Behind the Blueprint: The Architects of College Football

In this episode, we sit down with Tyler Wrice, the first-ever GM at South Dakota State, to break down his unconventional path from high school coach to leading roster strategy at the FCS level. Tyler shares how evaluating raw movement and long-term development at the high school level shaped his approach to talent identification, and what changed when he stepped into a role defined by urgency, roster construction, and constant decision-making. He dives into how playing experience influences roster building, why South Dakota State prioritizes high school development over a portal-heavy approach, and how to balance production vs. potential in today’s recruiting landscape. Tyler also unpacks what it means to “build the plane while flying it” as a first-time GM, the importance of culture and fit, and why mental health and the human side of athletes are often overlooked in the broader conversation around college football. Before we dive in, hear from our partner Coach Portal, a platform built by coaches for coaches to simplify the job search process and help you stay connected to real opportunities across the coaching landscape.

In this episode, I sit down with DJ Mann to unpack his journey from Texas high school head coach to Director of Offensive Player Personnel, and how that path shaped his eye for talent. DJ shares the mindset shift required to jump to the college level, why scheme fit often outweighs star rankings, and the intangibles that separate good players from great ones. The conversation dives into the realities of evaluating transfer portal talent versus high school prospects, how relationships and background intel influence recruiting decisions, and the evolving role of NIL in building a balanced roster. DJ also offers a candid look at the behind-the-scenes work fans don’t see, where character, environment, and long-term fit matter just as much as on-field production. Before we dive in, hear from our partner Coach Portal, a platform built by coaches for coaches to simplify the job search process and help you stay connected to real opportunities across the coaching landscape.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I chat with Colton Korn, Director of Player Personnel and General Manager at Liberty, to unpack his journey from unpaid intern delivering pizzas to leading roster construction at the Group of Five level. Colton shares how sleeping under a desk during his early days at Coastal Carolina shaped his work ethic, and how learning organization and communication at The Citadel helped form the foundation of his recruiting philosophy. Before we dive in, a quick word from our partner, Coach Portal. Coach Portal is a platform built by coaches, for coaches, designed to simplify the job search and help coaches easily stay up to date on opportunities and job movement across the sport.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I chat with Albert Garcia, Director of Recruiting Strategy & High School Personnel at Stanford, to unpack his journey from learning talent evaluation at Houston and Fresno State to building three straight top-40 recruiting classes at Stanford. Albert shares how mentors like Bobby Merritt and Marcus Tubbs shaped his approach to spotting traits that translate from high school to the NFL, and how being at G5 programs taught him to find and maximize a player’s “superpowers.” Before we dive in, a quick word from our partner, Coach Portal. Coach Portal is a platform built by coaches, for coaches, designed to simplify the job search and help coaches easily stay up to date on opportunities and job movement across the sport.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I chat with Bryan Filker, Director of Recruiting Operations, to unpack his rapid rise through multiple recruiting and personnel roles at SMU. Bryan shares how starting in the transfer portal grind shaped his understanding of roster building, while deeper involvement with recruits helped him discover the importance of relationships beyond evaluation. He also breaks down how SMU aligns recruiting operations with coaching vision and why transparency and authenticity have become key to roster retention in the portal era. Before we dive in a quick word from our partner, Coach Portal. Coach Portal is a platform built by coaches, for coaches, designed to simplify the job search and help coaches easily stay up to date on opportunities and job movement across the sport.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Nick Valente, Director of Player Personnel at Campbell, to talk about his journey from an undergraduate recruiting assistant at UConn to leading a department of his own. Nick shares how early hands-on experience and mentorship under GM Eddie Herndon shaped his approach, along with the biggest differences between recruiting at the FBS and FCS levels. We also dig into balancing high school recruiting with the portal, managing roster risk, and how personnel roles continue to evolve in today’s college football landscape. Before we dive in, a quick word from our partner, Coach Portal. Coach Portal is a platform built by coaches, for coaches, designed to simplify the job search and help you stay up to date on opportunities and job movement across the sport.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Mason Behiel to break down how Tulsa reimagined the transfer portal with the creation of the Portal House. Mason shares how the idea came together, why operating out of a shared house created a real competitive advantage, and how the environment helped both staff efficiency and player evaluation. He also explains why culture and authenticity showed up differently in this setting and why the model could shape future portal cycles. Before we dive in, a quick word from our partner, Coach Portal. Coach Portal is a platform built by coaches, for coaches, designed to simplify the job search and help coaches stay up to date on opportunities and movement across the sport.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Owen Hoehn, Director of Player Personnel at Central State, to explore what roster building looks like at the Division II level. Owen shares how taking on real responsibility at a young age has shaped his approach to recruiting, evaluation, and retention, and why relationships matter even more when resources are limited. He also breaks down how he identifies under-the-radar talent through the portal, JUCO, and high school ranks, plus the intangibles he values most when prospects visit campus. Before we dive in, a quick word from our partner, Coach Portal. Coach Portal is a platform built by coaches, for coaches, designed to simplify the job search and help coaches stay up to date on opportunities and job movement across college football.

