🔑 RECRUITING TIP OF THE WEEK 🏈 YOUR GPA CAN OPEN DOORS THAT YOUR FILM ALONE CANNOT! Prospects and parents, one of the biggest mistakes high school athletes make is believing that being talented enough to play college football automatically makes them eligible to play college football. YOUR ATHLETIC ABILITY MAY GET A COACH'S ATTENTION, BUT YOUR ACADEMIC RECORD CAN DETERMINE WHETHER YOU QUALIFY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY! College coaches aren't just evaluating your performance on Friday nights. They're also evaluating whether you can meet their school's admission standards and applicable athletic eligibility requirements. 🔴 FIVE THINGS EVERY PROSPECT AND PARENT NEED TO UNDERSTAND 1️⃣ YOUR OVERALL GPA AND NCAA CORE-COURSE GPA ARE NOT ALWAYS THE SAME. The NCAA calculates initial academic eligibility using approved core courses. Your high school GPA may include classes that don't count toward NCAA eligibility. For Division I and Division II, the NCAA generally requires 16 approved core-course credits and a minimum 2.3 core-course GPA for Division I or 2.2 for Division II. 2️⃣ A 3.0 GPA DOESN'T GUARANTEE COLLEGE ADMISSION. Meeting NCAA eligibility requirements doesn't automatically mean you'll meet a university's admission standards. Some institutions have more selective academic requirements. 3️⃣ TAKE YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR SERIOUSLY. Your academic record begins long before college coaches start actively recruiting you. Don't wait until your junior or senior year to discover that you're missing required courses. 4️⃣ ACADEMICS CAN CREATE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES. Strong grades may help you qualify for academic scholarships and institutional financial assistance. At some schools, combining eligible forms of financial aid can significantly reduce your family's expenses. 5️⃣ KNOW WHICH ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM APPLIES TO YOU. NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior colleges do not all follow the same eligibility requirements. Research the rules that apply to the programs you're pursuing. 🎯 PARENTS, PAY ATTENTION! You should know more about your athlete's academic standing than just the grades on their report card. Have a conversation with your high school counselor about: ✅ NCAA-approved core courses ✅ Core-course GPA ✅ Required graduation credits ✅ College admission requirements ✅ NCAA Eligibility Center registration, when applicable DON'T WAIT UNTIL A COLLEGE COACH REQUESTS A TRANSCRIPT TO FIND OUT THERE'S AN ACADEMIC PROBLEM! 📋 YOUR ASSIGNMENT THIS WEEK Prospects, schedule time with your school counselor and request an academic review. Make sure you're taking the appropriate courses for your intended college athletic pathway. If you're pursuing NCAA Division I or II opportunities, review your school's approved core-course list and your progress toward initial eligibility. Set an academic goal for the remainder of the semester. RECRUITNEGA RECOMMENDS ATHLETES STRIVE FOR A 3.3 GPA OR HIGHER WHENEVER POSSIBLE. That is a recommended academic target, not an NCAA eligibility minimum. 🔑 COACH D'S FINAL WORD YOU CAN HAVE D1 TALENT AND STILL MISS A D1 OPPORTUNITY IF YOU DON'T HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE CLASSROOM! Parents, don't invest thousands of dollars in camps, trainers and exposure while overlooking your athlete's education. Football can create opportunities, but academics help determine which opportunities remain available. BE A STUDENT-ATHLETE, NOT JUST AN ATHLETE WHO ATTENDS SCHOOL! 🔌 RecruitNEGA Recruit New Elite Generational Athletes Real Connections. Real Exposure. Real Opportunities.