Football recruiting is position-specific in a way that no other sport matches. A defensive back and an offensive lineman are evaluated on entirely different measurables, against entirely different benchmarks, for entirely different physical profiles. A 4.5-second 40-yard dash is elite for a linebacker and ordinary for a wide receiver. A 300-pound bench press is expected for an offensive lineman and irrelevant for a punt returner.
This makes self-assessment harder for football families than for families in time-and-marks sports. You can't just check one number against a chart. You need to know what coaches at your athlete's target division level expect for their specific position — and how those expectations shift between FBS, FCS, D2, and D3. That's what this guide provides.
Before position-specific benchmarks, understand the universal categories coaches apply across every position.
Measurables (the sorting mechanism).
40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, pro agility shuttle (5-10-5), bench press (for linemen), height, and weight. These numbers come from combines, camp testing, and self-reported profiles. Coaches use them as the first filter — not because measurables predict success, but because they efficiently narrow a pool of thousands of recruits to hundreds worth evaluating on film.
Game film (the real evaluation).
Hudl film is the currency of football recruiting. Coaches watch film before they watch measurables for most positions. What they look for varies by position — offensive linemen are evaluated on technique and pad level, receivers on route running and hands, defensive backs on hip fluidity and ball skills. But every position is evaluated on effort, physicality, and competitiveness. A coach who sees an athlete take plays off on film stops watching, regardless of measurables.
Size and frame projection.
Football coaches recruit bodies as much as athletes. A 6'3", 210-pound junior with a projectable frame (broad shoulders, room to add weight) is more interesting than a 6'1", 225-pound senior who's already physically maxed out. Coaches project what an athlete will look like after two years of college strength training and nutrition.
Academic profile.
FBS offers 85 headcount scholarships (all full rides). FCS offers 63 equivalencies (split across the roster). D2 offers 36 equivalencies. D3 offers none. The scholarship structure means that at FCS, D2, and NAIA, academic merit aid stacks with athletic aid — making a strong GPA directly valuable. For the full breakdown, see the football athletic scholarships guide.
Skill position recruiting standards by division
Skill positions (QB, RB, WR, TE, DB) are evaluated on speed, agility, and position-specific skills. The measurable thresholds below reflect where coaches begin serious recruiting conversations.
| Position | Measurable | FBS (Power 4) | FBS (Group of 5) / FCS | D2 | D3 |
|---|
| QB | Height | 6'2"–6'5" | 6'0"–6'4" | 5'11"–6'3" | 5'10"–6'2" |
| QB | Arm velocity | 55+ mph | 50–55 mph | 47–52 mph | 45–50 mph |
| RB | 40-yard dash | 4.4–4.6 | 4.5–4.7 | 4.6–4.8 | 4.7–4.9 |
| WR | 40-yard dash | 4.4–4.55 | 4.45–4.65 | 4.55–4.75 | 4.6–4.85 |
| WR | Height | 5'11"–6'3" | 5'10"–6'2" | 5'9"–6'1" | 5'8"–6'0" |
| TE | Height/weight | 6'4"+ / 230+ | 6'3"+ / 220+ | 6'2"+ / 215+ | 6'1"+ / 210+ |
| DB (CB) | 40-yard dash | 4.4–4.55 | 4.5–4.65 | 4.55–4.7 | 4.6–4.8 |
| DB (Safety) | 40-yard dash | 4.5–4.65 | 4.55–4.7 | 4.6–4.8 | 4.65–4.85 |
Quarterback evaluation goes far beyond measurables. Height and arm strength get a QB's film watched. What coaches evaluate on film is accuracy under pressure, pocket presence, decision-making speed, and ability to read defenses pre- and post-snap. A 6'0" quarterback with elite accuracy and a quick release is recruitable at FCS and D2 programs that run spread systems. A 6'4" quarterback with a cannon arm who makes poor reads isn't recruitable anywhere. Film is everything for QBs.
Wide receiver height standards are changing. The traditional model of 6'2"+ perimeter receivers still exists at the Power Four level, but the proliferation of slot-heavy offenses has created demand for 5'9"–5'11" slot receivers with elite quickness and route precision. If your athlete is undersized for the outside, the slot profile may open doors that traditional evaluation would close.
