The top high school football recruits do not rely on chance to secure a college scholarship. Although their records may attract the attention of recruiters, the most successful college applicants know that they need more than a few good seasons on the field to get them into college. They need to do their homework and apply to the programs with the best fit.

Finding the Right Fit for Top High School Football Recruits

How do you determine fit? You start by getting information. The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) of the U.S. Department of Education keeps a record of all U.S. colleges and universities that receive federal student aid and have active athletics programs. Their database is open to the public and it can be searched to see which schools have the most money and which schools get the top high school football recruits. For many, it's a valuable resource in seeking out scholarship opportunities.

The OPE website doesn't list scholarships explicitly, but their database contains valuable information that allows you to search athletics departments by institution and to compare and contrast schools across specific sports statistics. For example, you can use it to learn that in 2005, Texas was the top grossing college football program, bringing in a whopping $47,556,281 in revenue. You can also identify the other top grossing programs that year, including Auburn, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.

You may already be familiar with the top football programs. However, in the competitive world of college football, rankings can change quickly. The top high school football recruits take a long-term view that considers not only today's favorites, but programs with a long tradition of football excellence, programs that are rebuilding, and those that are on the rise. And most importantly, you need to get the word out there about what you have to offer recruiters and schools. Create a profile here at PrepChamps and use it to market yourself to colleges!