The Next Play

In this episode of The Football Scholarship Podcast, Richie Contartesi and cohost Brian Overton, a recruiting expert with 15 years of Division 1 experience, reveal the exact strategy for reaching out to college coaches and getting a response. They break down why targeting area coaches—who recruit specific regions, not just positions—is key to getting your film watched. They explain how to personal...

In this episode of The Football Scholarship Podcast, Richie Contartesi and cohost Brian Overton, a recruiting expert with 15 years of Division 1 experience, break down exactly when and how to start the recruiting process, why getting a professional evaluation is crucial, and how to target the right schools and divisions. They also cover the importance of social media, consistent posting, and DMing...

In this episode of The Football Scholarship Podcast, hear how Cruz went from no interest from any college coaches to earning a college scholarship by mastering outreach, overcoming rejection, and proving himself on and off the field.

In this episode of The Football Scholarship Podcast, hear how Felix transformed his confidence, overcame doubters, and secured multiple offers with the help of our system and dedicated mentorship. You’ll learn how his family took a structured, team-based approach to outreach and how even negotiating a scholarship paid for the program itself. From navigating injuries to learning how to sell himself...

In this episode of The Football Scholarship Podcast, Richie Contartesi and cohost Brian Overton, a recruiting expert with 15 years of Division 1 experience, dive into the college football contact period—when coaches can meet you in person and how to use it to secure scholarships.

In this episode of The Football Scholarship Podcast, Richie Contartesi and cohost Brian Overton, a recruiting expert with 15 years of Division 1 experience, breaks down the latest settlement impacting NIL, salary caps, and Title IX, to in-depth discussions on recruiting trends, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal.

In this episode of The Football Scholarship Podcast, Richie Contartesi and cohost Brian Overton, a recruiting expert with 15 years of Division 1 experience, reveal how athletes can maximize offers, even turning partial scholarships into significant packages. With real-life success stories and proven strategies, Richie and Brian emphasize preparation, gratitude, and relationship-building with coach...

In this episode of The Football Scholarship Podcast, Richie Contartesi and cohost Brian Overton, a recruiting expert with 15 years of Division 1 experience, dive into the potential NCAA rule change adding a fifth year of eligibility, discussing its impact on high school and JUCO recruiting, scholarship availability, and what it means for you.

In this special episode, Richie Contartesi joins Gabe Rummel to reveal game-changing strategies every high school football player—and their parents—must know to dominate the recruiting process. Richie pulls back the curtain on the business side of high school athletics, empowering players to take control of their future. Drawing from his personal journey of earning a D1 scholarship at Ole Miss as...

In this episode of The Football Scholarship Podcast, Richie Contartesi and cohost Brian Overton, a recruiting expert with 15 years of Division 1 experience, unpack the realities of the transfer portal—how it’s reshaping opportunities for high school players, the strategies college programs use to balance recruiting through the portal versus high school, and why understanding these dynamics is crit...

In this episode, we dive into groundbreaking news: the federal ruling involving Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and how it changes college football recruiting forever. Learn how the settlement impacts JUCO eligibility, NIL opportunities, and high school recruiting strategies. We’ll break down what this means for current JUCO players, high school athletes without offers, and the future of colleg...

In this episode of  The Football Scholarship Podcast , Richie Contartesi and cohost Brian Overton, a recruiting expert with 15 years of Division 1 experience, dive deep into the ins and outs of official visits and turn them into football scholarship offers. They discuss what official visits entail, how they differ from unofficial visits, and why they’re a pivotal step in the recruiting process. Le...

In this episode of  The Football Scholarship Podcast , Richie Contartesi and cohost Brian Overton, a recruiting expert with 15 years of Division 1 experience, dive deep into the ins and outs of junior days and turn them into football scholarship offers. They discuss what junior days are, who gets invited, and why they’re a critical step in the recruiting process. Learn how to prepare for these vis...

