2026 NFL Agent Exam: A Few First Thoughts

09 Friday Jan 2026

Posted by in Agent Exam, Agents, Getting started

≈ Leave a comment

In the last few days, we’ve been contacted by several people who’ve registered to take this summer’s agent exam. I tweeted about it earlier today, but sometimes a tweet just isn’t enough. Here are a few more thoughts about achieving your dreams if you aspire to represent pro football players.

Our program starts in February: As always, we’ll have monthly Zoom sessions as we systematically cover each segment of the CBA. I’d argue that no one knows the CBA better than our instructor, Chicago-based Ian Greengross. Ian has led our program for several years now and dozens of successful test-takers got good results because of Ian.

Actually, we don’t really have a program: There are services out there charging close to $2,000 for bunch of classes. If you take all our classes, i.e., our Zoom sessions, which cover the CBA comprehensively, you spend $250. Stick around for our final review and our stress test, and you’re still under $400. We even tell you in advance what topics we cover in each session, so if you already have a handle on the topics in one session, keep your money. You’re not obligated to attend. Again, no obligations.

We have a special deal for you if this is your second try: Our partners at Stratic, Shane Costa and Christian Kranz of Generation Sports Group, offer a sensational alternative program, especially if you only have one last shot. It’s a little more intensive and a little more directed. It’s a bit more of a financial commitment, but it’s worth it. Especially if it’s fourth down, figuratively speaking, but even if you’ve never taken the exam before. Contact us and we’ll get you all the details. You won’t be sorry if you choose this option.

We’re improving our popular practice exams: We’re working on converting our two practice exams, maybe our most popular pre-exam feature, into one exam that changes questions each time you take it. It will be like taking a new practice exam every time. Our goal was to get this done last year, but we got a late start. We hope to have this completed at least by May, well before the final push.

You don’t have to wait until February to order our study guide: Our first Zoom session is about six weeks off and we won’t update our practice exams for a few months. However, if you’re registered now and eager to get going on things, you can order our study guide today. It’s pricey ($400 plus tax) but probably worth double that. In fact, if you only get one thing in preparation for the exam, get our study guide. It’s a 70-page PDF. Order it and we’ll have it in your inbox within an hour.

We will work with half-to-two thirds of the rising agent class, but if you’re one of our people, you’ll find we’re devoted to helping you pass. I hope we can work together. Let’s make it happen. If you have more questions, make sure to contact us at @Insidetheleague. DMs are always open.

Best Draft Award 2025: Struggling to Define the Finalists

02 Friday Jan 2026

Posted by in NFL draft, Scouts

≈ Leave a comment

With the end of the NFL regular season at hand, we’ll start voting on the Best Draft Award next weekend. That means that the next Friday Wrap will list the five finalists. We’ll also send out ballots to NFL scouts so we can begin voting. The problem this year is picking the five finalists.

I’ve read in some places that the 2025 draft class didn’t yield the normal crop of talent, but I disagree sharply. Look at all the teams, listed alphabetically, who got big-time contributions from their rookies.

Bears: If you think a turnaround on the field is the biggest consideration when choosing the best draft class, Chicago — which was 5-12 last year and won the division this year — is probably your choice. Their title probably doesn’t happen without the contributions of first-round TE Colston Loveland, second-round WO Luther Burden and seventh-round OH Kyle Monangai.

Browns: If you believe sheer volume of contributing players defines draft excellence, you gotta go with Cleveland. From first-round DT Mason Graham on down, you could argue that the team got at least some output from seven players: IB Carson Schwesinger, OH Quinshon Judkins, TE Harold Fannin, OH Dylan Sampson and QBs Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. They even got good play from a UDFA, DT Adin Huntington. It wasn’t a great season for the Browns, but they are set up with an excellent foundation for the future.

Bucs: Tampa Bay already won a Best Draft Award for the team’s work in 2020, but maybe they need to clear the trophy case again. In fact, if WO Emeka Egbuka had finished the season the way he started it, they might even be the favorite. Not only did they hit on Egbuka, but they also struck gold on Day 2 with a nickel corner (Jacob Parrish) and on Day 3 with a defensive tackle (Elijah Roberts). There’s a lot to be said for a defending division winner that finds three major contributors in one draft.

