Written by Sam Tanous, Class of ’25

In the dynamic landscape of college sports recruiting, a whole new era has started. Social media platforms are becoming tools for athletes looking to catch the eyes of college coaches. With the traditional methods of recruiting evolving, the concept of athletes branding themself online has never been more important.

Myles Mendoza, a sophomore at Massasoit Community College, shed light on this shift.

“The point of a two-year school is to get out. I am constantly posting videos daily to grab the attention of college coaches,” Mendoza remarks. “Recruiting has changed drastically. Before athletes really started posting on social media,  you had to go to individual camps just to be seen by one school. Now, I can post a single video of me playing, and schools from across the country can see me in one go.”

Highlighting the importance of branding, Myles emphasizes the need for professionalism on social media.

“I have to show my professional side online. College coaches are looking for mature kids, so I can’t afford to post the same content that a non-athlete might. I view my social media as a resume for college coaches,” he says.

Gabe Tanous, a high school athlete who committed to division one Central Connecticut State for baseball, related to the impact of social media on his recruiting journey. “I’ve always been a skilled player, but after the issues caused by the 2020 Coronavirus, getting college attention became challenging,” Tanous recalls. “After posting about two or three videos, I instantly got messages from about ten schools in my DM’s.”

Gabe stressed the importance of maintaining a focused content strategy. “The key is to keep your social media content strictly about baseball. College coaches who followed me didn’t want glimpses into my personal life, they want updates on my performance on the field and my academics,” he adds.

The evolution of college sports recruiting reflects larger shifts in communication and technology. As platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube continue to dominate the digital landscape, athletes are using these channels to showcase their talents and build their personal brands.

At the same time, many college coaches are recognizing the potential of social media as a scouting tool and are constantly posting to find prospective players. This dual engagement on social media platforms has transformed the recruiting process into an active exchange, where both athletes and coaches seek out opportunities and connections online.