5 Ways College Football Recruits Can Use Social Media to Their Advantage

Social Media and the world of college football recruiting go together like two peas in a pod, but unfortunately, the results aren't always positive.

Too often we see a recruit cross the line on social media and do something that will, at the very least, paint himself in a bad light. In worse case scenarios, we've seen it potentially impact the actual recruitment of a kid.

It's certainly not going away, so instead of abusing it, let's adapt the way we use it. Social media can be used for good as well, and when utilized correctly, it can be extremely helpful, especially for a recruit.

Big 5-star recruits may not need to utilize it, but lesser known recruits (under 3-stars) can really benefit from using social media correctly.

Here are five ways college football recruits can use social media to their advantage:

Separate Personal Life from Football

This is the kind of advice that I would give to a high-school student or even a young college student trying to get a job.

You have to separate your personal and private life, especially on social media. If that means you have to create two separate accounts, one for being a kid and one for football, then by all means be smart and do that.

What many recruits don't realize is that the recruiting process for them is essentially one very long job interview. Not only does it lead to a potential free education, the experience of a lifetime and multiple extremely valuable contacts, but also for some—it leads to the NFL.

Don't be naive enough to think that college coaches and their staff do not monitor the Facebook pages and Twitter handles of all the recruits that are on their target lists. While we're at it, let's throw in Pinterest, Instagram or even something like a personal blog.

After all, if it's on the Internet and not behind a paywall, then it's public domain. 

If you're constantly dropping F-bombs in your Tweets or posting pictures of the latest "rad" party that you were attending, people will notice—and it will make waves in today's social media driven news cycle.

Not only that, but coaches will notice, and that could impact your standing as a recruit. Most coaches would rather not have to worry about babysitting their players.

Believe me, they're far to busy and far to focused on football.

Your scholarship could get pulled quicker than you can say "Tweet".

Like I said, if it really is an issue, create two separate accounts.

Keep a private Facebook and Twitter account that is protected, private and for your personal use. Then, create an account that you use as a recruit, and keep it strictly revolved around football.

The best thing a recruit can do on social media though is to stand out by not standing out.

Believe me, your positive interactions will be noticed just as much as somebody else's negative ones.

Keeping the Cussing to a Minimum

This is really a piggyback point off of the last slide, but there is so much that you can say about this topic that it's worth it's own slide.

Recruits, please keep the swearing to a minimum.

I like to mumble a bad word under my breath just as much as the next guy, but if there's anything I've learned in my 24 years of life, it's that there's a time and a place for everything.

Dropping a four-letter word in a private text to your best buddies is one thing. Constantly doing the same on social media is another though—especially on Twitter, where millions of people who don't know you personally can follow you.

I have to know as a writer that what I say publicly represents myself, but it also represents Bleacher Report. As a recruit, you have to be wise enough to know that saying something on social media is just like saying it in public.

It represents you as a recruit, and it could impact your recruitment.

There's no worse look than checking out a recruit's Twitter feed only to see multiple swear words and inappropriate content. It's not a good look (like I said before, recruiting is essentially a job interview), and at times, it can even get you in trouble.

Represent yourself in a professional manner on social media, because that's how the colleges that recruit you are going to expect you to act as a member of their football program.

Also, it's worth noting that this rule should be applied to highlight videos.

Nothing makes me cringe more than when I go to break down a recruit's film only to be greeted by a symphony of swear words coming from the mp3 they decided to dub over their highlights.

Really, this applies to music in general in highlights.

I guarantee you that Nick Saban doesn't turn up the music on your highlight film, and neither do I. As evaluators, it actually hinders the process of being able to watch your tape.

It may pump you up to watch your highlights with a song behind them, but it's not realistic, and it's certainly not pumping college coaches or evaluators up.

That statement is multiplied though when the song is littered with swear words.

Remember, you're always representing yourself.

That leads me to the next point...

Links to YouTube or Hudl Video Packages

When done well and correctly, highlight tapes can be a great way to build hype, if only amongst a fanbase or the recruiting community.

Most high school coaches will send actual game footage and not just a highlight tape to a college coach to watch, but especially for you 1, 2 or 3-star recruits, a good highlight package that's tweeted out or put out on Facebook can really help get your name out there.

There are a plethora of 1, 2 or 3-star players out there that are desperate to get their film in front of important eyes. Even if a head coach isn't looking at your film, you can tweet it out or put it one Facebook and perhaps somebody from Rivals, 247Sports or even us here at Bleacher Report will run across it and like what we see.

We in the media don't have the sway to get college coaches to check out a player, but we can help get eyes on your highlight and at least get your name out there to our audiences.

A smart recruit will get a great video package done and link that out on Facebook, Twitter or even start emailing it to coaches and recruiting analysts.

A well-done Hudl highlight can really do wonders, and if the right person notices it, then at the very least your chances of exposure can increase as a lesser-ranked recruit.

Interact with Recruiting Analysts

We recruiting analyst love Facebook and especially Twitter.

It's a way that we interact with each other, interact with recruiting fans, get our work out there and sometimes keep tabs on you—the recruit.

Why not say hey and foster a good on-line relationship with recruiting analysts?

Most of us are extremely friendly and helpful in regards to social media, and even just striking up a conversation with an analysts or expert can help you increase your overall exposure as a recruit.

In many ways, these are the guys that are helping form the public opinion of you as a football player and as a recruit. They're also the ones with their ears to the ground trying to collect the latest recruiting information and news.

As a recruit, I can't think of a better contact to have outside of the actual football program.

Hype and momentum are two huge factors in recruiting, and like it or not and for better or worse, the media plays a role in both.

Rise Above the Hate

WWE wrestler John Cena is known for his good-guy gimmick.

He constantly "Rises Above the Hate" and the criticism that is launched at him whether through storyline or by the fans. To many, it's incredibly irritating, but to a college football recruit looking to navigate social media—Cena should be an inspiration.

Rise above the hate, because there will be plenty of it.

Don't get baited by "trolls" that just want to see you flip your lid. Don't worry when a fanbase applauds you as a hero and turns around the next day after you decommit and threatens your very existence.

Fan is short for fanatic, and the Internet allows the craziest of fanatics to have a voice.

These voices do not represent the whole, and they are not worth your time or concern as a recruit.

One of the worst things a recruit can do on social media is get baited into an argument, because that's when all the rules go out the window. The "troll" has nothing to lose and will say anything he or she can think of to upset you, but as a recruit, you have everything to lose.

As I mentioned earlier, you'll be noticed as much for your good interactions as you are for your negative ones.

In a social media world where we've become used to athletes constantly putting their foot in their mouth, a recruit that can handle himself with class, dignity and responsibility on social media will be a breath of fresh air.

It will earn you a lot of respect, and as you know by now, respect goes a long way in football locker rooms and with coaches. 

Be the bigger man and stand out in a good way in social media

Use it to your advantage.