Cardinals: Like the Browns, it wasn’t a great season for the Cardinals, but they had a lot of depth in their draft class. Like the Bucs, if first-round DT Walter Nolen was healthy all season, the Cards would have an even stronger case. As it is, the team seems to have reinvigorated itself at cornerback (Will Johnson and Denzel Burke) and defensive end (Jordan Burch).

Chargers: Once again, this is a good team that still got big-time reps from rookies. The record is almost unchanged — last year, the team’s record was 11-6, and they’re 11-5 entering the finale with the Broncos — but you have to like LA’s future after first-round OH Omarion Hampton made an impact along with third-round DT Jamaree Caldwell and two Day3 picks, TE Oronde Gadsden II and FS RJ Mickens.

Falcons: It’s not the depth of the class as much as the value they got at key positions. Nailing the picks on two first-round pass rushers — OB Jalon Walker and DE James Pearce — counts for a lot. Throw in third-round FS Xavier Watts, who has five picks, and you’ve got a really good draft class.

Giants: If the vote were held at midseason — before OH Cam Skattebo (4/105) went down, and while QB Jaxson Dart was making plays with his feet and his arm — the Giants would probably have won. Throw in DE Abdul Carter and the Giants got the most out of their two first-rounders plus a rock-solid running back on Day 3. That’s impressive. People take for granted that Day 1 picks are going to step right in and start, but that’s certainly not the case.

Panthers: Carolina was 5-12 last season, but plays for the division title Sunday. That’s a massive turnaround, and it doesn’t happen without first-round WO Tetairoa McMillan, along with a second round DE (Nic Scourton) and two Day 3 hits (FS Lathan Ransom and TE Mitchell Evans). A month ago, ESPN called the Panthers’ draft class the best.

Saints: New Orleans is also a repeat winner (the Saints won it in 2017 for the Lattimore/Kamara/Hendrickson, etc., class) and might have a shot at being the first ever to repeat. Second-round QB Tyler Shough may win the OROY, and he’s deservedly gotten the headlines, but New Orleans also smashed it with first-round left tackle Kelvin Banks and three Day 3 picks (FS Jonas Sanker, IB Danny Stutsman and DC Quincy Riley). Even sixth-round OH Devin Neal looked good before a season-ending injury.

Titans: Bet you don’t know who holds the NFL rookie record for most all-purpose yards in a single season (2,371 yards). It’s Titans fourth-round WO/KR Chimere Dike, who beat Tim Brown’s 1988 mark. Oh, by the way, the team also took a QB who’s looked better every game over the second half of the season in Cam Ward, and Day 3 DC Marcus Harris has also won praise.

Here’s Where NFL Scouting Hires Have Come From (Since 2023)

26 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by in Getting started, Scouts

≈ Leave a comment

Over the past few weeks in this space, we’ve been focused on helping aspiring NFL scouts improve their chances over the next few months. In mid-December, we had a few general tips on the job search. Last week, we told you what to look for in a team with openings.

This week, let’s take a look at where the “entry-level” hires in the league came from over the last three years. We’ll count “player personnel assistants” and “scouting assistants” as entry-level positions. Here goes.

2025 (32 hires)

  • Sixteen came directly from college scouting positions. Of the 12, just three were non-P4, and just two were sub-FBS.
  • Eight were working in some capacity with NFL teams already, with seven of the eight getting promoted and staying with the same team.
  • Two moved up from non-NFL coaching positions, one high school and one small-college.
  • Two were with BLESTO.
  • One was technically not in football (though he worked at ESPN).
  • We couldn’t find any background info on three of the hires, which probably means they were employed in jobs outside of football.

2024 (49 hires)

  • Twenty were hired from college teams. Of the 20, 13 were from P4 schools, while five were from G5. Just two were sub-FBS.
  • Fourteen were promoted from an intern-level position; just one wasn’t promoted by the team he was already working for.
  • Three came from quasi-football organizations (Haslam Sports Group, 49ers Investments, and Stanford’s collective).
  • Two came from the Senior Bowl.
  • One didn’t work in football.
  • We couldn’t find any background on nine of the hires.

2023 (17 hires)

  • Nine came from schools. Six were P4, one was G5, two were sub-FBS.
  • Four were promoted from within; all of them were promoted by the teams they already worked with.
  • One was promoted from the Senior Bowl.
  • We could find no info on three of them.

So here are our observations.

