The Recruiting Timeline Every QB Family Needs to Know

The complete recruiting timeline for QB families, from freshman year preparation through senior year signing day, with specific action items for each stage.

## Most Families Start Too Late

Every week I talk to parents who think recruiting starts senior year. They show up in August before their son's final season and ask how to get him in front of college coaches.

By then, most rosters are already filling up. The best programs have been tracking kids since sophomore year. Some since freshman year.

Recruiting is not a sprint you start at the end. It is a process that rewards the families who plan early, move with intention, and understand the windows.

Here is the timeline every QB family needs to know, broken down by grade level, with specific action items for each stage.

## Freshman Year: Build the Foundation

No one is getting recruited as a freshman. That is not the point. The point is to start building the habits, the film library, and the academic profile that will matter later.

What to focus on:

- Academics first. A 3.5 GPA or higher opens doors that arm strength cannot. Start strong and maintain it. College coaches check transcripts before film. - Get on varsity film if possible. Even if your son is not starting, any varsity reps are worth capturing. - Start a Hudl profile. It does not need to be polished yet. Just start building the library. - Attend camps. Not for exposure at this age, but for learning. Big school camps teach kids what the college game looks like. - Train consistently. Footwork, mechanics, decision making. This is the year to build the physical tools that show up on film later.

Freshman year is about preparation. Nobody is offering scholarships. But the families who use this year wisely are the ones who have options when it matters.

## Sophomore Year: Get on the Radar

This is when recruiting starts to become real. NCAA rules allow coaches to evaluate sophomores in certain contexts, and this is the year your son's name should start showing up in the right places.

What to focus on:

- Build a real highlight film. Not a full Exposure Blueprint level production yet, but a clean, well-edited film showing your son's best plays from the season. Five to seven minutes. - Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. This is non-negotiable. Do it early. - Create a recruiting profile. A one-page document with stats, measurements, GPA, test scores, and contact information. Coaches should be able to see everything they need in 30 seconds. - Attend college camps and combines. This is where coaches first put eyes on prospects. Target programs that fit your son's talent level honestly. - Start researching programs. Not just the big names. D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO programs offer great opportunities and are often easier to connect with.

Sophomore year is when you shift from "getting better" to "getting noticed." The work from freshman year starts to pay off here.

## Junior Year: This Is the Window

Junior year is the most important year in recruiting. Period.

This is when the majority of scholarship offers happen. This is when coaches are actively building their recruiting classes. This is when your son's film, profile, and outreach need to be at their best.

What to focus on:

- Professional level highlight film. This is when the Exposure Blueprint matters most. Coaches are making decisions based on junior year film. Every frame counts. - Targeted outreach. Not mass emails. Personalized contact with coaches at programs that are realistic fits. Research their offensive scheme, their graduating players, their recruiting needs. - Unofficial visits. Visit campuses. Meet coaches in person. Let your son see the facilities, talk to current players, and get a feel for the program. - SAT and ACT scores. Take them early in the year. Strong test scores combined with good grades give coaches one less reason to hesitate. - Summer camps and showcases. This is the prime evaluation period. Target camps at programs your son is genuinely interested in. - Respond quickly. When coaches reach out, respond the same day. Recruiting moves fast and coaches notice who is engaged and who is not.

If your son does not have quality film, a recruiting profile, and a targeted list of programs by the end of junior year, you are behind. Not fatally behind, but behind.

## Senior Year: Close the Deal

By senior year, the heavy lifting should be done. This year is about closing, not starting.

What to focus on:

- Updated film from the senior season. Add the best plays to the existing highlight. Keep it fresh. - Official visits. You get five. Use them wisely. Visit programs where there is real mutual interest, not just the ones with the nicest facilities. - Early signing period is in December. If your son has a commitment, be ready. If not, keep working. February signing day is still a real option. - Stay in contact with coaches. Regular updates on stats, grades, and any new film. Brief, professional, consistent. - Keep grades up. A bad semester can kill a scholarship offer. Coaches have pulled offers over GPA drops. - Have a backup plan. Not every kid is going to play D1. A great education at a D2 or D3 program with a chance to play four years is a better outcome than sitting on a D1 bench.

Senior year separates the families who planned from the ones who hoped. Planning wins.

## The Windows Nobody Talks About

Beyond the grade-level breakdown, there are specific calendar windows that matter.

- January through March: Coaches are evaluating their current recruiting class and identifying gaps. This is a great time to reach out to programs that might have lost a commitment or still have roster spots. - June and July: Camp season. This is the highest concentration of evaluation opportunities. Plan camps strategically around target programs. - September through November: In-season evaluation. Coaches attend high school games. If a coach is coming to see someone at your son's school, make sure your son's name is on their radar beforehand. - December: Early signing period. The first wave of commitments. If your son is uncommitted, this is when the urgency peaks.

Knowing these windows and building your outreach around them gives your family a significant advantage over families who send film randomly throughout the year.

## Start Now, Wherever You Are

If you are reading this and your son is a freshman, you have time. Use it.

If you are reading this and your son is a junior, you need to move. Now. Not next month. Not after the season. Now.

If you are reading this and your son is a senior who has not started the process, do not panic. There are still options. JUCO programs, D3 programs, and late recruiters at every level are looking for quarterbacks.

But the earlier you start, the more options you have. That is just math.

Our [Exposure Blueprint](/exposure) includes an outreach roadmap built around these windows. Strategic film, a professional recruiting profile, and a contact plan designed to get your son in front of the right coaches at the right time.