College football recruiting keeps changing, and head coaches are trying all sorts of new ideas to bring in top talent. The NCAA calendar, the transfer portal, and a bigger postseason have all pushed coaches to rethink their strategies.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders has taken a pretty bold path by recruiting only on campus. More coaches are starting to try this, too.
The Shift in Recruiting Strategies
For years, head coaches would travel to players’ homes and high schools, hoping to build trust and land commitments. But with the NCAA calendar changing and the transfer portal in play, that’s not always the case anymore.
Deion Sanders, for example, sticks to on-campus recruiting, while other coaches still value those in-person visits off campus.
Deion Sanders’ Unique Approach
Deion Sanders has never left campus to recruit new players for his team. He always invites recruits to Boulder instead.
This way, Sanders gets to show off the university’s facilities and the Colorado vibe. It’s a chance to make a big impression without ever leaving home base.
Other Coaches Following Suit
Sanders isn’t the only one doing this. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti also skipped home and high school visits last winter, saying he just didn’t have the time after his team’s championship run.
Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham and Southern University’s new coach, Marshall Faulk, have also cut back on going off campus. They lean more on their assistants and focus on bringing recruits to campus.
Impact of NCAA Calendar Changes
The NCAA now gives coaches less time for off-campus recruiting. Before, they could visit recruits in December and most of January.
Since 2024, that window shrank to just January and early February. In 2026, the off-campus period lasted only 23 days, down from 39 days the year before.
This tighter schedule makes it tough for coaches—especially those busy with postseason games—to get out and visit recruits in person.
The Role of the Transfer Portal
The transfer portal has really shaken things up. Coaches are filling more roster spots with transfers instead of high school kids.
Home visits aren’t as common with transfers, since these players are usually older and focused on finding more playing time or better deals.
That’s made the old-school home visit a lot less important in many cases.
Revenue Sharing and Its Impact
Now that players get paid directly by schools through revenue-sharing, the personal touch of a home visit doesn’t always matter as much.
Money talks, and sometimes that’s more persuasive than a handshake in the living room. Still, some coaches aren’t ready to give up on building relationships face-to-face.
Coaches Who Value In-Person Visits
Some coaches just can’t let go of the tradition. Bowling Green State coach Eddie George, for instance, says there’s nothing like meeting recruits in person to build real, lasting connections.
Nebraska’s Matt Rhule keeps hitting the road, believing that showing up matters and that recruiting on the road is part of the job.
Balancing On-Campus and Off-Campus Recruiting
Other coaches try to find a middle ground. UCLA’s Bob Chesney and Texas’ Steve Sarkisian, for example, wait until the transfer portal window closes before heading out to recruit in person.
That lets them make the most of the short off-campus period and not waste any time.
The Future of College Football Recruiting
Recruiting keeps evolving, just like the sport itself. As college football gets more professional, coaches have to adapt—whether that means sticking to campus, working the transfer portal, or still making those old-school visits.
At the end of the day, everyone’s chasing the same thing: the best players, and hopefully, a winning season.
Conclusion
The landscape of college football recruiting keeps changing. Coaches like Deion Sanders are trying bold new strategies.
Some still stick with what’s always worked. It’s hard to say exactly where things will go from here, but it’s clear that these shifts will keep shaping the game.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