  • If you are already working in a college personnel department, you have the inside track. If you’re at a P4 school, so much the better.
  • The best non-school “feeder programs” are BLESTO (not NFS, for some reason) and the Senior Bowl. If you’re really intent on working as an NFL scout, maybe Step 1 is landing a job with one of these organizations.
  • About a fourth of the new scouting assistants hired every year moved up from other positions with the team, but you already knew that working for an NFL team gives you a big advantage.
  • If you’re not already working in football, you’d better have an angle. For example, one of the hires from “private business” is the son of an NFL front office employee.

Good luck! For more on the industry, check out our newsletter, the Friday Wrap. Register for it here.

Ready to Get a Job in NFL Scouting? Here Are a Few Tips

19 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by in NFL draft, Scouts

≈ Leave a comment

Looking to be an NFL scout? Is this the year you want to make a big splash? Now’s the time to start getting your name out there.

Here are a few teams on which you should focus your efforts (or avoid altogether).

Teams with second-year GMs: Very often, GMs are forced to keep scouts (who are usually on two-year deals) for a year that they would rather replace with scouts who know their respective systems. Among second-year GMs are the Jaguars, Titans, Raiders and Jets.

Teams with shaky GMs: Obviously, teams that might be cleaning slate are likely to have more openings. Here are four possibilities, but there are always surprises, as well. Be ready.

Teams with second-year Scouting Assistants (also called Player Personnel Assistants): Like scouts, most scouting assistants get two years before a team decides to promote or terminate them. Teams that fit this description — there are a lot of them (19) — are the 49ers (2), Bears (3), Browns (4), Cardinals (1), Chiefs (1), Colts (1), Cowboys (1), Jaguars (3), Jets (1), Lions (2), Panthers (3), Patriots (1), Raiders (2), Ravens (1), Commanders (3), Saints (3), Steelers (2), Texans (1) and Vikings (2).

Some teams don’t carry Scouting Assistants at all: No use applying with them. Teams that don’t list scouting assistants or scouting interns are the Bengals, Broncos, Chargers, Dolphins, Eagles and Falcons.

Teams that have had Scouting Assistants in the past, but no longer: The Packers and Eagles don’t currently have any listed on the team website, but last year, they had two each. The Rams had two Scouting Apprentices in 2024 who have each been elevated to full-time positions; they currently have none listed on the team website.

Teams with Area Scouts who’ve been in the league for 10+ years: The simple fact is that modern NFL teams don’t want veteran evaluators running the roads (as counterintuitive as that sounds). They’re too expensive. Instead, they want to be young when it comes to their area/college scouts. The only way to determine which teams have such scouts is by studying all the teams. Start with our Know Your Scouts feature, which breaks down the complete evaluation staff for all 32 teams.

Really want to be aggressive? Visit the more established all-star games. You’ll see scouts at a lot of all-star games, but the only place you’re consistently going to see director-level scouts (i.e., decision-makers) is at the top two games, the East-West Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl. You might get lucky at the other games, but the Big Two are really where you could meet someone who might be in a position to help you.

Best of luck. See you out on the trail.

Want To Work in Scouting? Here Are a Few Tips

12 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by in NFL draft, Scouts

≈ Leave a comment

This time of year, with the off-season at hand and the draft getting closer by the day, I hear from a lot of people who aspire to work in scouting. Here are a few observations for those people (some of this is review).

Is scouting a relationship business? Sure, but there’s a caveat. On the college side, for example, there are a lot of technological force multipliers, software that makes the job manageable. So you’d better be comfortable with technology. On the NFL side, new-guard owners are literally every day trying to come up with new ways to evaluate players (using analytics and AI) without having to employ scouts. So yes, of course, cultivate relationships, but realize that there’s more to it than just that.

College or pro?: If this week has shown anything, it’s how valuable college personnel staffers have become to winning on Saturday. As coaches have crisscrossed the nation taking new posts, we’re seeing DPPs, Directors of Scouting and GMs being towed right behind them (we’ve even begun tracking all the moves on our site). That was almost unheard of 10 years ago, but these are new days. For this reason, it’s much more attractive (and even profitable) to work on the college side. That’s especially true when you compare it to the vagabond lifestyle and relatively low pay of an NFL area scout.

Reversing course: For people going to Mobile to meet scouts and maybe do some networking, the “book” was to stay near the team hotel and stake out the downtown bars for an opportunity to mingle with NFL evaluators. However, now that practices are held at Hancock Whitney Stadium, more and more scouts are staying closer to the airport, making Mobile a ghost town. That’s especially true now that the official hotel is mostly off-limits unless you work for an NFL team. If you’re looking to make contacts, consider booking something closer to the South Alabama campus.