Lineman recruiting standards by division
Offensive and defensive linemen are evaluated on a fundamentally different set of measurables than skill positions. Size, strength, and technique dominate the evaluation.
| Position | Measurable | FBS (Power 4) | FBS (G5) / FCS | D2 | D3 |
|---|
| OL | Height | 6'3"–6'7" | 6'2"–6'5" | 6'1"–6'4" | 5'11"–6'3" |
| OL | Weight | 280–320+ | 270–305 | 260–295 | 245–280 |
| OL | Bench press | 300+ | 275+ | 250+ | 225+ |
| DL | Height | 6'2"–6'6" | 6'1"–6'5" | 6'0"–6'4" | 5'11"–6'3" |
| DL | Weight | 260–305+ | 250–290 | 240–280 | 225–270 |
| DL | 40-yard dash | 4.7–5.0 | 4.8–5.1 | 4.9–5.2 | 5.0–5.3 |
Offensive linemen are the most size-dependent position in college football. A 6'1", 255-pound guard can dominate in high school and be functionally too small for FBS football. The gap between high school and college line play is the largest of any position, and size is the primary reason. Families with undersized linemen should honestly target the division level where their athlete's frame fits — not the level where they want to play.
Defensive linemen are evaluated on get-off and motor. The 40-yard dash matters less than the first 10 yards (first-step explosion) and effort on every play. Coaches watch film of defensive linemen differently than any other position — they're counting how many plays the athlete takes off, how they handle double teams, and whether they pursue ball carriers away from their gap. Measurables get your film watched, but the film decides everything.
Linebacker and specialist recruiting standards by division
| Position | Measurable | FBS (Power 4) | FBS (G5) / FCS | D2 | D3 |
|---|
| ILB | Height/weight | 6'1"–6'3" / 225–245 | 6'0"–6'3" / 215–240 | 5'11"–6'2" / 210–235 | 5'10"–6'1" / 200–225 |
| OLB | Height/weight | 6'2"–6'5" / 230–255 | 6'1"–6'4" / 220–245 | 6'0"–6'3" / 215–240 | 5'11"–6'2" / 205–230 |
| LB | 40-yard dash | 4.5–4.7 | 4.6–4.8 | 4.65–4.85 | 4.7–4.95 |
| K/P | Primary measurable | FG range 50+ / Punt avg 43+ | FG range 45+ / Punt avg 40+ | FG range 40+ / Punt avg 38+ | FG range 35+ / Punt avg 36+ |
Linebacker is the most film-dependent position after quarterback. The measurables establish the physical baseline, but coaches make linebacker evaluations almost entirely from film — reading play-side recognition speed, tackling technique, ability to shed blocks, and coverage ability in space. A linebacker with a 4.7 forty who diagnoses plays instantly and is a reliable tackler is more recruitable than one with a 4.55 who takes bad angles.
Specialists (kickers and punters) are the most underrecruited position group. Programs at every level need kickers, and the supply of quality specialists is thin. If your athlete can kick field goals from 40+ yards consistently with verified video, D1 scholarship offers are realistic even without the physical profile of a typical D1 athlete. Kicking-specific showcases (Kohl's Professional Camps, Chris Sailer Kicking) are the primary evaluation pathway.
Football has the most structured combine testing ecosystem of any sport, which works in your athlete's favor — coaches trust verified measurable data from recognized sources.
Where to get tested:
College prospect camps often include a measurables station with electronic timing. Regional combines (Under Armour All-America Camp Series, Nike Opening Regional) produce verified data that coaches trust. High school or club-organized testing with laser timing is acceptable. Hand-timed 40-yard dashes are not — coaches automatically add 0.2 seconds to hand-timed results, so get laser-timed numbers whenever possible.
Hudl is mandatory.
Football recruiting runs through Hudl. If your athlete's game film isn't on Hudl with properly tagged plays, coaches will not evaluate them. Period. Upload full game film (not highlights-only) with plays categorized by type. Coaches want to see every snap, not a curated reel — they're evaluating consistency and effort on non-highlight plays as much as big moments. For production guidance, see the recruiting highlight reel guide.
Self-reported measurables should be honest.
Inflating your athlete's height, weight, or 40 time is counterproductive. Coaches will test these numbers at the first camp visit or official visit, and discovering that a recruit is two inches shorter and 0.3 seconds slower than their profile claims destroys credibility. Report verified numbers. If you don't have laser-timed data, say so rather than guessing.
The bottom line
Football recruiting standards are position-specific, division-specific, and more dependent on film than any numbers on a profile. The measurables open doors — they tell coaches which film to watch and at which division level your athlete competes. But the film is where decisions get made. An athlete with borderline D2 measurables but elite film showing effort, technique, and football IQ on every snap is more recruitable than an athlete with D1 measurables who takes plays off.
Build an honest physical profile. Get your athlete's measurables tested and verified. Invest in quality Hudl film. And match the target list to the division level where the measurables and film align — not to the level where you wish they aligned.
For the complete recruiting timeline by division — when FBS contact periods open, when camps matter most, and how FCS and D2 timelines differ — see the football recruiting timeline. When you're ready to contact coaches, the football coach email guide covers who to email on the staff, position-specific film requirements, and how outreach differs by division. And for a deep dive into the camps and combines where measurables get tested, see our guide on whether football recruiting camps are worth it.