The Super Bowl Potential: What NFL Scouts Look for in College Draft Prospects

Super Bowl XLVI is just around the corner, and we can’t be more excited! Whether you love it for the partying, the food, or for the game, it’s inevitable not to notice the skill and passion each player puts out in the field. In fact, it sometimes makes us wonder: What does it really take to play in the NFL?

Well, thanks to a little research, we’ve come up with some of the requirements most NFL scouts look for in college draft prospects. Who knows, you might just be what they need!

A body built for the NFL. Endurance, strength, flexibility, and power are abilities you’ll need to be an effective football player, whether you’re a quarterback, middle linebacker, or wide receiver. Of course, it’s expected that you have all four to gain the position you’re in; however, will it be enough for the NFL? To gauge this, scouts invite potential players to the NFL Scouting Combine.

The NFL Scouting Combine or National Invitational Camp is a week-long series of physical and mental tests conducted in front of NFL coaches, general managers, and scouts every February. Examples of physical tests include a 40-yard dash, a 60-yard shuttle, and position-specific drills, among others. Every year, around 335 players are invited to participate and showcase their skills in hopes of getting drafted into one of the 32 teams in the NFL.

If you think you can complete the camp with flying colors, then you could be well on your way into the league.

The right mindset. What’s a healthy body without the right frame of mind? The answer: not NFL material. This is because an athlete’s mental aspects, together with his character, are major factors scouts look at when considering prospects. An athlete’s frame of mind is directly related to his discipline, comprehension, and ability to work well in a team.

Discipline is a major factor required in football; someone who just does their own thing regardless of the agreed play isn’t someone you want on your team. Scouts look for players who can be relied on even during the tightest situations.

Comprehension is also important since scouts look for athletes who can easily learn new things and adjust to changes in a snap, even under pressure. Someone who’s easily confused can become a weak link during the most complicated plays.

Finally, the ability to work well with a team is essential. From the way he interacts with teammates to how he reacts when things get tough, ideal college prospects should be able to encourage the rest of the team to do better with a Never Give Up Attitude, instead of bringing morale down with rash behavior, projected insecurities, and other negative behavior.

These are just some of the factors NFL scouts look for in college prospects. Do you think you have what it takes to get into the NFL? We’d like to hear what you’ve got to say!