Making way with no pay: If you’re truly serious about clawing your way to the top of the college personnel world, you might have to find a school where you can volunteer while finding work elsewhere. This might sound a little unorthodox, but schools are actively seeking people willing to do just this. There are success stories, too. I know a lot of people might never consider this, but this is exactly why, maybe, you should.

Get in early: I always get asked, when should I send out my resume to NFL teams? I recommend doing it now. It may be a little on the early side, but especially if you’re going to be on the all-star circuit or at the Combine, you might be able to make your case with scouts you meet along the way. A lot of people send them out in March. That’s way too late. Don’t make that mistake.

If the business of scouting interests you, it might be worth it to get our newsletter. It’s free. Register here.

Words of Christmas Counsel During a Busy Time

05 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by in Getting started

≈ Leave a comment

December is funny for people who work in football.

You’re watching all your friends gear down. Celebrate the season. Attend Christmas parties. Take time off, etc. Meanwhile, depending on the specific area of the sport you are part of, you’re:

  • Working hard to find your coaching client a job or some opportunity.
  • Working with a school to find the best possible front office or coaching hire.
  • Trying to find your own opportunity at a new school in coaching or personnel/recruiting
  • Making decisions on investments of several thousand dollars with players who may or may not have NFL futures
  • Figuring out who’s in the portal, who’s worth a financial commitment, and who will fit your team’s culture (or trying to talk a player out of entering the portal)
  • Pressing an all-star director to get your client (or potential client) into his game
  • Trying to decide which agent is best for you
  • Wondering if you’ll still have a job in early January when the NFL season ends
  • Otherwise weighing your football (and, probably, life) purpose or destination

For all these reasons, it’s easy to react the wrong way when you’re pressed. Recently, one of my best agent friends sent a completely innocuous and professional text to a member of the P4 personnel community (whom I also happen to know). The response he got was remarkable, in a bad way — dismissive, inflammatory and abrupt. Despite this, he responded in a very accommodating and patient way, and got more abuse for his troubles.

Another example is something one of the all-star directors told me recently. “A lot of these guys I’m dealing with right now are NIL people and they just don’t understand what’s going on with all-star games. They are not dumb by any means, they just don’t have any experience.” He went on to give a couple of examples: “I call the agent and they blow me off . . . Or they take my call and then just blow me off thereafter.”

I’ve been there, believe me. You might have been there, too, and if you haven’t, you will be. People get treated the wrong way all the time in this business. Here’s what to remember when it happens.

  • It’s a high-pressure business. If you work in the game, it’s a privilege. Try to remember that and recognize that you might be in the same situation someday soon.
  • Nobody’s perfect. Yes, there are a lot of egos in this game, but maybe the offending person wasn’t acting personally. Maybe he just got flamed and you happened to be the next person he had contact with.
  • The football world is a very small one. Chances are, you will see that person again. You may need him. On the other hand, if you can’t take the high road, at least think of the low road. You will probably get a shot at revenge if you’re in the game long enough.
  • It’s Christmas. Try to give people grace. It’s been rare, but there have actually been times when people have apologized to me. I’ve seen one person I really respect have to do that multiple times over the past few weeks because he’s new in his position and still learning the demands of the job.

Reviewing Best Draft Winners and their Best Bets as Future GMs

28 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by in NFL draft, Scouts

≈ Leave a comment

This week, I joined my podcast partner, Rodrik David, to discuss what’s ahead this offseason on the NFL side. Rodrik’s assignment for me was to give him at least one person who’s a legitimate GM candidate from each of the Best Draft Award winners, going back to our first one for the 2017 draft.

The complete recording is here, but in case you’re in a bit of a hurry, here’s a recap of the Best Draft Award winners, the names I came up with, and why.

Jeff Ireland, Assistant GM, Saints (2017) — The results don’t show it lately, but Jeff is still respected. Architect of one of the best drafts in the last decade, he’s slowly restocking the Saints. The 2025 draft class is a step in the right direction.

Ed Dodds, Assistant GM, Colts (2018) — Has been a member of the BART List every year since we started polling in 2022. With the Colts surprising this season, he could have the momentum to land a GM position this offseason. Director of College Scouting Matt Terpening has also been honored four times on the BART List, and there are a number of other Colts staffers who’ve been recognized. Talented staff.

