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LISTEN UP: The key to unlock the new football recruiting game
RECRUITING 101
After talking with college and high school coaches and athletes over the past few cycles, it has become obvious that the recruiting game has changed. It’s not a subtle change but a complete overhaul of the college football recruiting process.
The COVID “extra year” and the portal has completely turned the recruiting game on its’ head.
Everyone could figure that out, but how and who is it affecting the most?
The three, four and five star recruits are still being offered early by the Power 5 Schools (those are changing as well) during the Spring of their sophomore and junior years. Texas, LSU, Bama, Texas A&M, OU, USC and the likes are still offering those prospects, who are considered can’t-miss.
That’s an elite and small number of athletes who fall in this category. They are fine.
The DII and DIII schools are still recruiting the “good” high school players. High schoolers in Texas, however, see themselves as a cut above this level. There are plenty of opportunities to play at this level, so don’t rule this group out.
The DI-FCS and Group of 5 schools are out of the high school market. OUT OF THE MARKET. That is a huge void for the high school football player.
But why?
The way that the portal is now set up, the DI-FCS and Group of 5 schools have virtually become the landing spot for Power 5 players, who “portal down”. That means that these players are not getting playing time at a high-major DI or are strongly suggested to get into the portal by their existing assistant or head coaches.
Instead of developing high school players, this middle group of schools are more willing to take college athletes who have game file and are already used to the college life.
One flip side, a lot these athletes in the Group of 5 and DI-FCS are able to “portal up”. That means they had solid seasons at that level and use the portal to get to the Power 5 level.
This has become virtually what the junior college training ground used to be.
So, what gives?
What advice would I give to those athletes who still have that burning desire to play football in college?
Market yourself. You are your own marketing program. You can sell yourself better than anyone else can, right?
Get to work.
My other advice is to leave all options open. Do not rule anything out. If you can play, go to a lower-level college program and work your way up… “portal up” to where you want to be. Go somewhere you can play and get some film. That is your “new” resume to the next level.
Understand the new assignment, you have been given the Spark Notes.
FAB 50: VYPE's Top 50 Players In The Class Of 2025; Photo Gallery
As the 2023 Texas High School Football season is underway, VYPE ranked the top 50 players in the Class of 2025 from the Greater Houston-Area.
Without further ado, here is the annual VYPE Fab 50 2025 List.
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No. 1 Devin Sanchez, North Shore, DB
No. 2 Jonah Williams, Galveston Ball, ATH
No. 3 Andrew Marsh, Katy Jordan, WR
No. 4 Chad Woodfork, Summer Creek, DL
No. 5 Tory Blaylock, Atascocita, RB
No. 6 Jacorey Watson, Shadow Creek, ATH
No. 7 Deyjhon Pettaway, Paetow, DB
No. 8 Quanell Farrakhan Jr, The Woodlands, WR
No. 9 Cobey Sellers, Shadow Creek, DB
No. 10 Kaleb Bailey, North Shore, QB
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No. 11 Deion Deblanc, North Shore, WR
No. 12 Tanook Hines, Dekaney, WR
No. 13 Joshua Moses, Legacy SSS, OL, Texas A&M-Commit
No. 14 Landon Rink, Cy-Fair, DE
No. 15 Caleb Chester, FB Marshall, DB
No. 16 Tyler Thomas, Dickinson, OL
No. 17 Max Granville, FBCA, DE
No. 18 Dramodd Odoms, Lamar, OL
No. 19 Tyvonn Byars, Lake Creek, RB
No. 20 Malcom Simpson, Galveston Ball, DE
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No. 21 Kiandrea Barker, The Woodlands, RB, Penn State-Commit
No. 22 Kade Phillips, Hightower, DB
No. 23 Jonte Newman, Bridgeland, OL
No. 24 Joseph Albright, Westfield, DB, Arizona State-Commit
No. 25 Dane Jones, Ridge Point, WR
No. 26 Chad Gasper, Katy Jordan, RB
No. 27 Anthony Williams, Shadow Creek, LB
No. 28 Lloyd Jones, Hitchcock, QB
No. 29 Ty Rupe, Grand Oaks, TE
No. 30 Ja’Kayden Ferguson, FB Marshall, WR
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No. 31 Wesley Yarbrough, Crosby, RB
No. 32 Jordan Andrus, Yates, TE
No. 33 Kelshaun Johnson, Hitchcock, WR
No. 34 Ashton Jones, Shadow Creek, WR
No. 35 Jeremiah Scoby, Dickinson, TE
No. 36 Brandon Thomas, Episcopal, ATH
No. 37 Trent Spence, Klein Collins, DE
No. 38 Andre Feast, FB Marshall, WR
No. 39 Dramekco Green, Conroe, RB
No. 40 Daylion Robinson, Willis, ATH
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No. 41 Kyran Pate, Atascocita, WR
No. 42 Copelin Windfront, Crosby, LB
No. 43 Cullen Devine, Stratford, DL
No. 44 Trenton Burkhalter, Klein Forest, LB
No. 45 D'Andre Hardeman, North Shore, RB
No. 46 Austin Carlisle, Ridge Point, QB
No. 47 Cole Allen, St. John’s, ATH
No. 48 Jalen Mickens, Willis, WR
No. 49 Shane Walker, The Woodlands, WR
No. 50 JoJo Stewart, Hightower, QB
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