In this episode of  The Football Scholarship Podcast , Richie Contartesi and co-host Brian Overton, dive into the game-changing news about the NCAA eliminating the National Letter of Intent (NLI). With National Signing Day fast approaching, they explore the implications of this change, including what it means for players, parents, and college programs. Will Signing Day become obsolete? What agreem...

In this episode, Richie Contartesi and Brian Overton dive into one of the most pressing questions for high school football players and their parents:  When can you earn a college football scholarship? They break down the critical timelines for every division—Division I, II, and NAIA—revealing that the window to secure a scholarship is often much larger than most people think. From early signing pe...

In this special episode, Richie Contartesi joins Jeff Giagnocavo on his podcast to share the incredible journey of earning a Division 1 football scholarship at Ole Miss. Richie opens up about the relentless rejection he faced, getting cut from teams, and the moment Coach Ed Orgeron offered him a spot—not for his talent, but for his unmatched drive and leadership on the scout team. Tune in as Richi...

In this episode, I coach Wyatt Horton on the most crucial aspects of college football recruiting: making the most of the contact period. We discuss the strategies every high school athlete needs to stand out, from turning brief meetings with coaches into lasting relationships to ensure you get the best scholarships possible. We also explore the evolving landscape of recruiting in today’s game—how...

In this episode, hosts Richie Contartesi and Brian Overton dive into the game-changing update in college football recruiting: the increase in scholarships from 85 to 105. This groundbreaking rule change, set to begin in the 2025–2026 season, offers significant shifts in opportunities for athletes, parents, and programs across all levels. From potential benefits and drawbacks to the ripple effects...

In this episode of  The Football Scholarship Podcast , host Richie Contartesi sits down with NCAA compliance expert Rick Allen to uncover the biggest misconceptions athletes and their families face during the recruiting process. With Rick’s extensive experience as a former compliance director at D1 programs and founder of Informed Athlete, they explore crucial topics such as NCAA eligibility, tran...

In this episode of  The Football Scholarship Podcast , hosts Richie Contartesi and Brian Overton dive deep into the hot-button issue of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) for high school football players. With Brian's 15 years of D1 recruiting experience, they explore both sides of the NIL debate, discussing whether high school athletes should be paid and how this impacts the recruiting process. Rich...

In this episode, Richie Contartesi introduces Brian Overton, the new Chief Recruiting Officer at Next Play, with extensive experience at top programs like Arkansas and North Carolina. Brian shares insider tips on navigating the football recruiting process, from creating standout highlight reels to building relationships with coaches. They cover key topics like the transfer portal, NIL deals, and t...

Richie Contartesi delves into the NCSA recruiting software and services that aim to help athletes get recognized by college coaches, outlines its pros and cons, and provides recommendations based on his own journey to provide a clearer understanding of the whole process. Get a FREE copy of Richie's #1 Best Seller "In Spite of the Odds", where he shares step-by-step how he earned a co...

Richie breaks down the various types of walk-ons, the challenges they face, and shares 5 steps that athletes can follow to increase their chances of earning a scholarship. Whether you're an aspiring athlete, in college, or a parent, this video provides invaluable insights on navigating the world of college football scholarships. Get a FREE copy of Richie's #1 Best Seller "In Spite of...

Based on his personal experience, Richie Contartesi shares a 5-step method that athletes can immediately implement to guarantee they get a response from college coaches and boost their odds of securing a college athletic scholarship. Get a FREE copy of Richie's #1 Best Seller "In Spite of the Odds", where he shares step-by-step how he earned a college football scholarship at 5'7&...

Richie Contartesi, founder of Next Play, discusses the challenges of earning a D1 football scholarship, shares five key mistakes to avoid, and provides a weekly accountability framework for high school athletes and parents in the college football recruiting process to WIN in the post-COVID era. Get a FREE copy of Richie's #1 Best Seller "In Spite of the Odds", where he shares step-by...