Tariq Ahmad, VP of Player Personnel, 49ers (2019) — A three-time BART List Award winner, Ahmad is universally admired. I get unsolicited praise of Tariq from rival executives all the time. But the 49ers are another team with a front office full of talented people. Assistant GM R.J. Gillen and Director of College Scouting Dom DeCicco are others at the director level in San Francisco who are on the rise. Both have gotten previous BART List recognition.

Mike Biehl, VP of Player Personnel, Buccaneers (2020) — When the Bucs won the Best Draft Award, GM Jason Licht chose John Spytek and Biehl to join him on the “virtual dais” in accepting the trophy. Spytek got his GM title last offseason. It’s Biehl’s turn. The Bucs are quietly one of the best-drafting teams in the league.

Cody Rager, VP of Player Personnel, Broncos (2021) — When Broncos head coach Sean Payton couldn’t lure Ireland to Denver, he settled for Rager, who has quickly climbed the ladder for the Broncos. No BART List Awards yet, but he’s a consistent vote-getter.

Matt Berry, VP of Player Acquisition, Seahawks (2022) — Berry won his first BART List Award last offseason, but he may be starting a string. He’s a lot like Ahmad in that other teams recognize his talent. Also, don’t forget about VP of Player Personnel Trent Kirchner and Director of College Scouting Aaron Hineline, who have also been honored in the past.

Ray Agnew, Assistant GM, Lions (2023) — Why doesn’t he get more consideration, given the job the Lions have done in the draft and on the field? I don’t get it. The Lions impress me because they are one of the few teams consistently drafting for production and not promise, and the results have been there.

John McKay, Assistant GM, Rams (2024) — The Rams have won plaudits for their drafting, but McKay’s roots are on the pro side. That’s OK, however, because more and more teams are seeking pro experience in their GM candidates. The Jaguars stole much of Los Angeles’ front office talent last offseason, but McKay is still around for anyone seeking to steal some of the Rams’ thunder. Also worthy of consideration: Senior Personnel Executive Taylor Morton, who has no ego, and Senior Advisor to the GM Ray Farmer, who deserves another shot.

As always, we’ll discuss these topics and plenty more in today’s Friday Wrap, which is free. Register for it here.

Honoring the Best in College Football, My Dilemma, and My Thinking (So Far)

21 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by in Media, NFL draft, NIL, Scouts, Transfer portal

≈ Leave a comment

Today, permit me to think out loud on a topic that’s been tying me up in knots for the past several weeks. It’s the ITL All-22, my way of honoring the college executives and teams doing the best jobs, and I’m trying to figure out how to attack it. I’m planning on introducing it at our annual NIL symposium in February at the Combine. I’m also going to solicit your opinion on it, especially if you think I’m way off track.

The original idea: Recognize the top executives in a college football world that is becoming more NFL-like in its model, yet at the same time more independent of the league (few college GMs, scouting directors and DPPs aspire to work in the league anymore) and growing more professional all the time.

The bumps in the road: Honoring the top executives and scouts in the league is much easier than doing the same on the college level. We’re talking 32 teams with, on average, about 20 members of the scouting department. Though NFL front offices are far from homogeneous, you still have three basic strata on the college side: scouting assistants and coordinators; area and national scouts; and director-level scouts who are managing things and making the big decisions. On the pro side, it’s usually two evaluators and a director. However, when it comes to college, it’s almost like no two GMs have the same job description, and while some teams (like Oklahoma) are building almost an exact replica of an NFL team, others are much more traditional, letting the coaches do much or most of the scouting. That’s to say nothing of the fact there are:

  • 136 college football teams on the FBS level
  • Four “power conferences” and five more who have far fewer resources
  • Despite the acceptance of revenue-sharing, there’s a wide variety of funding among schools (even within the P4)

The thinking on how to arrive at the winners: After two weeks of presenting my thoughts to GMs and scouting directors across college football (P4 and G5), via text and in-person visits, it seems there are three groups that could offer help. They are:

  • The agents who do business in the transfer portal and get an up-close (if adversarial) look at schools, big and small, on an annual basis
  • The GMs themselves, who at least have a handle on the job and what it takes to have success
  • The media that follow the transfer portal and the business of college football the closest.

