A college coach just followed you on X. Your phone buzzed, you saw the name, and your heart jumped. I get it. But don’t celebrate yet. A follow is the start of a conversation, not proof you have one. All it really means is you got his attention. That’s it. Plenty of followed kids never get a single offer. So use it. The moment you see that follow, send a short DM. “Thanks for the follow coach. Here’s my film. Are you recruiting [grad year] [position]?” Just like that, you turned a follow into a real conversation. If he replies, now you have something. Ask him where you fit and what the next step is. If he doesn’t reply, no harm done. You stay on his timeline. You keep posting. You keep showing up. A follow is a door cracking open. Your job is to walk through it.