FOR CENTENNIAL STUDENT-ATHLETES
If you and your family believe you have what it takes to compete at the college level, this guide is for you. Getting recruited is not something that just happens — it takes planning, effort, and a lot of preparation starting in high school. The earlier you start, the better your chances of landing the right opportunity.
Spartan Athletic Club put this resource together to help every Centennial student-athlete understand the process. Read it carefully, share it with your parents, and take action.
THE BIG PICTURE
Over 500,000 athletes participate in college sports across the country. Less than 1% — about 4,000 — receive a Division I full-ride scholarship. That does not mean a scholarship is out of reach. It means you need to be realistic about which division and which schools are the right fit for your talent and your academics.
The good news: 80% of all college athletic opportunities exist outside of Division I. If you put in the work on the field and in the classroom, there is a path for you.
KNOW YOUR OPTIONS
College athletic programs are organized into divisions based on the size of the school, level of competition, and scholarship limits. Here is a plain-language breakdown of what each division means for you as a recruit.
The largest and most competitive programs in the country. Division I offers the most scholarships but also requires the highest level of academic achievement. Full-ride scholarships exist but are rare — most athletes receive partial aid.
~336 schools nationally · 21 in Texas
Slightly less competitive than Division I, with a less demanding academic eligibility threshold. Partial scholarships are common. A strong option for athletes who want a competitive experience without the pressure of the largest D-I programs.
~289 schools nationally · 14 in Texas
No athletic scholarships — by rule, D-III schools cannot offer them. However, they can and do offer academic and merit-based aid. If you are recruited by a D-III school, expect the offer to come through the financial aid office, not the coach. No NCAA academic eligibility requirements apply at D-III.
~448 schools nationally · 16 in Texas
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics — smaller colleges not affiliated with the NCAA. No full-ride scholarships. To be eligible you must meet 2 of 3 standards: graduate top half of class, score 18+ on ACT or 860+ on SAT, or hold a 2.0+ GPA. No initial eligibility center required.
~250+ schools nationally · varies in Texas
THE RECRUITING ROADMAP
Getting recruited is an active process — not a passive one. Here is what you need to do, in order, to give yourself the best chance at a college athletic scholarship.
The NCAA requires specific courses, minimum grades, and SAT/ACT scores for eligibility. Review the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete and build your course schedule to meet — or exceed — those requirements from the start of high school. Missing a required course can eliminate you from consideration at D-I and D-II schools.
There are no shortcuts here. Every practice rep, every film session, every grade you earn is an investment in your future. Coaches want athletes who are committed and coachable. Your transcript and your film tell the story before you ever speak to a coach.
Create a profile on a recruiting platform like BeRecruited.com — free to set up. Your profile is your athletic resume. Include accurate stats, honors, contact information for yourself, your parents, and your coaches. Do not embellish — coaches will find out.
Coaches want to see you play. Put together a highlight reel that includes both edited skill footage and unedited game footage. You can film it yourself or use a professional video company. Make sure it honestly represents your regular level of play — not just your best three moments.
Write a personalized cover letter to every school you are interested in. Use the coach's name. Reference their program specifically. Show them you have done your research. Attach your profile and highlight film. One page, no longer. Generic letters get ignored — personal ones get read.
At the beginning of your Junior year, register at ncaaeligibilitycenter.org and submit your transcript directly from your school. When you take the SAT or ACT, send your scores to the NCAA Eligibility Center using code 9999. After graduation, your school sends a final transcript to complete the process.
When a coach contacts you — by letter, email, or phone — respond quickly. Coaches notice athletes who take their future seriously. A slow or absent response sends the wrong message. Stay on top of any questionnaires or requests for information.
The NCAA has strict rules about when and how coaches may contact recruits — and they vary by division. Violating these rules, or accepting an impermissible benefit from a coach or program, can cost you your eligibility entirely. Know the rules for your sport and your target division. Find them at ncaaeligibilitycenter.org.
PRO TIP
If by the end of your Junior year you have earned a 1000 SAT composite (reading + math), an 86 ACT composite, and a 3.0 GPA in your NCAA core courses — contact the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center and request Early Certification.
Early Certification tells college coaches you are academically ready right now. They do not have to wonder or wait. That certainty makes you a more attractive recruit and can accelerate the offer process significantly.
COMMON QUESTIONS
The earlier the better — ideally by the start of high school. Your freshman and sophomore course selections directly affect your NCAA eligibility, and some coaches begin evaluating athletes as early as their sophomore year. Do not wait until junior year to start planning.
You absolutely can — and should — contact coaches directly. Being recruited is not a process you sit back and watch. Write personal letters to coaches at schools you are interested in, send your profile and highlight film, and follow up. Most successful recruits are proactive, not passive.
The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies that student-athletes meet the academic requirements to compete in Division I or Division II college sports. You must register at ncaaeligibilitycenter.org at the beginning of your Junior year and submit your transcripts. When taking the SAT or ACT, send scores to the Eligibility Center using code 9999.
NCAA Division I requires a minimum GPA in approved core courses on a sliding scale — the higher your GPA, the lower your SAT/ACT score needs to be, and vice versa. The NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete at ncaaeligibilitycenter.org has the complete sliding scale and course requirements.
BeRecruited.com is a highly recommended free platform that college coaches actively search. You can set up a basic profile at no cost. Upgrading gives you more visibility and lets you see who has viewed your profile. Other platforms include NCSA and AthleticDirectorU.
Division III schools cannot offer athletic scholarships by NCAA rule. However, they can offer academic and merit-based financial aid. Many D-III athletes receive significant financial aid packages — they just cannot be labeled as athletic scholarships. If a D-III school recruits you, work closely with their financial aid office.
Your recruiting cover letter should be one page, addressed to a specific coach by name, and include facts about their program that show you have done your research. Mention your sport, position, key stats, relevant honors, and your genuine interest in their school. Attach your profile and highlight film. Do not send a generic letter.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
College athletic programs are organized into divisions based on the size of the school, level of competition, and scholarship limits. Here is a plain-language breakdown of what each division means for you as a recruit.
ncaaeligibilitycenter.org
Register here, submit transcripts, send test scores (code 9999), and download the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. Essential for any D-I or D-II recruit.
ncaa.org
Find a full list of all NCAA member schools sorted by division. Click ‘About the NCAA’ to browse schools by sport and state.
berecruited.com
Free recruiting profile platform used and searched by college coaches. Set up your profile, upload stats, and add your highlight film.
uiltexas.org/athletics
Texas-specific athletic rules, eligibility information, and guidelines for high school student-athletes competing under UIL.
The Sports Scholarships Insider’s Guide by Dion Wheeler
A comprehensive guide to the athletic scholarship process. Available at major booksellers. Highly recommended for families just starting the recruiting journey.
If you find a guide, tool, or website that helped your student-athlete get recruited and you think other Centennial families should know about it — let us know. We will review it and add it to this page.
SUPPORT EVERY SPARTAN
Resources like this page exist because of Spartan Athletic Club members. Join today for $40 per family and help us continue supporting every student-athlete at Centennial — on the field and beyond.