Of course, all three come with drawbacks.

  • Who even are the agents doing the most business in the portal? There isn’t a list anywhere. Talk to members of college personnel departments and they tell you the number of people texting them a list of “their guys for the portal” seems to double every day.
  • In speaking to college GMs — and make no mistake, they are just a small part of the people making the portal work at their respective schools — and they say they don’t have enough of a handle on college football at large. Most are familiar with schools in their area, or schools in their respective conferences, but not the whole country.
  • We’re still at a point, media-wise, where there is a very, very small number of people covering the business of college football as it relates, specifically, to the portal and roster management. What’s more, the temptation would be there to give preference to the GMs who gave them the most access.

Here’s where I am: I need to come to some kind of decision, really, by Dec. 1, so this is what I’m thinking.

  • There are just too many key people making decisions to recognize just GMs. So I think I’m going to make it a team award and ask GMs to accept on their respective teams’ behalf at our symposium at the NFL Combine in February.
  • I have to cut the numbers some, so I am thinking the only teams eligible would be those that are bowl-eligible. It’s not a perfect metric, but hopefully, the teams doing the best job will rise to the top next year or soon after.
  • I think I have to break it down 14:8, P4 to G5. It’s only fair. Otherwise, it’s going to be 22 big schools.
  • Again, maybe not the best way of doing things, but I think I’m going to survey the GMs (or the GM-equivalent) on each draft-eligible team and see what we come up with. Hopefully it won’t be mission impossible finding their emails. Schools tend to publish a general football email on the team website, but hopefully I can get past that.
  • My guess is that I’d provide ballots to them via email and solicit their votes most of December, then count the ballots, determine the winners (and notify them), and hope the lion’s share of them can make it to Indy in a few months.

Anyway, that’s where I am right now. Am I off base? DM me (@insidetheleague) or email me (nstratton at insidetheleague dot com) and let me know. Thanks for your help, and thanks for reading.

Rumblings and Buzz from a Busy Football Week

14 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by in Agents, All Star Games, NIL, Scouts

≈ Leave a comment

Man, it’s been a busy week, and there was a lot we didn’t have time to get into our Rep Rumblings (or give proper attention to). Here’s a look at some of this week’s developments in the business of college and pro football.

  • You don’t often see agents change firms after Halloween, but Evan Brennan has, moving from UA Sports to JL Sports. His arrival gives JL 10 NFLPA-certified contract advisors. Agency owner Joe Linta, who was 18th among all agents with 31 active NFL clients on our last count, gets a hard-working presence in the Northwest who continually turns up Day 3/UDFA types that beat the odds. Per NFLPA rolls, Brennan, who was certified in 2013, had 11 active clients as of this month.
  • Also getting a new address is Arlington, Va.-based Chitta Mallik, who’s taking his 16 years of experience to Jordan Sports Group, headed by newly certified contract advisor Miles Jordan. Jordan has already built a thriving NIL presence, and Mallik arrives to give his firm a veteran league presence. We’re told Mallik isn’t the only agent arriving from Dreampoint Sports; also advising Jordan Sports Group will be Tony Paige, who co-founded Dreampoint. Paige, a nine-year NFL playing veteran, has been in NFL player representation since 1994. Mallik and Paige were also previously with Vanguard Sports Group.
  • In an era where the costs of player representation are going up and up, it’s become commonplace for smaller agencies to develop affiliations. Some of them are highly informal, but others involve LLCs, contracts and specialized language. It’s a little more trouble, but sometimes it pays off, as it did for Premier Athlete Advisors LLC, which recently won a legal victory over its previous partner firm, Enter-Sports MGT LLC. Though the NFLPA continually pushes licensed contract advisors to settle their difference through its grievance process, time and again, agents complain that their rulings don’t resolve things. The people at Premier set up their venture with Enter-Sports as an agreement between LLCs, taking things outside the bounds of the Players Association. Enter-Sports is now on the hook for almost $38,000, per the story.
  • We try to interview a former NFL scout each week as part of our Catching Up feature in the Friday Wrap, and this week, it’s former Broncos, Chiefs and Vikings scout Roger Jackson (he also had a five-year playing career). Most scouts who retire from the job ride off into the sunset, playing golf and chasing grandkids. Not Roger, who instead saw a need for helping underprivileged kids in his hometown of Macon, Ga. He founded the Motivating Youth Foundation 18 years ago, and it’s made a difference in countless lives. To keep it going, instead of enjoying retirement, he knocks on doors. “I can raise money,” he said with a laugh this week. “I beg. And I’ll come back next week. ‘Thought you might have changed your mind.’ Until they say, ‘we gotta give this joker something, or he’s gonna come back next week,’ and I sure am.” Make sure to check out our interview with Roger in tomorrow’s Friday Wrap.
  • Our November Zoom session for ITL clients was Wednesday, and in it, we highlighted the density of all-star competition from Jan. 4-11. In the first week-and-a-half of the year, NFL teams will be tasked with covering the FCS Showcase in Nashville (Jan. 4-5); the Hula Bowl in Central Florida (Jan. 5-10); the Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 8) and Peach Bowl (Jan. 9) as part of the College Football Playoffs; and the College Gridiron Showcase and Dream Bowl, both in the Metroplex Jan. 9-11. It’s a dilemma for scouting staffs, and we discussed how teams are planning on covering things (or not covering them) in Tuesday’s post.

