruit. Understand that the process is discovering that on both ends.

Taking these steps with your highlight film puts you in the best position to find the right place for you.

Keith Grabowski has been a football coach for 26 years, currently serving as an offensive assistant and technology coordinator at Oberlin College in Ohio. He previously was a head coach at the high school level for eight years and the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Baldwin Wallace University. Grabowski serves as an advisor for several sports technology companies. He is a columnist for American Football Monthly and writes his own blog at thecoachesedge.com/blog. He’s the author of “101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays” and five other books available on thecoachesedge.com and operates Coaches Edge Technologies. Follow him on Twitter @CoachKGrabowski.