Up next on Behind the Blueprint, I chat with Jax Egan, EKU’s Director of Player Personnel, about his journey from Kansas to Eastern Kentucky and how he’s approaching recruiting, evaluation, and building a culture in today’s college football landscape. From developing high school talent to navigating the transfer portal and retention strategies, Jax breaks down what it takes to build a winning program behind the scenes. Our partner, The Coach Portal, is built by coaches for coaches and streamlines recruiting and hiring with a large, customizable database of coaches that makes the entire process faster and easier.

On this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with West Virginia GM Chuck Lillie for a deep dive into how modern roster building really works. Chuck walks through everything from high school evals and portal strategy to NIL value, player retention, and the competitive DNA he looks for in every prospect. His path through Oklahoma, Kansas State, Clemson, and even the New York Giants shaped a unique philosophy that blends development, data, and culture. A quick note from our partner, Coach Portal: a platform built by coaches for coaches to build authentic networks, discover mutual connections, get endorsements, and connect directly with hiring staffs.

Jonny Camer went from analyzing NFL prospects as a writer to leading scouting at Air Force. In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, he shares how mentorship, creativity, and a focus on character and potential drive his approach to evaluating talent — and what fans don’t see behind the scenes of building a roster. We're proud to partner with Coach Portal. Built by coaches for coaches, Coach Portal helps you navigate job openings, network, and grow your career with ease.

Coming full circle, Beca Perez is back where it all started—San Jose State. After stops at Army and Stanford, she’s returned to her alma mater as Director of Recruiting, bringing a wealth of experience and perspective from some of the most unique programs in college football. In our conversation, Beca shares what she’s learned about building relationships, finding players who fit both the culture and the program, and creating opportunities in a landscape that’s constantly changing. Her journey is a reminder that perseverance pays off—and that impact goes far beyond Saturdays. Behind the Blueprint is presented in partnership with The Coach Portal, a platform built by coaches for coaches that streamlines recruiting and hiring through a large, customizable database, saving time and effort every step of the way.

On this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Silas Clapham, Director of College Scouting at the University of Washington. From his early days at Nevada to leading scouting efforts in the Big Ten, Silas shares what it’s been like navigating the evolving world of recruiting, NIL, and player retention — and how he’s grown into a leadership role early in his career.

On this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Prairie View A&M Director of Player Personnel, Josh McDade, to talk about his journey from Division III player to building and leading a player personnel department. We dive into how his playing and coaching background shapes his approach to evaluation, the importance of relationships in recruiting, and how Prairie View’s “Blueprint” defines the program’s culture and process. Josh also shares how JUCO and transfer recruiting fit into their strategy, the growing role of analytics, and what fans don’t see behind the scenes of building a college football roster.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Darren Kagey, Assistant Director of Football Research at Miami (OH). We talk about his path from student analytics assistant to his current role, how he’s driving efficiency in recruiting and roster management, and why analytics today goes far beyond just 4th-down calls. Darren also shares how data is changing the transfer portal game and what he sees coming next for the future of college football.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Adrian Manning, Grambling State’s Director of High School Recruiting and Player Personnel. We talk about why relationships still drive recruiting, how he uses Grambling’s storied legacy to connect with athletes, and the way he evaluates toughness and character beyond measurables. Adrian also shares his perspective on development in the NIL era and the unseen hours that go into building a roster.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Andrew Morgan, Assistant Director of Football Recruiting at the University of Idaho. Andrew shares how his time at Arizona shaped his approach to talent evaluation, blending data, film, and character assessment to build strong rosters. We also talk about why relationships matter more than ever in the transfer portal era, how Idaho is staying true to its Pacific Northwest roots, and what fans don’t see behind the scenes of roster construction.

