How QBs Should Cut Up Film Before Sending It to College Coaches

Learn how QBs should cut up film before sending to college coaches. Tips on length, plays to include, organization, and mistakes to avoid for recruiting success.

I get it. You just finished a spring camp or a 7 on 7 tournament. Your dad or your trainer hands you a hard drive with three hours of footage. You want to send it to every college coach in the country. Stop right there. Coaches are not watching three hours. They are not watching 30 minutes. They are looking for a reason to delete your email. Your job is to make that delete button impossible to click. Here is exactly how to cut up your quarterback highlight film so coaches actually watch it.

What is the best length for a quarterback highlight film?

A quarterback highlight film should be no longer than 4 to 6 minutes. College coaches watch film in between meetings, on the bus, or late at night. They have a stack of emails from 200 other quarterbacks. If your film goes over 6 minutes, you are asking them to check their phone. Keep it tight. Show your best 20 to 30 plays. No warm ups. No sideline celebrations. No clips of you handing the ball off. Every second needs to prove you can throw, move, and lead.

What plays should I include in my QB recruiting film?

Include plays that show arm strength, accuracy, pocket presence, and athleticism. College coaches want to see you throw the ball downfield, throw on the move, and make quick decisions under pressure. Do not just show touchdowns. Show a third down conversion where you fit the ball into a tight window. Show a scramble where you keep your eyes downfield and deliver a strike. Show a play action fake that freezes the safety. If you play in a system that runs a lot of RPO, include a couple of those reads. Coaches want to know you can process information fast.

Deep balls with touch and accuracy

Throws outside the numbers on a rope

Plays where you climb the pocket and deliver under duress

Designed quarterback runs or scrambles that show athleticism

Quick game throws that show anticipation

Should I put my worst plays in my highlight film?

No. Do not put your worst plays in your highlight film. That is what a full game cut up is for. Coaches will ask for your full game film later if they like your highlights. Your highlight film is your resume. You would not put a bad grade on your resume. Same thing here. If you threw an interception because the receiver ran the wrong route, leave it out. If you missed a throw high, leave it out. You want every play to make the coach think, this kid can play. Save the teaching tape for when you are in the building.

How do I organize the clips in my QB film?

Organize your clips by concept, not by game. Start with your best throw. That is the hook. Then show a variety of throws: deep, intermediate, short, and on the move. End with a play that shows your leadership or toughness, like a scramble for a first down or a touchdown run. Do not put all your deep balls first. Mix it up. Coaches get bored if they see the same route over and over. Show them you can run the whole offense.

First clip: Your best throw that makes them say wow.

Next 5 to 7 clips: Different route concepts and arm angles.

Next 3 to 5 clips: Plays under pressure or on the move.

Next 2 to 3 clips: Athletic plays or designed runs.

Last clip: A play that shows competitiveness or a big moment.

What should I not include in my QB highlight film?

Do not include plays where the defense is clearly outmatched or the receiver is wide open by 10 yards. That does not show your skill. Do not include plays from 7 on 7 unless you are playing against high level competition and the defense is actually covering. Do not include music. Coaches hate that. They want to hear the cadence, the snap, the ball hitting the hands. Music hides mistakes. Also, do not put your face or a logo over the film. Keep it clean. Just the game footage with a simple intro that has your name, jersey number, high school, graduation year, and contact info.

How many total plays should be in a QB recruiting film?

I recommend 20 to 30 plays total. That is enough to show your skill set without dragging on. If you have a really special arm, you might go 25. If you are more of a dual threat, you might go 30. But do not go over 30. Coaches will stop watching. They want to see a sample, not a full season. If they want more, they will ask. And trust me, if you are good, they will ask.

FAQ

Should I include film from my sophomore year?

Only include sophomore year film if it shows something truly elite that you have not done since. Generally, stick to junior year and senior year. Coaches want to see your most recent development. Your sophomore self is not the quarterback you are now.

What if I do not have a lot of film because my team runs the ball a lot?

That is okay. You can still make a good film with 15 to 20 throws. Focus on quality over quantity. Every throw should show proper footwork, arm motion, and decision making. If you only have 10 good throws, send 10. Do not pad it with bad plays. Coaches would rather see 10 great plays than 20 average ones.

Should I edit the film myself or hire someone?

If you know what you are doing, you can edit it yourself. But most quarterbacks benefit from having a coach or a service like QB Stable review it. We see what college coaches look for. We know which plays to cut and which to keep. If you want to make sure your film gets watched, get help. You can check out our exposure work to see how we clean up film for quarterbacks just like you.

Look, recruiting is stressful. Families are searching online for answers, and there is a lot of bad advice out there. But if you take the time to cut your film the right way, you give yourself a real shot. Spring camp season is the perfect time to get your clips together. Rookie minicamps just showed the NFL what they look for, and it is the same at the college level. They want a guy who can process, throw, and lead. Show them that in 4 to 6 minutes. And if you want a second set of eyes, we are here. Get your film cleaned up through QB Stable exposure work. That is what we do. We help quarterbacks get seen.