High school athletes trying to get recruited to the next level have myriad of ways to be measured by college coaches.

Talent. Speed. Strength. Skills. Intelligence. Teamwork.

For many players, though, it all begins simply with the ability to be seen. That’s something that Hudl has become known for: helping athletes get discovered.

“Discovery is the name of the game when it comes to college recruiting,” said Anthony Edwards, a member of the Hudl business development team. “Every year, we hear about college coaches finding athletes because of their highlight reels. This applies to all levels and every sport. Whether you want to play Division I or Division III, a highlight reel will get you in front of recruiters. Quite simply, video has the ability to connect the right players with the right coaches.

“Long story short, it’s important to make sure your profile is up-to-date with your latest and greatest plays, and your profile information is accurate.”

Currently, Hudl has more than 10 million users. More than 30,000 high school teams are registered along with every college football team in the country.

While creating an account is easy, making a profile standout isn’t as simple.

“Creating a Premium Highlight is by far the most popular and useful tool athletes use to get noticed,” Edwards said. “A Premium reel allows you to group your best moments with title slides, music and spot shadows. From there, it’s about being creative and doing what you believe is best to standout.

“And be sure to talk to your football coach. Chances are your coach has already talked to recruiters and can offer insight on what recruiters look for in your video.”  

Edwards also noted four tips for improving videos:

Put your best plays at the front of your reel to capture a recruiter’s attention right away. Don’t build it in chronological order.

Use spot shadows only when necessary. You need to stand out from all other athletes, but don’t overuse them.

Showcase only your best moments. Athletes have a tendency to include every down played. That’s overkill and pretty boring to watch.

Don’t build a long-form reel. Keep it two to three minutes. If you have different skills you want to showcase, create more than one reel.

One player who has benefited from Hudl’s recruiting aid is former Steilacoom High School’s Fotu Leiato.

“Leiato went from a relatively unknown senior football player to a top tier recruit in a matter of days,” Edwards said. “Getting a boost from social media, his profile gained nearly 100,000 views in 24 hours. The power of a well-maintained profile, a good reel and a little Twitter savvy really comes to life with Fotu’s story. His profile now has more than 750,000 views.”

Today, Leiato is playing defensive back for the Oregon Ducks.

While the videos offered on Hudl’s website are the typical point of interest, it’s important to update the rest of your profile.

Coaches are obviously looking for talented football players, but information such as test scores, notable awards and other recognitions are important in helping a recruit get an edge.