On the next episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Matthew Solomon as he begins his first season with Nevada as a player personnel intern. We discuss his transition from Rice to the Mountain West, how he evaluates talent across high school, JuCo, and the transfer portal, and the lessons he’s carried over from agency scouting. Matthew also shares how building analytic models at Rice shaped his approach and why recruiting operations behind the scenes are more demanding than most fans realize.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Wisconsin’s Director of Player Personnel, Ethan Russo. From his early days at Rice and Utah to leading departments at UNLV and North Texas, Ethan has seen it all and each stop shaped his approach to roster building. We talk about navigating the NIL and transfer portal era, the importance of retention, and what it really takes to build a sustainable program in today’s college football landscape.

Next on Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Mike Kershaw, the General Manager at Kennesaw State. After years as a coach, including a stint as head coach at Mississippi College, Kershaw has stepped into one of college football’s fastest-evolving roles. We talk about roster management in the NIL era, the importance of speed in today’s game, and what fans don’t see during the chaos of transfer portal windows.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I chat with Hunter Sims, the General Manager at Old Dominion. From starting out as a student assistant and high school coach to working at Troy and Tulane, Hunter shares how his journey shaped his approach to personnel and player development. We dive into how he balances recruiting, retention, and NIL in today’s game, why character matters more than measurables, and what it means to be a true “players’ GM.” It’s a candid look at the grind behind building a program at the Group of Five level.

Next on Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Courtney Weiner, Director of On-Campus Recruiting at Navy. From her start as a student worker at Elon, to Columbia, and now to Annapolis, Courtney shares how each stop shaped her approach to recruiting. We talk about making every visit impactful, the unique challenges of recruiting at a service academy, and why relationships are at the core of her work. It’s an inside look at the grind and creativity behind Navy’s recruiting blueprint.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Jeremiah Wait, Director of Defensive Personnel and NFL Liaison at SMU. We talk about SMU’s rise into the ACC, how the program has built strong recruiting pipelines in Texas, and why retention has become a key strength in today’s transfer era. Jeremiah also shares lessons from his mentors, what he looks for in defensive players, and his philosophy of “controlling the controllables.” It’s a deep dive into the unseen grind behind SMU’s success.

On this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Arizona General Manager Gaizka Crowley to discuss his unique path from football technology into building rosters at the college level. We talk about how his experiences across the FCS, Group of Five, and Power Four have shaped his approach to recruiting and roster construction. Gaizka also shares how technology, analytics, and NIL are influencing today’s game, along with the key traits he looks for when evaluating players.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I talk with CJ Olson, Vanderbilt’s Director of Salary Cap Management. CJ shares how his unique mix of data analysis, legal work, and player personnel experience is shaping how Vanderbilt navigates today’s complex college football landscape. We dig into how he balances analytics with contracts, supports coaches, and adapts to the NIL and transfer portal era.

In the next episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Mike Rittelmann, Director of Player Personnel and Scouting for the College Gridiron Showcase. For nearly a decade, Mike has been helping identify hidden gems across all levels of college football—FBS to D3, even international players—and putting them in front of NFL, CFL, and other pro teams. We talk about how CGS finds under-the-radar talent, what scouts really look for beyond the tape, and why special teams can be the gateway to a pro career.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I talk with Trey, who’s carved a unique path from playing at Duquesne to shaping Pitt’s roster as a key player personnel expert. We dive into how his varied experiences, from NCAA internships to Group of Five hustle, inform his approach to recruiting, evaluating talent, and balancing high school recruits with transfer portal players. Trey also shares insights on the evolving NIL landscape and the underrated traits that separate good players from great.