We’re just getting started. If you love the college and pro game, make sure to check out our newsletter, which goes out at 7:30 p.m. EST tomorrow. Register for it here.

The NFL in November: A Look at the Numbers

07 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by in NFL draft

≈ Leave a comment

Every year, we try to really drill down into NFL rosters, listing every player by his hometown and high school, college and conference, and a number of other categories. Once that’s done (it took us a little longer than expected this year), it’s interesting to take a look at the state of the league by finding out which schools and conferences are the leaders in different categories.

Here are a few things I found interesting.

Which state do most NFL players come from?: No surprise, it’s Texas with 285. Also no surprise — the two closest states are Florida (253) and California (232). Fourth-highest? Maybe it’s not that surprising that it’s Georgia (194). After that, there’s a pretty big drop-off to fifth-place North Carolina (106). By the way, Louisiana was tied for sixth. Not bad for a pretty small state.

Which school has the most NFL players?: It’s Ohio State (71), followed by Alabama (66), Georgia (61), Notre Dame (58) and LSU (53). You look at the preponderance of NFL talent in the Bayou State, along with the number who went to LSU, and you begin to see why Brian Kelly is no longer the Tigers’ head coach.

Which conference has the most NFL players?: Again, no surprises that the SEC (579) and Big Ten (560) rule the roost, followed by the ACC (364) and Big 12 (261). Actually, I’m a little surprised that the ACC is so far ahead of the Big 12, but I guess that’s a reflection of the exits of Texas and Oklahoma. The more interesting thing is that the American (formerly American Athletic) Conference is way out front among the G5 schools (90). The Mountain West is next (76), then the MAC (70), Sun Belt (66) and Conference USA (63).

Where’s the best place to go to find offensive linemen?: The O-line is the hardest position to stock in the NFL these days, so we keep a pretty close eye on where the guys up front come from. We found out Ohio State (duh) leads the way with 15 tackles, guards and centers, followed by Georgia (13); LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma (12); Alabama (11); and Oregon and Penn State (10).

As far as conferences, the Big Ten edges the SEC, 113-106. After that, it’s the ACC (60) and Big 12 (50) on the P4 level. As for G5 conferences, it’s the American (21); MAC (15); Mountain West (14); and CUSA and Sun Belt (13). Once again, the American comes out in front of the rest of the G5 by a pretty wide margin, relatively speaking. It will probably stay that way until Memphis and South Florida get admitted into a P4 conference, as they both hope to do.

Which school has the most wide receivers?: After counting the pure power players (i.e., offensive linemen), I wanted to get a measure of which schools were home to most pure speed players. I chose wide receivers to be the gauge. Once again, Ohio State came out on top, tying with Ole Miss (9). Pretty crazy that one team has such a wealth of talent across the board. After the Buckeyes and Rebels, it’s Alabama, LSU and Texas (7); then Georgia, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee and USC (6); then Clemson, Florida, North Carolina, Notre Dame, USC and Texas A&M (5); and eight teams that tied with four.

As far as conferences, the SEC (69) comes out pretty well ahead of the Big Ten (58). Then it’s the ACC (42) and the Big 12 (36). Among the G5, it’s the Mountain West (13).

If you dig this kind of thing, make sure to check out our Friday Wrap newsletter, in which we look at which NFL teams did the best at evaluating talent, based on current NFL rosters. You can register for it here.