Here is a question most athletes do not ask themselves: when was the last time you updated your recruiting profile?

If the answer is "sometime this summer" — or worse, "I am not sure" — you have a problem.

October is one of the most active months for coaches reviewing recruiting profiles. Programs are building their boards, evaluating film, and deciding who gets official visit invitations. If your profile is showing coaches a version of you from three months ago, you are not putting your best foot forward.

Here are the five things you need to update right now.

This is the most important update you can make.

Coaches want to see your current performance — not your best moments from a summer showcase. If your film does not include footage from this fall season, it is already outdated.

What to add:

• Your top 3-5 plays from the most recent 2-3 games
• Clear footage where your jersey number is visible
• A variety of situations that showcase your full skill set

What to cut:

• Anything from more than 12 months ago (unless it is truly exceptional)
• Blurry, dark, or hard-to-follow footage
• Plays where your number is not identifiable

Keep your film under 5 minutes. Coaches watch the first 60-90 seconds and decide whether to keep watching. Make those seconds count.

Your profile should reflect your current season performance, not just your career totals.

Update:

• Current season statistics (games played, key metrics for your sport)
• Any awards, honors, or recognition from this fall
• Team record and any playoff or tournament results
• Any personal records or milestones reached this season

Coaches are comparing you to other athletes in your class. Current stats give them the most relevant data point.

Academic eligibility is non-negotiable. Coaches want to know you can qualify.

Make sure your profile reflects:

• Your current GPA (updated for the most recent semester or quarter)
• Your ACT or SAT score (if you have tested this fall, add the new score)
• Your expected graduation date
• Any academic honors or achievements

If your GPA has improved since you last updated your profile, that is a selling point. Show it.

This sounds basic, but it matters more than you think.

Verify that:

• Your email address is professional and actively monitored
• Your phone number is correct
• Any social media links you have included are current and appropriate
• Your highlight film link is not broken or expired

Coaches who cannot reach you will move on. Make it easy for them to contact you.

Your bio is your chance to tell coaches who you are beyond the stats.

Review it and ask:

• Does it reflect your current goals and interests?
• Does it mention your intended major or academic interests?
• Does it communicate your character and what kind of teammate you are?
• Is it free of typos and grammatically clean?

A strong bio is 3-5 sentences that give coaches a sense of your personality, your academic direction, and your commitment to the sport. It should sound like you — not like a form letter.

Set a timer. Work through this checklist:

• Watch your highlight film from start to finish — does it represent your current level?
• Check every stat on your profile — is it current?
• Verify your GPA and test scores are up to date
• Click every link on your profile — do they all work?
• Read your bio out loud — does it sound authentic?
• Check your contact information — is it all correct?

If you find something outdated, fix it immediately. Do not add it to a to-do list.

Updating your profile is only half the job. The other half is letting coaches know.

After you make significant updates — especially to your film — send a brief email to every school on your active list:

This gives coaches a reason to look at your profile again and reinforces that you are active, engaged, and serious about the process.

In a recruiting class of hundreds of prospects, the athletes who stand out are not always the most talented. They are the most prepared.

A current, complete, professional recruiting profile tells coaches: this athlete takes the process seriously. That matters.

Take 30 minutes today. Audit your profile. Make the updates. Send the emails.

October is not the time to coast.