In this Behind the Blueprint episode, I sit down with Mason Yellico, Director of Scouting at Utah, to talk about his rise from laundry duty at Oklahoma State to leading evaluations for a Power Four program. He shares how he balances high school recruiting with the transfer portal, why competitiveness tops his list of must-have traits, and how analytics and relationships shape Utah’s success. It’s an inside look at the strategy and culture driving one of college football’s most consistent programs.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I chat with Darnell Duckett, Director of Player Personnel at the University of North Dakota. We dive into his journey from playing and coaching at Salisbury to scouting in the NFL with the New York Jets, and now leading operations and recruiting at the FCS level. Darnell shares how he's applying pro-level structure to the college game, what he looks for in recruits beyond the tape, and the grind that goes on behind the scenes. It’s a conversation around leadership, culture, and the evolving world of college football.

In the next Behind the Blueprint episode, I sit down with Derek Cronenwett, Director of Player Personnel at ULM. In today’s ever-changing college football landscape, few roles are more challenging, or more important, than the DPP. Derek shares his journey from student assistant at Kansas State to helping build the Warhawks’ roster, and how adaptability, relationships, and finding overlooked talent have shaped his approach. It's a great look inside the strategy and grind behind roster building at the Group of Five level.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Justin Apodaca, Scouting Specialist at Louisiana Tech, to talk about his unique path from covering Texas Tech on the media side to evaluating talent at the college level. Justin shares how he balances high school recruiting with portal strategy, leans on analytics to maximize efficiency, and emphasizes scheme fit when building a roster. We dive into how Louisiana Tech is taking a long-term approach to program building and why relationships and regional ties still matter. It’s a great look at what the next generation of personnel leaders brings to the table.

In this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Abe Seldowitz, Director of Scouting Strategy at Tennessee Tech, to discuss what it really takes to build a successful program behind the scenes. Abe shares his approach to evaluating talent beyond the measurables, the role of character in recruiting, and how alignment across staff leads to better results. We also get into the tools he uses to stay organized and how relationships drive success in the portal and NIL era. Whether you're in the personnel world or just love the process, there's something in here for you.

In the next episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Andrew Warsaw—Associate Athletic Director, NIL General Manager, and Football Chief of Staff at USF. We unpack how he’s helping the Bulls build a sustainable NIL strategy that’s more than just buzzwords. From roster management to long-term vision, Warsaw shares what it really takes to lead a college football program through this new era.

On the next episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Steve Bailoni to discuss the differences in recruiting and evaluation between Power 4 and FCS football programs. Steve shares how schools balance high school recruiting with transfer portal strategy, and why competitive toughness is a key trait he looks for in prospects. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look at how alignment, trust, and communication within a staff drive long-term success.

On this episode of Behind the Blueprint, I sit down with Wes Drake, Director of Player Personnel at North Texas, to talk about his fast rise through the recruiting world and the lessons he's learned along the way. From unpaid internships to working at schools like Houston, TCU, and Northwestern, Wes shares what separates great programs and how his philosophy has evolved. We also dive into what he looks for in high school versus transfer portal talent—and how he's shaping the future at North Texas.

Next up on Behind the Blueprint is JMU’s Director of Player Personnel, Nathan Applebaum. From Florida to Michigan State to Fresno State, Nathan’s path has shaped a sharp, adaptable approach to roster building. In this episode, he breaks down how he blends data, culture, and player evaluation to keep JMU competitive in the portal era. You’ll hear how he handles roster management with a lean staff, what makes a great fit at JMU, and why production often beats hype.

Next up on our Behind the Blueprint podcast is Mason Behiel, General Manager for Tulsa Football. Mason shares how he went from studying civil engineering to building rosters in college football, what the GM role looks like at the Group of Five level, and how he and his staff are navigating the portal, revenue sharing, and roster retention in a constantly shifting landscape

In our debut episode of Behind the Roster: The Architects of College Football, I sit down with Nick Griffith, Director of Scouting at Temple. We dive into how he evaluates transfer portal talent, builds relationships that span recruiting cycles, and navigates the evolving landscape of roster construction in today’s college football. Hope you enjoy!