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.

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