Recruiting is a crucial part of EA Sports College Football 25's Dynasty Mode, and mastering it will help you build a powerhouse team year after year. Whether you're managing a top-tier program or trying to turn around a struggling school, understanding the ins and outs of the recruiting system will give you a competitive edge. This guide covers everything you need to know about how to recruit effectively, attract the best talent, and ensure your team stays at the top.

Recruiting Basics in College Football 25

EA Sports has focused on three key pillars in shaping the high school recruitment model for College Football 25:

Recruits Have Unique Needs: Each recruit has specific motivations that you need to uncover by interacting with them. Your job is to meet their needs and show them that your program is the right fit.

Regional Talent: The game authentically captures regional differences in talent, reflecting real-world data. Some areas of the country produce higher caliber recruits, so targeting these regions based on your needs can be very effective.

School Resources Matter: Elite schools with high prestige can blanket the country and recruit top talent, while smaller schools need to be more targeted, focusing on specific regions or lesser-known recruits.

Setting Up Your Recruiting Board

At the start of each season, you'll begin populating your recruiting board. There are over 3,500 players to choose from, so it's important to take your time with this initial groundwork. Here's how to prioritize your targets:

Top Priority: Focus on five-star prospects with a 5-star pipeline rating. These players are highly sought after and may sign immediately once you offer a scholarship. Prioritize positions where you need immediate impact.

Secondary Priority: Look for four-star recruits with a 5-star pipeline or five-star recruits with a 4-star pipeline. These players are also highly valuable but may take longer to convince.

Tertiary Priority: Move to three-star recruits with a 5-star pipeline, and then work your way down as needed. These players may have lower ratings but can still provide excellent depth or future starters.

Remember, you can only have 35 players on your recruiting board at any given time. Fill your board with a mixture of high-priority targets and those that fit your team's needs.

Managing Recruiting Hours

Each week, you have a limited amount of recruiting hours to spend. The number of hours you start with depends on the prestige of your program:

Top-Tier Schools (5-star prestige): Start with 1,000 hours.

Low-Tier Schools (1-star prestige): Start with 350 hours.

You can spend up to 50 hours per recruit unless you have the Always Be Crootin' ability, which grants 70 hours at specific positions. Here's how you can allocate those hours:

Scout - 10 hours (usually requires 3 sessions to fully scout a player)

Offer Scholarship - 5 hours

Search Social Media - 5 hours

DM the Player - 10 hours

Contact Friends and Family - 25 hours

Send the House - 50 hours

Soft Sell - 20 hours (available once the recruit is in the top five)

Hard Sell - 40 hours (available once the recruit is in the top five)

Sway - 30 hours (available once the recruit is in the top five)

Schedule Visit - 40 hours (available once the recruit is in the top five)

Understanding Your School Grades

Your school grades play a significant role in attracting recruits. These grades are influenced by your performance and can change over time, so it's essential to improve them. 14 categories affect your recruiting success:

Playing Time: How quickly recruits can become starters.

Playing Style: Reflects your team's playing style (e.g., Field General QBs). This needs to align with the recruit's style for a good fit.

Championship Contender: Your chances of winning a national championship based on current team rankings.

Program Tradition: Historic success in championships, awards, and overall team performance.

Campus Lifestyle: How attractive the campus and surrounding area are to recruits. This is a static rating that can't be changed.

Stadium Atmosphere: Based on your stadium's ranking for "Toughest Places to Play." Strong home-field advantage can impress recruits.

Pro Potential: How many of your current players have the potential to play in the NFL?

Brand Exposure: How recognizable and popular your school is nationally.

Academic Prestige: The academic reputation of your school. This is a fixed rating.

Conference Prestige: The strength of your college's conference.

Coach Prestige: How respected your coaching staff is, especially the head coach.

Coach Stability: How long the coaching staff has been in place and how likely it is they will stay.

Athletic Facilities: The quality of your school's training and athletic facilities.

Proximity to Home: How close your school is to the recruit's home area.

When interacting with recruits, try to match your school's strengths with their interests. If a recruit values Program Tradition, but your school is struggling, you may lose them to a school with a richer history.

Schedule Visits to Seal the Deal

One of the most powerful tools in your recruiting arsenal is the Schedule Visit option. Once a recruit has narrowed down their choices to a Top 5, and you've offered them a scholarship, you can bring them in for a campus visit. Visits cost 40 recruiting hours but are separate from the 50 hours you can allocate to individual recruits.

You can host up to four recruits on a single visit, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

Visit Timing: Visits can only be scheduled for home games or bye weeks. You need to choose your visit dates wisely.

Tailor the Visit: Try to match the activities with the recruit's key motivations. For example, if a recruit values Playing Time, make sure to show them how your current depth chart will allow them to play early.

Avoid Competition: Be mindful of the positions you bring in for visits. If you bring in multiple quarterbacks, they may feel like they're competing for the same spot, which could turn them off. Mixing positions (e.g., QB and offensive lineman) tends to work better.

Maintaining Commitments

After a recruit verbally commits to your school, you need to maintain your promises. If a recruit's primary motivation is to play for a Championship Contender, and you lose five games in a row, you risk losing them. So, always keep an eye on your team's performance and keep the recruits' interests in mind.

Additional Recruiting Tips

Leverage Social Media: Use the Social Media and DM options to build rapport and engage with recruits regularly. This helps improve your relationship and ensures you stay in the running.

Stay Aggressive: Don't be afraid to use the Hard Sell and Send the House options on recruits that are close to committing. These aggressive tactics can give you the edge in a tight race.

Track Pipeline Recruits: Your pipeline states are incredibly important. Make sure you focus on recruits from areas where your school has established a strong presence.

Don't Overextend: While it's tempting to recruit as many players as possible, focus on quality over quantity. Ensure your needs are addressed and your targets align with your school's strengths.

Conclusion

Recruiting in College Football 25 is an art, and mastering it will help you build a dynasty that can win year after year. Prioritize top recruits, balance your hours efficiently, and match your team's strengths with the recruit's needs. Schedule visits carefully, stay aggressive, and maintain the relationships you've built. Best of luck building your team and dominating the College Football 25 world! If you need more advice on recruiting, gameplay tips, or how to make the most out of your CFB 25 Coins, feel free to ask MMOexp!