Why Looking Like a College Athlete Matters More Than Ever

The biggest shift in college recruiting right now isn’t talent.

It’s comparison.

With the Transfer Portal, high school athletes are no longer being compared only to other high school kids — they’re being evaluated against older, stronger, fully developed players.

That changes everything.

I’ve talked about this for years using what I call the I Chart and the Eye Chart, and wrote about it in my The Journey book (Its free for anyone who does not have it) back in 2013!

The I Chart (Internal Coach Evaluation):Coaches now ask one immediate question:➡️ Can this athlete physically compete right now — not someday?

Size, strength, durability, and availability have become filters, not bonuses.

The Eye Chart (First 3–5 Seconds):When a coach, recruiter, or ranking service looks at film or sees an athlete again, the first reaction is simple:➡️ Does he look different than last time?

Bigger.Stronger.More confident.More prepared.

If the answer is yes, interest rises.If the answer is no, the athlete blends in — or slides.

This isn’t about vanity.It’s about readiness.

And to those parents out there in "corporate" America who "look" at resumes for a job "fit" you know this is true! You can scan a resume for a "fit" in 7 seconds! College coaches are no different.

Healthy, developed athletes don’t just perform better.They survive roster decisions.

Tomorrow I’ll share what this looks like in real life — and why the margin has disappeared.

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